The Importance Of Native American Legends

By Tammie Caldwell


Passing traditional customs of a community and offering of solutions to the contemporary problems facing it is achieved through storytelling. Every native setting comprises of their own kind of stories based on their geographical location and the environment they dwell in. All stories have a way that best explains the intended motive. Native American legends are among such stories and have been used so achieve certain functions.

The fact that these legends are told to a line of generations ensure that no member belonging to this community is left out from listening to them. This is an efficient way of bridging the generational gap. Through them, the traditions of communities are passed to each and every member who ensures that the culture is always kept alive.

Most of these legends are told in the native languages. This ensures that the children in the concerned setting are in a position to effectively learn their native languages at first hand since most of the narrators were the elderly in the communities. This is important since the modern education and cultures are known for their ability of eroding culture and embracing foreign languages.

Again, every community has a different explanation of natural occurrences such as weather changes and natural calamities. Legends tell of possible activities that are likely to result in such and also explain an immediate solutions of how to avoid them or what to do in case of their occurrences. This ensures that the community members are well behaved to avoid such happenings.

Every community believes to have their own origin and explanations of how they came into existence. Communities also comprise of their supreme being who is believed to be the creator. Native legends are in a position to give a proper explanation and paint the picture of what the communities believe in a great way. They also explain the relation between the community members and their creator.

Native legends also help in defining the obligation of every member in the community, how they should relate and the family set up. They define the powers bestowed to the appointed rulers and how to elect or appoint them. Boundaries are also set between the members allowing for the upholding of respect on each member. Relations between the present beings and the ancestor are also explained and how to keep the family line growing.

Inclusion of songs, music and dances in stories play a number of roles. They are a source of entertainment when being performed to the community. The wordings carry some meaning with them and are used to pass through some massage. Also members learn the occasions where to sing the songs or dance and the appropriate members to perform them according to the theme of the story.

Existence of superheroes is common in many community legends. They are believed to have different superpowers and are superior to the ordinary members. Such are explained to have done certain services that greatly helped the communities. They act as role models to the young generations who would like to take up their roles or emulate them when they grow. Boundaries for attaining such are set and the interested have to work hard to attain them.




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