Naturally curious, when answers are not readily available

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Native American Myths
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• A simple definition of a myth is a story handed
  down through history, often through oral
  tradition, that explains or gives value to the
  unknown.

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All generations of man have asked how, why, when,
and where.
http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html

• Naturally curious, when answers are not readily
  available, we try to figure them out for
  ourselves.
• What is lightning, what makes a volcano erupt,
  why are there tidal waves, how was the world
  created?

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Why Myths?

• People have always tried to figure out common
  questions like who made the universe or questions
  like what causes a storm.
• Religion, gods, and myths were created when
  people tried to make sense out of these
  questions.
• For early people myths were like science because
  they explain how things work.  They also
  explained other questions that are now answered
  through modern science.

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• Myths are often stories told by a particular
  people such as Indians, Egyptians, Greeks,
  Romans, and others. They are especially linked to
  religious beliefs and rituals.
• A myth is a story with a purpose. It tries to
  explain the way the world is. 
• Myths also try to explain the relationship
  between gods and humans.
• Even though the events in a myth are usually
  impossible, they try to send a message that has
  an important social or religious meaning.

http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html
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Myths as a Teaching Tool

• Myths were used to teach humans behavior that
  helped people live in concert with one another.
• Mythical gods certainly had some strange and not
  acceptable behavior, yet stories often
  demonstrated such topics as the need for
  hospitality (tale of Philemon and Baucis) or the
  need to keep pride in check (Narcissus). In the
  eyes of the gods, excessive pride, or hubris, was
  the worst offense and deserved the worst
  punishment. (Niobe story)

http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html
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• Many Native American myths could equally be
  called folktales they seem to be about ordinary
  people, not gods. However, the Native American
  attitude is that everything is animated by
  divinity. Hence ordinary people, animals and
  places are divine.
• Often the people are not even named, or are given
  a convenient tag, such as Rabbit Boy raised by
  rabbits. Nor is there much attempt to
  characterize them. Universal principles are held
  to be more important than individual traits.

Folktales
http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html
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• Myths, then, are stories about certain characters
  -- gods, goddesses, men, women, and, especially,
  heroes. The Native North American cultures did
  not have a written language. Instead, a groups
  history, legends, and myths were entrusted to
  memory and faithfully passed from generation to
  generation through oral tradition.
• In this oral tradition, stories often became
  distorted so that, in reading mythologies today,
  there are often variations in the same story. The
  moral however remains the same.

In the words of one Native American holy woman,
When you write things down you dont have to
remember them. But for us it is different. . . .
All that we are, all that we have ever been,
all the great names of our heroes and their songs
and deeds are alive within each of us. . . living
in our blood.
http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html
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Characteristics of Native American Mythology

• deeply based in Nature
• rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather,
  plants, animals, earth, water, sky and fire.
• The idea of an all powerful Great Spirit, a
  connection to the Earth, diverse creation
  narratives and collective memories of ancient
  ancestors are common.
• Traditional worship practices are often a part of
  tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and
  trance.
• trickster stories are common

www.randystory.com/mythology_page.htm
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TRICKSTER TALES

• Trickster tales are a type of folk tale that
  features an animal or human character who
  typically engages in deceit, violence, and magic.
  Often, trickster tales are mythic, explaining how
  some aspect of human nature or the natural world
  came to be.

• Tricksters are archetypal characterscharacter
  types that can be found in literary works from
  different cultures throughout the ages. A
  trickster is full of contradictions and may
  appear to be heroic and greedy, devious and kind,
  or foolish and clever.

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CREATION MYTHS

• A myth is a traditional story, usually involving
  supernatural beings or events, that explains how
  some aspect of human nature or the natural world
  came to be.
• A creation myth is a specific kind of myth that
  typically
• describes how the universe, earth, and life began
• explains the workings of the natural world
• supports and validates social customs and values
• guides people through the trials of living

http//www.crystalinks.com/nativeamcreation.html
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• Some Traditional NATIVE AMERICAN ANIMAL SYMBOLS
• Please note that this is general animal symbolism
  and may vary by tribe.

Alligator Symbolizes stealth and a fight for
survival. Ant Symbolizes group effort, teamwork
and overall perseverance. Badger Symbolizes
aggressiveness, passion and drive. Bat The bat
is the guardian of the night. Bear The bear is
the protector and symbolizes physical strength
and leadership. Bear Paw The paw is a symbol of
direction and power. Beaver The beaver is best
known as a hunter and gatherer. Buffalo The
buffalo provides the good things for those living
as well as sacredness. Butterfly The butterfly
is a transformer and a symbol of metamorphosis.
Cougar The cougar stands for power, leadership,
and swiftness. Coyote Sometimes considered an
omen that bad things could happen. Is also
considered a trickster. Crane The crane is a
symbol of solitude and independence. Deer
Symbolizes speed and family protection. Dolphin
The dolphin is a symbol of kindness, but has the
nature to be playful. Dragonfly He is often
considered a messenger. Eagle Often considered
the protector, carrier of prayers, visions
spirits. Elk The elk is an animal of nobility,
power, freedom, and great strength and agility.
Fox The fox is very a cunning, intelligent, and
providing animal. Frog Symbolizes renewal,
fertility springtime.
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Sources

• http//www.dl.ket.org/latin1/mythology/whatisa.htm
  
• http//library.thinkquest.org/J002356F/myth.htm
• http//www.gods-heros-myth.com/namain.html
• http//www.motherearthbeats.com/wp-content/themes/
  the20hobbit/images/weatherindian3.jpg
• http//www.crystalinks.com/namcreationwomen.html
• http//www.crystalinks.com/nativeamcreation.html
• http//www.randystory.com/native_american_werewolf
  .jpg
• http//www.randystory.com/mythology_page.htm
• http//www.motherearthbeats.com/wp-content/themes/
  the20hobbit/images/weatherindian3.jpg
• McDougal Littell Literature Grade 11, Literature
  of the Americas
• http//media.photobucket.com/image/native20americ
  an/jdfangman/Native20American/Pleiadewom