Stories were an essential part of Native American culture, serving to educate, entertain, pass down history and lessons, and remind communities of their responsibilities. Various forms of stories included myths, legends, folktales, and tall tales, each with their own characteristics. Myths explained origins and connected to cultural beliefs, while legends featured extraordinary tales about ordinary people. Folktales and tall tales entertained and could be based on real events or people. Overall, storytelling was an important oral tradition for sharing knowledge before written records.

1. Our stories were us, what we knew, where we came from, and where we were going. They were told to remind us of our responsibility, to instruct, and to entertain. They were stories of the Creation, our travels, our laws. There were legends of hard-fought battles, funny anecdotes – some from the smokehouse, some from the trickster – and there were scary stories to remind us of danger, spiritual and otherwise. Stories were our life and still are. Larry Hill, Seneca Tribe

2. Storytelling and the Oral Tradition Entertains, educates, informs Passes down history, lessons, morals, knowledge Many versions of same stories Storytelling requires cooperation and audience inclusion Used since societies didn’t have a written record of their history and little literacy Modern versions of storytelling: movies, television

3. MYTHS Characteristics: Religious in nature (will involve gods, goddesses, supernatural beings) Explains the origins of things (how the world began, etc.) Connects to stories within a culture (consider the Greek pantheon)

4. MYTHS – cont’d Exists due to oral tradition Considered essentially true by that society (their cultural mythology) mythos (word or story) + logos (word of truth) Current meaning of “myth”???

5. LEGENDS Story told as though it is a historical event Examples are Robin Hood and King Arthur Extraordinary lives of everyday people Often elaborated upon over time Heroic characters are common

6. FOLKTALES Passed on through generations May have been based partially on truth – now hidden Include fables (animals / morals) and fairy tales (magical characters and creatures)

7. TALL TALES Uniquely American story form larger-than-life main character a problem that is solved in a humor ous way exaggerated major element characters who use everyday language Often based on actual people

8. NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS Could be called folklore Belief that everything is divine “ Why ” and “ trickster ” stories Trickster demonstrates qualities that makes civilization possible, but also cause problems