In "The Origin of All Stories" we can see an example of the importance that the Seneca-a Native American tribe-placed in their oral tradition, stories, as well as symbolism. Symbolism, especially, figures prominently in "The Origin of All Stories." It is the figurative device through which this story impresses upon readers the importance of storytelling to the Seneca people. Literally, storytelling formed the basis of the sense of history that the Seneca possessed. Without it, vital cultural information could not have been passed down from generation to generation. The purpose of this essay is to examine some of the usage of symbolism in "The Origin of All Stories" and detail how those examples of symbolism demonstrate the centrality of the oral tradition to the Seneca people.

             To begin, I should make it clear what it means that the Seneca had an oral tradition. This means that the Seneca had no written language. Information was not passed from individual to individual and from generation to generation through literacy. Writing down stories was entirely alien to the Seneca. For them, stories were told and shared. According to their traditions, stories had a life and power of their own. They did not exist within the confines of the human mind, but rather are entities that come to human beings through other means such as dreams or magic (51). It may be difficult to understand this conception of a story. For the modern Western mind, a story is just inanimate words on a page that never change. An oral tradition means that stories change and adapt across time. They are, in this sense, alive. .

             It is no wonder, then, that in "The Origin of All Stories" the symbolism that is employed is used in such a way as to highlight the importance and otherworldly nature of stories. For example, consider one of the first symbols in the story: the flying canoe that whisks Gaqka away to a world where he is able to learn many stories (51).