Oral TraditionsOral Traditions

Key Points:Key Points:

-Understanding -Understanding Oral TraditionsOral Traditions

-Examples and types of Oral Traditions -Examples and types of Oral Traditions

-Transformers-Transformers

-Tricksters-Tricksters

Oral Tradition DefinedOral Tradition Defined-The means by which cultural transmission occurs -The means by which cultural transmission occurs

over GENERATIONS, other than through over GENERATIONS, other than through written written recordsrecords . .

-Consists of songs or stories -Consists of songs or stories

*often complimented by dance, drama or other *often complimented by dance, drama or other visual representations such as paintings, carvings visual representations such as paintings, carvings etc.etc.

-Oral Traditions express -Oral Traditions express spiritualspiritual and and emotionalemotional truths through symbols / metaphorstruths through symbols / metaphors

-Oral Traditions also express -Oral Traditions also express literalliteral truths such as truths such as events / situations from the past.events / situations from the past.

Types of Oral TraditionsTypes of Oral Traditions

-Oral Traditions come in many forms:-Oral Traditions come in many forms:

-stories-stories -dances-dances -oratory-oratory

-songs-songs -narratives-narratives

-these traditions are expressed in many ways:-these traditions are expressed in many ways:

--family crestsfamily crests -totem poles-totem poles -blankets-blankets

-baskets-baskets -petroglyphs-petroglyphs -pictorgaphs-pictorgaphs

-paintings-paintings -masks -masks -carvings-carvings

The Importance of Oral TraditionsThe Importance of Oral Traditions-Traditionally FNs did not rely on -Traditionally FNs did not rely on written documents written documents to to

verify their historyverify their history-Instead history, education, culture etc. was passed down -Instead history, education, culture etc. was passed down

through oral traditionsthrough oral traditions Stories, Songs, Dances etc. are easy to rememberStories, Songs, Dances etc. are easy to rememberWhat specifically did Oral Tradition pass on and record?What specifically did Oral Tradition pass on and record?

1. history of family, community and territory 1. history of family, community and territory 2. recorded traditional rights for:2. recorded traditional rights for:

--landland --resourcesresources --names names --songssongs 3. survival skills3. survival skills

***Oral Traditions also used as a teaching tool – taught ***Oral Traditions also used as a teaching tool – taught morals, ethics, responsibility, standard behavior etc***morals, ethics, responsibility, standard behavior etc***

Protocols and Oral Traditions Protocols and Oral Traditions DefinedDefined: the rules of any procedure : the rules of any procedure

-it is also the -it is also the formalitiesformalities and and etiquetteetiquette observed / observed / practiced in important occasions or situationspracticed in important occasions or situations

Important notes about ProtocolsImportant notes about Protocols::

-to repeat or share an FN story you first need -to repeat or share an FN story you first need determine who the owner of the story is and ask determine who the owner of the story is and ask their their permissionpermission to use it / tell it to use it / tell it

-some stories can be told by anyone. Others require -some stories can be told by anyone. Others require permissionpermission

-every nation has their own protocols -every nation has their own protocols

Types of Oral TraditionsTypes of Oral Traditions

1) 1) NarrativesNarratives::

-Stories based on:-Stories based on:

information, news, skills, knowledge, family information, news, skills, knowledge, family history, land/resource rights history, land/resource rights

-Ex of specific skills taught: -Ex of specific skills taught:

hunting, fishing, carving, weaving, cooking etc.hunting, fishing, carving, weaving, cooking etc.

Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…2) 2) Oral LiteratureOral Literature::

-once a spoken story has been documented (book)-once a spoken story has been documented (book)

3) 3) Family NarrativesFamily Narratives::

-story that records the history and traditions of a family-story that records the history and traditions of a family

--Oral RecorderOral Recorder: a family historian – the elder who tells the : a family historian – the elder who tells the history of his/her familyhistory of his/her family

4) 4) Oratory:Oratory:

-the art of delivering a formal speech in a public place-the art of delivering a formal speech in a public place

-individuals would be trained to be “speakers” for the -individuals would be trained to be “speakers” for the communitycommunity

-Orators need to be able to speak in a way that was -Orators need to be able to speak in a way that was respectful and accurate such as at potlatches or feasts.respectful and accurate such as at potlatches or feasts.

Types of Oral TraditionsTypes of Oral Traditions5. 5. Creation StoriesCreation Stories-they communicate the moral traditions and knowledge of a -they communicate the moral traditions and knowledge of a

people while telling:people while telling:-where people or animals come from-where people or animals come from- what their purpose on earth is- what their purpose on earth is- how places (landscapes) were formed- how places (landscapes) were formed

***each nation has its own creation story******each nation has its own creation story***Characteristics of Creation StoriesCharacteristics of Creation Stories::

-set long ago in supernatural world – the world before it -set long ago in supernatural world – the world before it was TRANSFORMED into what it is todaywas TRANSFORMED into what it is today-supernatural animals appear before the arrival of the first -supernatural animals appear before the arrival of the first people – this is why FN ppl have such deep respect for people – this is why FN ppl have such deep respect for animals and have a spiritual connection with themanimals and have a spiritual connection with them

Characters in Creation StoriesCharacters in Creation Stories::

Transformers:Transformers: supernatural creatures that had supernatural creatures that had the ability to change things into:the ability to change things into:

-physical landmarks, plants, animals and -physical landmarks, plants, animals and people in today’s worldpeople in today’s world

-they have human like qualities – can walk and -they have human like qualities – can walk and talktalk

-they have supernatural powers – such as the -they have supernatural powers – such as the ability to ability to shape-shiftshape-shift

Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…

6. 6. Trickster Stories:Trickster Stories: use humor to teach: use humor to teach:

-moral lessons -moral lessons -proper behavior -proper behavior -consequences of choices-consequences of choices

-lessons come from the trickster, who usually does things -lessons come from the trickster, who usually does things the OPPOSITE way of how they should be donethe OPPOSITE way of how they should be done-tricksters are: ageless, genderless, and also have -tricksters are: ageless, genderless, and also have supernatural abilities (shape-shift)supernatural abilities (shape-shift)-tricksters are the MORAL TEACHERS-tricksters are the MORAL TEACHERS

**trickster stories are told to all ages to help people **trickster stories are told to all ages to help people understand their inappropriate behavior. It is a casual safe understand their inappropriate behavior. It is a casual safe way for the listener to learn about the consequences of their way for the listener to learn about the consequences of their choices without having to be singled out***choices without having to be singled out***

Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…Types of Oral Traditions Cont’d…

2 common Transformers / Tricksters2 common Transformers / Tricksters

Coyote = BC Interior Coyote = BC Interior Raven = BC CoastRaven = BC Coast

Traditional EducationTraditional Education

All of these forms of Oral Traditions formed the: All of these forms of Oral Traditions formed the: FOUNDATION of a child’s education FOUNDATION of a child’s education

-children learned: -children learned: proper behavior, morals, family / community history proper behavior, morals, family / community history

and specific skills through stories, narratives and and specific skills through stories, narratives and songssongs

-children not only learn how to listen to all of this but -children not only learn how to listen to all of this but how to re-tell it EXACTLY as it was told to them so how to re-tell it EXACTLY as it was told to them so they could pass it to the next generationthey could pass it to the next generation

Delgamuukw Case (1997)Delgamuukw Case (1997)

As a result of this landmark court case First As a result of this landmark court case First Nations Oral Histories and other forms of Nations Oral Histories and other forms of traditional knowledge became acceptable traditional knowledge became acceptable forms of evidence in a court of lawforms of evidence in a court of law

(Pg (Pg 219)219)