Native American Literature (Week 4)

Native American Literature is deeply rooted in a marriage of the natural world and spirituality, as shared through oral tradition. These themes are displayed in “The Conquest of Mexico” from Book 12, Florentine Codex, "The Night Chant (Orature Section)" from Navajo Ceremony, and “Yellow Woman” by Leslie Marmon Silko. Each piece of literature features natural resources like water, wood, clay, iron and animals like hens and horses. The stories of the Native American culture are passed down generationally and are entrenched in historical heritage. “The Conquest of Mexico” tells the story of King Montezuma II, while the “Yellow Woman” is more of a portrayal of what everywoman of the Laguna culture embodies. Finally, “The Night Chant” is a calling upon of the ancestor spirits to bring about healing to the present.

            One of the ways I would present these themes to high school students is to first focus on the aspect of sharing through oral traditions. We would play the telephone game for an illustration of how information or details can change over time. After experimenting with the game, each student would be instructed to write out a brief one-page story about one aspect of his/her family history. Then students would share their stories with one another until they had been passed though enough and retold. Another way to engage students in the theme of nature and spirituality would be research and present fun presentations on spirit animals and then make brief you tube commercials about each animal. A final assignment would be an personal essay on how each celebrates his own spiritual celebrations drawing out relationships to nature. Students would have a rubric to follow and would be required to include a 8-12 line chant celebrating life.

Reference

http://www.gcumedia.com/digital-resources/ww-norton/2016/the-norton-anthology-of-world-      literature_v1-and-v2-custom_ebook_1e.php