The Story Teller

[Sharikee]

[Sharikee]

The Native American culture is known for its rich oral tradition. Instead of using a written language to document their history, indigenous people simply rely on verbal language to share their history, customs, rituals, and legends through vivid narratives.

These powerful tales, often told by the tribal elders to the younger generations, not only relate tribal history; the stories also entertain while preserving our culture.

Each time a story is told, it breathes life into the culture, cultivates verbal language, gives meaning to the tribe’s history, and also teaches life lessons about things like love, leadership, and honor, as well as the symbiotic connection to the earth and intimate relationships with the animals on it.

As a way to heighten the senses and encourage a deeper feeling of connection between tribal members and the environment, when these stories were told, they are often accompanied with song, music, spoken word, and dance.

Although this tradition of storytelling is less common today than it was many years ago, some authors (both native and non native) have promised to preserve these stories for future generations. They have listened and learned many of these legendary tales from tribal elders.