Thursday 21 May 2015

The Role Played By Native American Legends

By Tammie Caldwell


Every native setting comprises of stories related to them. Story telling is a tool used to pass information through many generation lines. The motive of these stories is to pass traditional customs related to a specific setting and offer a solution to the contemporary problems likely to affect them. Native American legends are an example of such stories and each of them have moral lessons or massages to convey.

A story being passed from one generation to another ensures that there is a bond uniting these generations. It ensures that no generation is left out in learning the ways of the concerned community. As a result, traditions are passed which ensures that the culture is kept alive for a long time for the future generations to come.

The modern way of learning is a threat to most cultures. Foreign cultures as well as languages are being embraced and thus eroding the existing ones. The fact that these legends are told through the respective native language greatly help in preserving it. Most narrators are the elderly who have an upper understanding of these languages and are in a position to effectively teach them to all concerned members.

Nature comprises much. It is marked by numerous changes as well as natural occurrences. Giving a clear of explanation on the course of such occurrences proves to be a difficult task. Stories however are in a position to clearly elaborate on such happenings as well as give solutions on what needs to be done to avoid them.

Through legends, the origin myths or believes of a community are made known to the members. Every native setting has a different version of how they came into being. Religion is also passed through them and they offer explanations of the same as well as define the supreme beings and how to relate with them.

Roles such as division of labor are well upheld in native settings. Through stories, members are in a position to learn who is able to carry out a certain task and who should not. They also get to know how they should relate and respect each other. Sharing of responsibilities is put into consideration to ensure that the community is in a position to thrive.

Some segments of the legends comprise of poems, songs and dances. Through them, entertainment is offered to the related communities. The songs and dances also carry along some massages with them intended for different settings or occasions. They also explain who is supposed to be involved in singing or dancing.

Some legends talk about superheroes and them having some supernatural powers. They explain them to been in a position of doing great things for their communities such as winning wars. This characters act as role models to young ones as they would like to be associated with the most successful in the communities to also gain recognition. They therefore assume roles at an early age which helps in shaping their future.




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