American Indian Studies
Native American Storytelling
The group of people known as the Native Americans or American Indians are the native residents of the Northern and Southern American continents who are thought to have traveled across the Bering land bridge from Asia. When the new society and the already established, came together, years of imposed philosophy, domination and rebel warfare were begun. The great impediments of religion, ethics and world-views were the three main issues which lead to the culture conflict between the Puritans and the Native Americans. Religion played a very significant role in both Puritan and Native American society, though their beliefs varied significantly. According to Puritan beliefs, God had chosen a select quantity of people to join him in heaven. On the other hand, the Native Americans believed that everyone was the same and that no one was better than anyone else. The Puritans relied on their Bible which detailed their whole religion and held the responses to all likely questions. The Native Americans depended on oral communication of their religion. Therefore, while the Puritans had a constant place to turn to when they wanted to figure out what they believed, Native Americans were required to fill in the blanks amid stories they had heard when it came to their fundamental principles (Culture Clash: The Puritans and the Native Americans, 2011).
The Native Americans do not share a single, incorporated body of mythology. The many different tribal groups each developed their own stories about the formation of the world, the appearance of the first natives, the place of people in the world, and the lives and deeds of gods and idols. Yet in spite of the massive variety of Native American mythologies, certain mythic ideas, characters, and stories can be found in many cultures. "Underlying all the myths is the idea that spiritual forces can be sensed through the natural world -- including clouds, winds, plants, and animals -- that they shape and sustain. Many stories explain how the actions of gods, heroes, and ancestors gave the earth its present form" (About Indian Mythology, 2012).
Indian religion and mythology are directly intertwined and cannot really be divided. Furthermore,...
Write a new legend concerning the further adventures of the Frog Bruchac, James, Joseph Bruchac and Stefano Vitale (ill.). The Girl Who helped Thunder and Other Native American Folktales. New York: Sterling, 2008. ISBN: 9781402732638 1402732635. 96 pages, color illustrations. Juvenile literature. Retellings of twenty-four different Native American folktales and myths. Covers a wide array of different tribal beliefs/cultures. Accompanying illustrations also hint at different native American styles of visual design and aesthetic
Black Elk utilizes his visions to create understanding of nearly all things he is later exposed to. The discussion in closing will further illuminate his utilization of vision, to ask for help for his people in a time of crisis. To discuss the vertical model of artistic communication it is difficult to narrow the filed to just one example, as Native American literature, and to a lesser degree film have
Most Native Americans would demonstrate exceptional tolerance to other religions but their own religious beliefs are based on nature. Even though years of assimilation had initially damaged the cultural roots of Native Americans, there is now a new kind of cultural and social change that we notice in this group. People are working hard to reclaim their cultural identity, which has triggered a gradual process of cultural renewal. This cultural
The means of musical dissemination today often incorporates only audio, but even music videos are seldom used in the way that traditional music used visuals. Whereas traditional songs were crafted specifically incorporating dance and costume, that is not the case. Even assuming that the lyrical component is just as potent now as it ever was, it represents only one-third of the traditional song. This represents a major loss. Conclusion Native American
Desert Indian Woman: Stories and Dreams, by Frances Manuel and Deborah Neff. Specifically, it will discuss and include Frances Manuel's tribal origins, traditions, and culture of this American Indian woman in the past, present, and future, along with contemporary issues as she functions in Tribal and non-Indian societies. Frances Manuel is a woman caught between the culture of the past and the society of the future. As she struggles
Symbolism in "The Origin of Stories" In "The Origin of All Stories" we can see an example of the importance that the Seneca -- a Native American tribe -- placed in their oral tradition, stories, as well as symbolism. Symbolism, especially, figures prominently in "The Origin of All Stories." It is the figurative device through which this story impresses upon readers the importance of storytelling to the Seneca people. Literally,
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