Native American mythology has a very rich cultural history of its own. In the telling of tales, many things can be taught or learned. This is one of the ways that many tribes kept their cultures alive; it was not just a collection of stories, but of their beliefs, their ways, and their lives. Many legends are still told; some old, some new, but all are part of the beautiful culture that the indigenous peoples of North America have had and still have.
In the telling of some of these stories, I will be handing along things that were told from grandmother to granddaughter; grandfather to grandson, for many generations. These stories, in and of themselves, are near to sacred for many groups of people. I honor each of you who read these stories with them; I wish you well, and hope that you all learn some of the history and understanding of these Native peoples.
There are many different kinds of stories. There are some that are called "hero stories"; these are stories of people who lived at one time, and who were immortalized by these stories of them. There are "trickster stories", about the different trickster figures of the tribes (Saynday for the Kiowa; Coyote for the Navajo (Dine'); and so on, who were both helpful and dangerous figures in the belief. There are tales that are simply warnings; they warn against doing something that may harm in some way. And there are many other types as well.
In reading these tales, you may notice that many, if not all, have morals or some form of belief that is being taught; these are the teachings of the storytellers. This is how the things were remembered.
And finally, if you retell these tales, please remember; many of these begin or end in a certain way. Try and keep them as they are... that way, generations from now, many people can enjoy the same legends that you are reading now.
I will, eventually, get back to you. However, if you're expecting me to send you some info at the last second before your homework is due, and you're emailing me at the last second, don't be surprised if you don't get a response until after your homework is due. In all honesty, I recommend contacting me a minimum of five to seven days before you need a response, as I have been getting (on average) about three thousand spam emails per day, and I work at least twelve hours per day. I handle this site (and my spam) in my spare time, so I'm not available for immediate contact.
If you are seeking a legend which is not on my page, you can also contact me. I can't promise that I have it, or that I know where to find it, but you're welcome to ask.
Finally, demanding information for the sole reason that I put up a website
with Native legends on it is not only offensive, but it's downright rude.
Asking politely gets a response, even though I might be slow to respond (and
believe me, I'd rather be fast). However, demanding that I do this RIGHT
NOW will not only get no response, but it will likely get me very grouchy.
You don't want me grouchy; grouchy is what stopped me from updating this website
for nearly five years. I like updating my website, but only when it does
not give me stress. Stress = bad. And I don't do bad things.
Questions? Comments? Drop me a note!
This page last updated September 22nd, 2004.
Copyright firstname.lastname@example.org, 2004.
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