Stories to Pass On

Cultural narratives, histories and traditions as told by Indigenous communities are often meant to be passed down from one generation to the next either in formal educational settings or informally through close or extended family and community ties. Some, such as Coyote Stories may be humorous commentaries on the universal human condition designed to help young people understand the nature of relationships and the common situations or difficulties encountered throughout the different stages of life. Others, such as creation stories are related more to questions of origins, our place in the universe, relationships with animals, the cosmos or the spirit world. While stories of battle and historical sites can sometimes be checked against the historical record, differences in the telling can also shed light on cultural discrepancies and perspectives. Taken as a whole, these stories are important in documenting and contributing to a strong sense of cultural identity and cohesion.

 

About our Stories