Storytelling: Values in indigenous cultures

While in a previous post ive talked about indigenous cultures and storytelling, i decided to do another post as one part of my minor project has to be about cultural research and the indigenous cultures interests me so without further ado

Values:  
Stories in indigenous cultures encompass a variety of values. These values include an emphasis on individual responsibility, concern for the environment and communal welfare [Hodge, et al]

These values are passed down from older generations to change and shape how their communities function. Storytelling is often attributed for passing on knowledge and understanding allowing the values of "self" and "community" to connect and be learned as a whole, For example in the Navajo tribe (mentioned in the other post) allows for community values to be learned at different times and places for different learners. With stories being spiritual in nature focusing on the perspectives of other people, animals and elements of the earth. Leading the children to learn the value of their place in the world as a person in relation to others. 

Generally stories are used as informal tools of these communities allowing for them to be used as an alternative method for reprimanding children's bad behavior. In this way, stories are non-confrontational, which allows the child to discover for themselves what they did wrong and what they can do to adjust the behavior. [Marie Battiste] Other Examples can be seen in the parents of the Arizona Tewa community, who teach morals by traditional methods these Lessons focus on several topics including historical or "sacred" stories or more domestic disputes. Through this type of storytelling, the Tewa community emphasizes the traditional wisdom of the ancestors and the importance of collective as well as individual identities.[Kroskrity, P. V.] Some Indigenous communities teach children valuable skills and morals through the actions of good or mischievous stock characters while also allowing room for children to make meaning for themselves.This technique allows the children to depend on their own experiences to make up their minds and fill in the gaps.

When children listen to stories, they periodically vocalize their ongoing attention and accept the extended turn of the storyteller. The emphasis on attentiveness to surrounding events and the importance of oral tradition in indigenous communities teaches children the skill of keen attention. For example, Tohono O'odham American Indian communities children who tended to move towards more cultural practices  were able to recall verbal story events better than those that did not. Body movements and gestures also helped to communicate values and keep stories alive for future generations.

Storytelling also serves to deliver a particular message during spiritual and ceremonial functions. In the ceremonial use of storytelling, the unity building theme of the message becomes more important than the time, place and characters of the message. Once the message is delivered, the story is finished. As cycles of the tale are told and retold, story units can recombine, showing various outcomes for a person's actions. [Kira VanDeusen]














[Hodge, et al]: Utilizing Traditional Storytelling to Promote Wellness in American Indian Communities.

Marie Battiste: Indigenous Knowledge and Pedagogy in First Nations Education: A Literature Review with Recommendations. 

[Kroskrity, P. V.]: "Narrative reproductions: Ideologies of storytelling, authoritative words and generic regimentation in the village of Tewa.

[Kira VanDeusen]: Raven and the Rock: Storytelling in Chukotka.