What Is Native American Oral Tradition?

The Native American culture is known for its rich oral tradition. Instead of using a written language to document their history, these indigenous people simply relied on

their verbal language to share their history, customs, rituals and legends through vivid narratives

.

What are examples of oral tradition?

Oral tradition is information passed down through the generations by word of mouth that is not written down. This includes historical and cultural traditions, literature and law. Explore some oral tradition examples like

legends, proverbs, folktales, and customs

.

What is Native American oral literature?

Native American literatures come out of

a rich set of oral traditions from before European contact

and/or the later adoption of European writing practices. Oral traditions include not only narrative story-telling, but also the songs, chants, and poetry used for rituals and ceremonies.

What type of traditions do Native Americans have?

Traditional practices of some tribes include the

use of sacred herbs such as tobacco, sweetgrass or sage

. Many Plains tribes have sweatlodge ceremonies, though the specifics of the ceremony vary among tribes. Fasting, singing and prayer in the ancient languages of their people, and sometimes drumming are also common.

What is the role of oral tradition?

Oral tradition is important in all societies, despite the reliance of some cultures on written records and accounts. These traditions account for the ways things are and often the way they should be, and

assist people in educating the young and teaching important lessons about the past and about life

.

What are the four common themes of Native American oral literature?

Though each nation has its own stories, several themes that are common across the tribes are

the link between the land and the people, a hero’s journey, and the supernatural and natural worlds

.

What are characteristics of Native American literature?

CLASS. Native American literature often features a

combination of oral storytelling techniques and tribal mythology

with European literary forms such as the novel or short story. Many works of Native American literature are strongly rooted in myth and symbolic archetypes.

What are the three forms of oral tradition?

Usually, three types of oral folk art are distinguished:

poetry (song creativity: ritual songs, historical songs and dumy (epic poems), lullabies)

, prose (tales, legends, narrations, verbal tales, jokes), drama (plays, scenes for folk theater, vertep (portable puppet theatre)).

What is the best definition of oral tradition?

Oral tradition, also called orality, the first and still most widespread mode of human communication. Far more than “just talking,” oral tradition refers to

a dynamic and highly diverse oral-aural medium for evolving, storing, and transmitting knowledge, art, and ideas

.

What is another name for oral tradition?

Do Native Americans believe in God?

Most native spiritualties are

polytheistic

, which means they have more than one deity, although there are some that lean toward monotheism with one major god or goddess.

What are Native American values?

The authors introduce management educa- tors to Native American values generally and specifically to four traditional Lakota values:

bravery, generosity, fortitude, and wisdom

.

What are the 4 Native American cultures?

• The Arctic.
• The Subarctic.
• The Northeast.
• The Southeast.
• The Plains.
• The Southwest.
• The Great Basin.
• California.

What are the characteristics of oral tradition?

• repetition of phrases to emphasize points or themes.
• interaction with the audience.
• strong rhythm and meter.
• music, costume, and props.
• idiomatic expressions.
• strong imagery.
• techniques such as onomatopoeia (creating sounds that imitate sounds found in nature)

What is the similarities of oral and written tradition?

Answer: Oral and written forms of communication are similar in many ways. They both rely on the

basic communication process

, which consists of eight essential elements: source, receiver, message, channel, receiver, feedback, environment, context, and interference.

What are the problems of oral tradition?

Oral traditions face

the challenge of accurate transmission and verifiability of the accurate version

, particularly when the culture lacks written language or has limited access to writing tools. Oral cultures have employed various strategies that achieve this without writing.