Native American culture has struggled to survive after the English settlers invaded and forced the Natives through war, starvation, diseases, and assimilation into English culture. The Native American people managed to keep their many legends and stories alive by being passed down through many generations. These many tales express important life lessons about things such as peace, life, death, and harmony with nature. Mythology plays an important role in Native American religion. Creation myths or legends are stories that explain how their tribe came to be and are some of the most well-known and popular for Native American tribes to tell their people. In creating and sharing these myths or legends people were able to explain everyday natural occurrences, as well as their beginnings on this Earth. They show the respect that the Nation's first people had for ancient wisdom, and how nature played an important and glorified role in everyday life. Native American stories have many common themes, traditional Native American stories are based on honoring all life. This especially includes the plants and animals that they depend on, as well as their human ancestors. Standing Bears “Nature” explains that the Earth and Native American culture go hand in hand with the use of legends and myths that explain daily life and relations by humanizing Native history.
Personification happens frequently in many Native American myths and legends. Almost every story that has been told to explain daily life occurrences has some element of personification in it. Standing Bear’s “Nature” is no exception. According to the Author’s Craft website, “ Personification connects readers with the object that is personified. Personification can make descriptions of non-human entities more vivid, or can help readers understand, sympathize with, or react emotionally to non-human characters ``.According to a scholarly article in the book “Native American Voices” by Susan Lobo, Steve Talbot, and Traci L. Morris, certain lakes, mountains, springs, rock formations, and caves are a huge part of sacred landmarks in Native American culture. Giving things such as water, rocks, soil, and the wind human-like qualities allowed the Native Americans to feel a deeper sense of connection and appreciation for all the elements that made up what they commonly called “Mother Earth”. An example of personification in Standing Bears' “Nature” would be the quote “When talking to the children, the old Lakota people would place a hand on the ground and say “we sit in the lap of our mother” This is an example of the Lakota people referring to the Earth as their mother and this reference is seen throughout Bear’s work. The Lakota people care for the Earth and treat it as a human to care more deeply about the world around them.
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Standing Bear’s “Nature” references multiple times the sacredness of “Mother Earth” and how all things are connected to the singular life force. The text talks about how much of a naturist- lover of nature the Lakota people were. The elderly would prefer to sit on the ground instead of chairs because they felt the soil was healing. “This is why the old Indian Still sits upon the Earth instead of propping himself up away from its life-giving forces. For him, to sit or lie upon the ground is to be able to think more deeply and to feel more keenly; he can see more clearly into the mysteries of life and come closer to kinship to others' lives about him” This is an example of Standing Bear explaining the importance of nature and the benefits of staying connected to the Earth. The Lakota people came from Earth and to Earth they shall return, therefore it is important to never lose touch with where they came from. Without the Earth, The Lakota people would be nothing so they are grateful for what “Mother Earth” has given them. An example of an Indian Legend in which natives show appreciation for the Earth is called “The Lost Girl”. According to the historical website “Creative Spirits,” the story about the loss goes as follows: A young girl was playing a game of hide-and-seek and while waiting for her siblings to find her she fell asleep. When she woke up it was nighttime and she had to try and find her way back home to the village. When she became thirsty she stopped by a waterhole to drink, when hungry, she picked some berries from a bush. Then the night grew colder, so she huddled beneath an overhanging rock to protect herself from the cold wind. Suddenly the young girl saw a crow in the tree beside her it kept chirping at her and she followed the crow until she saw her Village fire. Once she made it home her brother asked her if she was scared and the girl said, “ How could I be frightened? I was with my Mother. When I was thirsty, she gave me water; when I was hungry, she fed me; when I was cold, she warmed me. And when I was lost, she showed me the way home.” This story shows the connection the Native people have with Nature and how they have a codependent relationship.
In conclusion, Native American culture is about interacting with nature respectfully and allowing all life forms to coexist. Humans are viewed as part of the natural system which makes all life forms related to humans and therefore all of the Earth's features must be treated with respect(Anderson, Muratto 194). The natural world is the focal point of Native American culture. From this Foundation comes a deeper understanding of the natural order of the world as well as the appropriate role of human beings in it. Humans are viewed as equals to other animals who are also bound to the life-giving “Mother Earth” from who they will return. The telling of myths and legends reminds one about their family and Community pasts. Myths and legends also teach how things came to be as they are today and state the right behavior for ensuring that Generations will continue a balanced relationship with the natural world.
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