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Storytelling & Symbolism

Native American

All early humans told stories orally. This paved the way for literature to evolve. The Natives could not read or write so they transferred their knowledge through language. Members of the tribe listen and retold to the stories, to create a path for literacy. The stories told had a plot, setting, themes, imagery, and symbolism. When Homo sapiens learned to write they wrote out their history, stories, and traditions down to keep a record of them.

Literature

Storytelling is one of the oldest ways folklore art. Traditions and cultural beliefs are the main purpose for storytelling. Throughout centuries Native Americans have been known to use storytelling as a form of expression of historical moments. This form of art has been passed down from generation to generations. Storytelling develops communication abilities, expands the imagination, and builds self-esteem.

Storytelling

Dedicates service to spirits of the ancestors.

Religious ceremonial dolls called "Kachina Dolls“

Brings a good harvest. There are over 900 varieties of the doll

each representing a different spirit.

Storytelling Dolls

In the language of the Pueblo Indians the word kachina means “life bringer”. Kachina dolls symbolize ancestral spirits that resided in the mountains. Native American Indians belief is that the kachinas delivered prayers directly to the tribal Gods. They also believed that the kachinas showed the indigenous people how to live and respect the earth. Throughout certain times of year kachina dolls are received as gifts to women and children.

Kachina Dolls

Native Americans used tribal songs and dance to portray their stories. They channeled their stories with their spiritual attributes, in order for cultural inheritance. Rhythmic, soul-enriching dance Teaches history and traditions Cultural phenomenon

Music, Song, and Dance

Spiritual atomosphere “Sacred” Visible Realities

Symbolism

Native American Indians created gods and spiritual beings to symbolize and justify current event.

Symbolism continued

Across regions Native American symbols can vary from one tribe to another. A variation of symbols were used on numerous objects for several different symbolic interpretations. Secret symbols used by Indian warriors were depicted by body decoration such as; sorts of War paint. Majority of the symbols were of nature, religion, and comic beliefs. Others symbols served as communication to other tribal members and identity of tribes. Some conveyed immediate secret messages. A few of Native American symbols were particularly for individual families to be passed down to one generation to the other. Some symbols were even provided for direction purposes.

Native American Symbols

Symbols and signs have been used for a variation of diverse reasons in the Native American culture and were illustrated on several objects and articles utilized by the women, men and children of the tribes.

Native American Symbols & Signs

Common Native American Symbols

Art was embark on by the indigenous ancestors to depict artistic or religious connotations, represented events or were shaped as a form of enchantment. Imageries of cryptic Mythical beings and creatures are also presented on Rock Art. Rock Art presented ‘tribal historians’ that produced pictorial or inscribed records. Rock art is one of the oldest forms of record keeping.

Rock Art

Two different styles of rock art styles are symbolic pictographs and petroglyphs.

http://youtu.be/xGdn4lRqQvs

Rock Art continued..

The tradition of storytelling is less common today than it was years ago. Some authors though do use it (native and non native) and promised to preserve these stories to even keep this promise from elder tribe members.

Current Information

Tracey. “Native American Stories: A Tradition of Storytelling. “Native American Stories: A Tradition of Storytelling.” Native American Art. Prairie Edge, 19 Jan. 2011. Web 06 Sept. 2012. Phillips, Louis. “The Role of Storytelling in Early Literacy Development – by Louise Phillips.” http://www.prairieedge.com/tribe-scribe/native-american-tradition-storytellinghttp://www.australianstorytelling.org.au/txt/childhd.php http://nativeamericanencyclopedia.com/rock-art/http://www.supamov.net/imgsc/811/811_1.jpg

Work Sited