Native American Mythology: It Is More Than Entertainment

A detailed Summary of Native American Mythology: It Is More Than Entertainment

People use Native American Mythology everyday for his or her personal entertainment. Little do they know that these myths are more than they're cracked up to be. One should better understand that mythology served to be more than just stories to the Native Americans. Throughout history, Native Americans have used myths and legends to explain life's mysteries, improve their way of life, and preserve their cultural identity.

Beginning with the creation of man and the world, Native Americans have created myths to explain life's mytheries. Myths give meaning to life by providing comparable situations to relate to. They relate to Native American's jealousies and rages, ambitions, and schemes. When one reads of a deity's experiences, he or she can feel that his own struggle might have a similar cosmic or archetypical significance (Analyzing). According to one myth, explaining how the world and its creatures came about, "the last balls of mud Old One made were almost alike... He shaped them like Indians"(Clark). Secondly, an Apache myth states, "Mythology... tells of their search for a homeland in which they were helped by the Twin War gods, who traveled the earth and destroyed the monsters, thereby setting the world's

boundaries and establishing areas in which the people could flourish" (Bancroft-Hunt, 18). Thirdly, an Aztec myth states, [the] Earth goddess, Tlaltecuhtli [was] a fierce beast who ripped a beast in half making one half the earth, and the other half the heavens (sic)" (January, 140) These creation myths provided the basis for many Native American's lives and cultures. One tale, stating the origin of medicine, said that the creation of medicine came through a Cherokee myth where animals and people communicated freely. The only weapon the animals had was to cast spells on Native Americans. Only the Cherokee "Medicine Man" could cure it (Origin of Medicine). Legends also provided understanding to modern science as well. Such theories as the 'Big Bang' were developed for citizens of a village to understand the stars and the moons. Myths reveal our fate after death, and the reasons for crises or miracles, and other puzzles, yet encourage an aura of mystery. Mythology's enduring worth is not in its possible historical or scientific accuracy, instead myths are important because they teach and provide explanations to the unexplained.

An aspect of myths most do not understand is that myths explain the unexplained by satisfying one's need to understand the natural world. Myths and legends relate to quarrels, battles, and are created to make the world a place more like a Native American's home life and communities. "If [the characters of the myth] act like people, then events are less foreign, thus making them easier to relate to other people"(Analyzing Mythology). Perhaps they can then negotiate with the world as they see the world negotiate with them. They foster this shared set of perspectives, and values. Native Americans mythologized to satisfy their natural, healthy cravi

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Approximate Word count = 1208
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History