What are some Native American oral traditions?
What are some Native American oral traditions?
The most widely studied Native oral tradition is storytelling. Oklahoma tribes classify and tell stories differently, but certain general patterns can be observed. Storytelling can encompass narratives that are viewed as truthful accounts of events in the ancient past.
What is the most popular oral tradition across Native American tribes?
Storytelling
Storytelling. Storytelling is the most famous and most often studied form of Native oral tradition.

What are 3 oral traditions?
Types of Oral Traditions Oral traditions can be categorized into different types, including legends, myths, folktales, and memorates. A memorate is an account of a personal experience or encounter with the supernatural, such as a ghost story or other expression of the spirit to a human being.
What are some oral tradition stories?
Oral Tradition Examples in Legends and Folklore Homer’s Illiad and Odyssey were passed down through oral tradition by poets before becoming written. The story of Atlantis is an oral tradition in Egypt that found it’s way into an epic poem. Big Foot is an urban legend of a half-human, half-gorilla creature.
Why is oral tradition important to indigenous peoples?

Oral histories play an integral role in Indigenous cultures. They transmit important histories, stories and teachings to new generations. Oral histories — a type of primary source — let Indigenous peoples teach about their own cultures in their own words.
What are 4 common themes found in Native American literature?
Native American Literary Style cont.
- Common themes in Native American literature are worship of many gods and and a reverence for nature.
- Native American literary forms: migration of peoples, tales of great leaders, fairy tales, lyrics, chants, children’s songs, healing songs and dream visions.
What are the five main forms of oral tradition?
Beyond the epic, the main oral genres include the folktale; song, including laments, praise songs, and work songs; folk drama; myth; and, closely related, legend and historical recitation.
How can we maintain oral tradition?
There are a few basic rules for paper (transcript) preservation of an oral history collection:
- Make sure transcriptions are created on acid-free paper.
- Save original transcript, and make copies for public use. Do not loan out original.
- Store paper copies of transcriptions in archival-quality, acid free boxes.
How do Indigenous oral traditions connect to their cultures and societies?
For many Indigenous American tribes, oral traditions are central to the transmission of knowledge. The stories they tell range from tales meant to warn children of the dangers in the world to accounts of historical events recorded only in the minds of elders.
Why are Native American oral stories important?
Native American oral literature preserves cultural legacy and traditions through storytelling, oratory, and performance. Passed on through myths, songs, legends, and tales, oral literature places great importance on language. In the retelling, information must be remembered accurately.
What are 3 characteristics of Native American literature?
No fixed versions exist because of the oral tradition. Stories change over time with each speaker. Language is poetic and moving. Interaction with nature is portrayed.