NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNICATION August 12 2009 Before the

NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNICATION August 12, 2009

Before the Europeans… Numerous groups of native tribes living throughout North America The largest tribe was the Aztec Empire (in what is now Mexico) – numbering in the millions! Europeans began arriving in the 1490 s.

Native American Communication The Native Americans passed down stories through storytelling (also known as “word of mouth” or “the oral tradition”).

Other forms of communication While Native Americans did not have a sophisticated system of writing, many tribes used symbolic drawings known as pictographs to communicate stories as well.

Native American Communication Two main forms of communication Storytelling “the oral tradition” Each tribe has a storyteller Stories are passed down from generation to generation Pictographs Drawings Often found in caves, on trees, or on animal hides

Topics in Native American Tales The Cycle The early Native Americans believed in the cyclical nature of existence. Examples: Nature Life

Other Details about Native American Communication 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. practical information about nature moral lessons both animal and human characters stories/chants/actions could be powerful and make things happen (rain, harvest, successful hunt) ARCHETYPES!

What‘s an archetype? An archetyp e is a repeated pattern. An archetyp e could be a character, a plot, or an image. • • Characters Evil villain Helpless victim The goofball The hero Plots Boy gets girl Hero defeats villain The underdog finally wins Images Nature as Mother (Mother Nature) Tree = giver of life City = Promised Land

Two European Views William Bradford A settler from England Landed near what is now Massachusetts Wrote about his experiences in a book called Of Plymouth Plantation Cabeza de Vaca An explorer from Spain Explored the west coast of Florida Wrote about his adventures in a book called La relacion

PURITAN LITERATURE Presented this 22 day of August in Puritan-appropriate black and white. Please do not enjoy.

Puritans Originated in England Sought to purify the Church of England Persecuted in England because of their strident beliefs Fled England initially relocated in Holland

DUTCHIFICATION! It is generally believed that the Puritans fled Holland because they feared the gradual “Dutchification” of their children.

Some Puritan Terms Theocracy – government based on the word of God Puritan Paradox – fled England to escape persecution, yet proceeded to persecute others in the New World Original Sin – the belief that every human is born in sin and therefore all humans are innately sinful Predestination – the belief that God saves only a chosen few – “The Elect”; you strive to live a decent, sin-free life in order to insure your place in heaven should you be among “The Elect” Saved by Grace

Core Puritan Values (not necessarily bad) Hard work Simplicity in all aspects of life (dress, behavior, speech) Self-reliance Education (Puritans established Harvard College in 1636)

TRAITS OF WRITING 1. Simple 2. Often religious (Biblically based) 3. Very few figures of speech/literary devices (metaphors, “flowery” language) Examples: --journals --poems --sermons