...Native American myths are largely influenced by the characters in which help to teach lessons. One of these characters is the Coyote which is a trickster and also a hero. There are many examples of how the Coyote plays a negative role in native American myths. Two of these examples are when the Coyote takes a wife, and when he taunts the Otters. These are both examples of when they Coyote takes a negative role and shows what should not be done. First, when the Coyote attempts to earn a wife of the young women he ends up not following the rules of asking permission from the family. The eldest brother states “you have done wrong. For you have chosen a Spouse without consulting any of your kin”(216). This shows how the Coyote played a negative...
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...In the wake of a society that is becoming more accepting, television is taking a crack at exposing people to the Native American/Indigenous lifestyles and beliefs. Recently, shows like Bones, Grimm, Sleepy Hallow, The Blacklist, Hannibal, Supernatural, Charmed, etc. are filming episodes dealing with Native American myths. But are the program creators of these networks accurately portraying tribal beliefs? In an investigation into the mass media and exploring the ploys and tactics of how closely television directors portray native mythology, I uncover the startling truths. Focusing on the television show Grimm, an American based series based off the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, who collected and published European folk tales in the early 19th century. The premise is that those brothers weren't writing fairy stories, but warnings about the creatures that live among us. The television show is set in Portland, Oregon where detective Nick Burkhardt has inherited the ability to see supernatural creatures, and as a "Grimm," he is tasked with keeping the balance...
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...Native American Culture Have you ever wonder how the world was created from another culture’s perspective? Native Americans used creation myths to explained to their people how the world was developed overtime. Creation myths are a big part of the Native American culture. they have been passed down from generation to generation. In the creation myths, harmony with nature, rituals, and strong social values are shown in each myths. The purpose of having strong social value in these myths is to teach younger Native Americans valuable lesson if they ever do something bad. These myths reveals how the rituals were created and their intentions for doing it. Creation myths has harmony with nature in it to show a very close kinship between them and nature. Native American explained how the world began with their myths. Various works of literature reveal the Native American tradition and beliefs of rituals, strong social value, and harmony with nature. Rituals plays an important role in Native American Culture. In the short story, “The Man to Send Rain Clouds”, the Laguna ritual was shown when Leon did the funeral rites on Teofilo. For example, “ Leon ties feathers to Teofilo’s hair, paint his face, and sprinkle holy water on his grave” (50). This quote is important because it is part of the Native American’s tradition that was past down from generation to generation, and the purpose of doing this funeral rites is to make him be part of nature. Another example of Native American ritual...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Ricky Gonzales HUM/105 December 14, 2015 Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Creation myths are stories told throughout time to describe how the world was formed and began. They also tell how the first people came to inhabit it. There are different myths for different cultures. The Native Americans have several myths. The Seminole Indians believe in the Creator who is also known as the Grandfather of all things. They believed the Creator made the earth. He then made all the animals of the world. The next step in his creation was to place all living things in a shell and placed it beside a tree. The Creator was hoping that the panther would be the first one to leave the shell. However, the shell sat for a long time. Over time the root of the tree formed with the shell and finally a crack appeared. Then the winds helped to make the crack wider. The bird began to peck at the crack until finally the panther emerged from the shell. The rest of the animals followed after that and they all went out to find their proper place on Earth. (nativeamcreation.html, 2015) The creator in this myth is a man. There does not seem to be any significance to this. One can only assume that man was always considered the greater being. The Zulu myth begins with just one seed that fell to the Earth. Once the seed took root in the earth, Uthlanga began to grow. These are long reeds that mean “the source of all things”...
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...Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Stephanie Smith HUM/105 August 18, 2014 Kwajalein Harmon Cosmic Creation Myths Across Cultures Creation myths are stories told throughout time to describe how the world was formed and began. They also tell how the first people came to inhabit it. There are different myths for different cultures. The Native Americans have several myths. The Seminole Indians believe in the Creator who is also known as the Grandfather of all things. They believed the Creator made the earth. He then made all the animals of the world. The next step in his creation was to place all living things in a shell and placed it beside a tree. The Creator was hoping that the panther would be the first one to leave the shell. However, the shell sat for a long time. Over time the root of the tree formed with the shell and finally a crack appeared. Then the winds helped to make the crack wider. The bird began to peck at the crack until finally the panther emerged from the shell. The rest of the animals followed after that and they all went out to find their proper place on Earth. (nativeamcreation.html, 2015) The creator in this myth is a man. There does not seem to be any significance to this. One can only assume that man was always considered the greater being. The Zulu myth begins with just one seed that fell to the Earth. Once the seed took root in the earth, Uthlanga began to grow. These are long reeds that mean “the source of all things”. The first one...
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...the Epic of Gilgamesh that was written on 12 clay tablets and found in the ruins of Ninevah. (Parkash, 2006) But today I am going to discuss how the history and myth of Bigfoot has its place in American culture along with key individuals and certain events that force some people to believe that this so called Wildman is not just a myth. Leif Erickson was the first person to have an encounter with the monster in 986 AD long before Christopher Columbus arrived. Leif describes it as “horribly ugly, hairy, swarthy and with big black eyes.” (Parkash, 2006) It is argued that he just saw Native Americans but the Norse were extremely hairy themselves so why would they mention the Natives as hairy. Native Americans throughout time have had their own believes and stories on the subject. Explorers in the new world recorded the Indians attitudes and beliefs for their Big Brother (Parkash, 2006) which I believe started many ideas and fears for our own culture. According the New World Encyclopedia (2009) even our own President Theodore Roosevelt has a published encounter told to him by a mountain hunter in 1893. If the President of the United States says something it must be true. In my opinion, Teddy Roosevelt and Leif Erickson had a pretty big role on the impact of Bigfoot into the American culture. However, the Native Americans role may have been even more influential. Yes, Teddy and Leif are two big names but the Indians had the masses. I can only imagine going from tribe to tribe and...
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...An origin myth is a myth that explains how something began and often times they shape the societies they arise from in many ways. Some origin myths explain the beginning of the world while others explain the origin of their own tribe or community. In most Native American tribes origin myths provided what was expected of its members and set examples of how they should act toward others. The two origin myths that I chose to compare were those of the Inuit Tribe and the Seminole Indian Tribe. Both tribes are made up of Native Americans and their myths explain the origin of the earth and its inhabitants. The origin myth of the Inuit tribe starts with the first man living in a peapod. On the fifth day the man pushed his feet and broke free from the pod and met a strange bird. The bird turned out to be a raven and began to speak to the man. They became familiar with each other and the raven told the man to wait and not move and then the raven left and came back four days later with fruit and berries. The man was pleased at this and decided to follow the bird, next the raven lead him to clay where he constructed animals like mountain sheep. Next the raven created fierce animals and created a woman so man wouldn't become lonely...
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...Tiange Zou English 100 Dr.Backman May 14, 2012 The Origin of Native Americans When the famous Spanish explorer, Christopher Columbus, first landed on the continent of America in 1492, he thought he had just arrived in East India , therefore, he called the indigenous people living there “Indians”. Columbus never knew that he had discovered the continent of America, later known as the “New World.” Later explorers continued to adventure America and got interested in the Indians. These explorers were curious about Indian’s culture, religion and its origin. Unfortunately, Indians lived in isolated lives and did not want to expose themselves to outsiders. Indians gradually became a mystery to other people. Nowadays, Indians prefer other people to refer to them as Native Americans. The reason is that they claim to be the original inhabitants ofAmerica; according to their tribe’s legends, they did not travel from other parts of the world to reside in America. On the contrary, many scientists and scholars have agreed on the Bering Land Bridge theory that the majority of Native Americans migrated to America from Asia via a land bridge between Alaska and Eastern Siberia around 20,000 years ago. There have been other theories involving the origins of the Native Americans. One theory suggests they were the descendants of the lost tribes of Israel while another says that they were an ancient Chinese people who migrated to America a long time ago. After comparing...
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...The Cocopah Indian Tribe is one of the numerous Native American tribes of Arizona that is continuously active. Its strong sense of culture and participation in its surrounding civilization has helped it thrive as one of the most well known tribes still in existence. The Cocopah’s extensive history as an early Yuman community and its current cultural influence in Arizona make it acknowledged as both an intriguing tribe and major source of the state’s ethnic identity. The Cocopah Indian Tribe of Arizona, otherwise called “the River People,” originated in lands along the Colorado River and Lower Colorado River as one of the several descendant tribes of the Yuman-speaking people (“About Us”). The name “Cocopah” derives from the tribe’s name for...
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...The Myth of Indian Gaming How many times have you heard someone make the statement “I sure wish I was Native American so that I could get money from the casinos?” Well contrary to popular belief not all Native Americans are benefitting from these Indian casinos. As a matter of fact it is quite the opposite. There are more Native Americans who are on public assistance then the average American today. Indian gaming was begun in 1979 when an Indian tribe opened up a bingo hall on their reservation in Hollywood, Florida. According to the latest reports currently in the United States there are 28 states with 460 gaming facilities being operated by 240 Indian tribes. The revenue produced by the Indian gaming market reached an all time single-year high in 2010 of 26.73 billion dollars. The state of California was first in the nation in revenue producing casinos with 6.78 billion dollars followed by Oklahoma with 3.22 billion. So where do all these billions of dollars go? The big myth is that the Native people of that tribe get to keep all that money and it is then divided among them and they all end up a very wealthy group of people. Well the Indian tribes actually only get to keep approximately 4 out of every 10 dollars produced by the casino, with the other 60% going to pay off casino loans, taxes, etc. What the tribes then do with their 40% varies from tribe to tribe. The Federal Government does not require these Indian tribes to disclose their annual profits...
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...Corn and the Native Americans: A brief journey through the maize Humanities 215-V1 Native American Cultures Larry Jent April 12, 2012 Throughout the history of Native American culture corn has played a vital role in many facets of life for a multitude of people in various ways. It is not merely a simple grain or vegetable, it is a sacred gift to all people. Not only does it nourish one physically and provide for material use, but it is also an important spiritual tool. Corn plays a vital role in Native American culture. It is an agricultural mainstay, is integral to many ceremonies, honored in many celebrations throughout many tribes, and is credited with nourishing the nation physically as well as spiritually through various myths and legend. Food for Thought Corn was one of the first domesticated crops by the native people. “Over a seven-thousand-year period, Indian people domesticated hundreds of kinds of maize, beginning in the semiarid highlands of Mexico with a common wild grass called teosinte” (Ballantine 60). “The teosinte pollen, carried by the wind to other corn like grasses, produced a hybrid whose cultivation helped ensure a stable food supply” (Maxwell 44). With the ability to reproduce food in a single location it was easier for people to settle in certain areas. This provided for a more domesticated way of living and a steady source of nourishment. Corn could be used immediately, dried...
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...between Arab, Middle-Eastern and Muslim people. The author talks about the region in which a person is from, as well as language and religion is what determines which group one would identify with. The history and cultures of Arabic people are provided in this article. Cacho, L. M. (2001). Asian Americans. University of Hawaii Press The article discusses the relationships between Asian Americans and their families. The author explains how they have to deal with certain stereotypes in order to succeed in a place where they are Americans, but still considered to be foreigners. The article is a good resource for understanding how Asian Americans feel in a country where so many barriers are placed upon them. Caroll, S.R. (1994, December). Why poor black children succeed or fail. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/africanamericancultue The conceptual article begins with the broad discussion about African American culture. It projects today’s youth and the inconsistency of what Americans idolize as equality in school systems. It discusses the present’s findings of family and individual studies that factor in the high and low achieving African-American students. It schemes the risk factors that are associated with the group of disadvantage kids and why it is important to identify them earlier on. These factors are to include those who are born with low birth rate, the home environment and low socioeconomic statue. The author describes how the aspects...
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...times we see many different cultures that evolved around the earth and throughout time as well. This paper will examine Native Americans, Greek and the Japanese rites of passage. Ceremonies that mark important transitional periods in a person's life, such as birth, puberty, marriage, having children, and death. Rites of passage usually involve ritual activities and teachings designed to strip individuals of their original roles and prepare them for new roles. The traditional American wedding ceremony is such a rite of passage. In many so-called primitive societies, some of the most complex rites of passage occur at puberty, when boys and girls are initiated into the adult world. In some ceremonies, the initiates are removed from their village and may undergo physical mutilation before returning as adults (Rites of passage,(n.d.). Rites of Passage have been a path of life throughout time and space. Anthropologists have found many differences between cultures but also many similatries. Rites of passage from boy to man or girl to woman are different in some and strange in others. The Native Americans and the Greeks were not the same as the Japanese, but yet believed in some of the same old blood ways. Rites are not taught but learned throughout one’s lifetime. Native Americans had a volatile version of passage. In the earlier years, the Native American boys would play as boys. They would follow fathers and love mothers. They would show you what life had to offer and defend...
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...The roots of American literature may differ with relation to what cultures you consider to be of the first “Americans.” Before the establishment of British and other European colonies in the Americas, there were only various tribes of Native Americans. While the Natives focused on the “big picture” of life and nature, the introduction of other ideas by European Pilgrims began to alter and reshape what has come to be known as the literature of the time. During the period of time before the United States became a country in itself, society slowly shifted from a “big picture” mindset, to a slightly smaller and local mindset. Continuing along with the problems arising throughout history, works of American writing began to reflect combatants, as well as pushers, of slavery. Minimizing the focus of the issues of the time to a much more personal aspect, individualism takes a strong hold on the minds of the educated individual. Throughout the time period from the beginnings of literature, maintained as oral tradition, all the way to written and widely distributed novels, storytelling has continued to provide an...
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...Native American Literature Bryant & Stratton College-Online Ms. Spruill April 4, 2014 “Pocahontas to Her English Husband”, tone was convincing that Pocahontas felt proud that she was able to save her husband life, but the reader seen a level of resentment for the many times that she was able to save her husband. The reader can sense a thing of anger in the beginning. “And how many times did I pluck you / from certain death in the wilderness / my world through which you stumbled as though blind”, (“Allen” 4-7). This displays a tone of maternal disregard and irritation of a younger individual who cannot take control of their own actions. The theme for “Pocahontas to Her English Husband” is love but it is described in a different way. She tends to portray a more pity type of love than affectionate and romantic way. Pocahontas has a way to display a very kind hearted personality because she is willing to show her support to help John. “Had I not cradled you in my arms / oh beloved perfidious one, / you would have died” (“Allen” 1-3). The tone for “Taking a Visitor to See the Ruins” was dull without my life behind the words but humor. “His eyes grew large, and then he laughed / looking shocked at the two women he’d just met. Silent for a second, they laughed too” (“Allen” 28-30). The theme is happiness and laughter even after he realized that his friend was playing a joke on him he took that great moment and continued on. “ And he’s still telling the tale of the old...
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