Native American Origin Myth

Study Guide

“Prepare to Read” p. 14

  1. Create a chart on your own paper like the one below and identify the name of each tribe listed on page 14, their location, and their major attributes (qualities, characteristics, contributions, etc.).

Name / Location / Attributes
1.
2.
3.
4.

“Literary Analysis” p. 15

  1. Define “origin myth.”
  2. Identify the three characteristics of an origin myth.
  3. Define “oral tradition.”
  4. Identify what three things these stories, poems and songs convey (express).
  5. Identify the types of information these stories pass on to the next generation.
  6. Define “cultural details.”

“The Earth on Turtle’s Back” by the Onondaga-Northeast woodlands Tribe

Background p. 16

  1. What did Native Americans have a great respect for?
  2. What did they believe about each creature?
  3. What was a “Great Spirit”?
  4. What did the Native Americans revere?
  5. What does Native American folklore portray (feature)?

p. 17 – 18

  1. What words at the beginning of this story identify it as an origin myth?
  2. Describe the “great and beautiful tree” of Skyland.
  3. Who lives there?
  4. In what condition is the wife?
  5. What does the wife dream?
  6. How does the chief react to the wife’s dream? What does this indicate about the tribe’s beliefs about dreams?
  7. Who tries to initially pull up the tree? Who eventually pulls up the tree?
  8. What happens to the wife?
  9. What does she take with her?
  10. Why doesher falling generate concern among the animals?
  11. What plan do the animals devise to help Sky Woman?
  12. Describe the actions of the swans, duck, beaver, loon and muskrat.
  13. What kind of bird is a loon? What kind of animal is a muskrat? (Use dictionary)
  14. What human characteristics are exhibited through the actions of the animals?
  15. Who eventually brings up the earth? What is significant about this particular animal bringing up the earth?
  16. Where is the “earth” put?
  17. Whom do the Onondaga credit with bringing Earth into existence?
  18. What contributions does Sky Woman make to Earth’s existence?
  19. What characteristics of the turtle are explained in this myth?
  20. From this myth, what can you conclude about the relationship between the Onondaga and their natural environment?
  21. Muskrat makes a risky and desperate swim. How does society benefit from brave actions like this?
  22. What biblical event is this myth similar to?

“When Grizzlies Walked Upright” by the Modoc Indian Tribe

p. 19 – 21

  1. What is the name of the “great spirit” in this myth?
  2. Where does his live?
  3. Explain the natural phenomenon (occurrence) described in the first paragraph?
  4. How does the Sky Spirit create the following:
  5. trees
  6. rivers
  7. beaver and otter
  8. fish
  9. birds
  10. grizzly bears
  11. Describe what grizzlies look like when they are first created.
  12. Why does the Sky Spirit send the grizzlies away to live in the forest at the base of the mountain?
  13. Describe the natural phenomenon in which Sky Spirit and his family live. What do we know it as today?
  14. What happens to Sky Spirit’s daughter that lands her at the bottom of the mountain?
  15. What does the daughter’s long red hair symbolize?
  16. What happens to the little girl?
  17. When she becomes a young woman, what happens as a result of her marriage?
  18. How is Little Mount Shasta “created”?
  19. What does the mother grizzly bear do when she realizes she is dying?
  20. How does the Sky Spirit initially react to mother grizzly bear’s confession?
  21. What was created as a result of his response?
  22. What does the Sky Spirit realize when he finds his daughter?
  23. How does he react to this realization?
  24. What is his reaction in regard to the grizzly bears?
  25. What does Sky Spirit’s reaction tell you about him?
  26. What does he do with his daughter?
  27. What natural occurrence results from his actions?
  28. When mother grizzly bear confesses, what does that reveal about the culture’s view of responsibility or guilt?
  29. Whose “origin” does this Modoc legend explain?

“From The Navajo Origin Legend by the Navajo Tribe

p. 22-23

  1. What is significant/symbolic about the use of the number “twelve” in the first paragraph?
  2. What is an “ablution”?
  3. What is significant/symbolic about the use of the number “four”?
  4. Identify the stages of the Navajo creation ceremony.
  5. What do the order and ritual of the ceremony tell you about the Navajo people?
  6. What might “Blue Body” and “Black Body” represent?
  7. What items are apparently significant to the Navajo based on their use in the ceremony?
  8. What is significant about the directions east and west?
  9. What was “created” from the ceremony?
  10. What is the wind’s role in the ceremony?
  11. How does the wind’s role contrast with the order and ritual of the ceremony?
  12. In the second to last paragraph, what individual characteristic is explained?
  13. What biblical event is this myth similar to?