Southeast+Indian+Mythology

Assignments: Introduction - Ashley Conclusion - Katie Body Paragraphs and Summary - Stephanie

Their culture contains many stories about natural occurrences and unexplained happenings. Their stories contain many great morals such as in our myth "The deer w ho killed himself against a tree." The moral of our story is "What goes around comes around"
 * T**he Southeastern Indians are a diverse group of people with a fascinating culture. This group of people are located in the region containing the states south of the Mason-Dixon Line, and east of the Mississippi.**

We chose this myth because it combined many elements of other various stories we've read, into a simple one. For starters, it reflects the culture by personifying the animals, giving them will as if they were human, regardless if they could actually do such things. ( I mean, how could a opossum skin a deer?) It also illustrates the many different personality traits that are dominant in many of other myths. The innocent, the clever, the brawn, and the helping hand. In this myth, all the fuss is to do about a deer. These Native Americans were very reliant on their deer hunting, and their fears of the wolf taking away these deer is present. Myths were not only used to explain things, but to teach things. There is a underlying fear factor in the story of the wolf, giving a reason to be afraid of them. Wolves are a major consumer of deer. To the natives, it feels like the wolf is nothing but a stealer, taking away a food source, and not properly using it. The quail on a side note may be a symbol of help, maybe being related to the elders of the culture. Being helpful, but not asking for much. This unique type of mythology is quite different then Greek and Roman mythology, but they do have their similarities. The archetypes are ever present. Examples: ( The innocent, the destroyer. (The fawn, the wolf.) In that one particular myth.) They share a likeness in that the characters have identifiable archetypes, and the characters have obvious roles and positions in the story process. Then there is of course the explaining of natural happenings, such as the characteristics of animals. In many stories, they both rely on the gods and goddesses for their necessities and wants, and worship and sacrifice to stories they believe to be true. The Native American deities hold a little less power then the Greek/Roman ones do. And they both share multiple (polytheistic) deities. So as you can see, the Southeastern Native Americans had a very interesting (and sometimes very strange) mythology. It was very fun for us to research this culture and has been somewhat of an.........enlightening experience. You've seen how this culture relates to the Greek and Roman mythology, and also how it differs. You can also tell how the culture tries to teach their people and their children life-lessons through their stories. There are many good morals to the stories they've told and we've barely scratched the surface by telling just this one story, hope you enjoyed it.
 * The myth we chose was the story of a opossum tricking a deer. The deer wanted some persimmons from a tree, and the opossum being crafty, told the deer to run into the tree with a stick. Which of course, killed the deer. Opossum skinned it, but as he was cooking it, Wolf came and demanded that he cook for him, otherwise he will eat him, period. Opossum being a very sensitive individual was crying, and a group of quails heard him. They came to his rescue, scaring the wolf away. There are a couple of morals you could get from this. Working together gets the job done, perseverance, and that even the biggest baddest guys can be scared off.
 * S**outh eastern native American culture is heavily influenced by nature and the comings and goings of daily lives, thus sprouting many myths and legends. The myth "The Deer Who Killed Himself Against A Tree" for example, is told for many reasons. It may not necessarily explain directly the nature of humanity, but indirectly it links up. They most likely told this, to explain the natural tendencies of the various animals that they are surrounded with and live off of. ( Yes, they eat opossums and quails regularly.) There is also the possibility, that it was told just as a fun tale. A story of sorts to teach some of the moral values that they held high. Like the earning of your prize, and the helping of a fellow in need.

 (Referenced in the essay; Full story) The Myth: The Deer Who Killed Himself Against A Tree

Opossum returned and fixed up his fire for the meat. While he was doing so a multitude of Quails came flying near. They made a rumbling noise. In a little while it grew into a thundering sound and so very loud that Wolf got scared. "What is that noise," he said to Opossum. "People are coming and I am going to run off at once," Opossum said to Wolf. Wolf jumped up and ran off, whereupon the Quails made more of the rumbling noise. Wolf disappeared and Opossum's meat was saved, and Opossum said to the Quails, "You have helped me very much. Wolf had cheated me and was going to eat up all of my food, but you helped me. Now I am going to eat Fawn meat." He asked them to eat with him but the Quails said, "You must eat it yourself. We were just helping you." So the Quails went away and Opossum devoured all of the meat. This is how it is told.
 * O**possum climbed a persimmon tree, shook it, and ate the fruit. While he was doing so a Fawn came up and said, "What are you eating?" "It is an apple," he answered. The Fawn said, "Give me one so that I can try it." When the Opossum gave him one, the Fawn tried it and found it good. Then the Fawn said to Opossum, "How do you get it down to eat it?" "Put a stick in your nose, run against the apple tree, and when you strike it they will fall off and you can eat," he said. "If that is so, I will do it and knock some down to eat," the Fawn replied. He stuck a stick into his nose, ran back, struck against the persimmon tree and killed himself. Then Opossum skinned him, and when he was about to cook the meat, Wolf found him. He said to Opossum, "Make a good fire and cook it. If you do not do that I will kill you." Opossum was crying. While he was gathering a little dry wood with which to start his fire some Quails wandering about said, "Friend, why are you going about crying?" "I killed a little Fawn, and while I was roasting it, Wolf came and took it away from me, and so I am going about crying," said Opossum to the Quails. "If that is so," said the Quails, "go back to the meat and stir your fire and we will help you."

- http://nativeamericans.mrdonn.org/southeast/cherokee.html - http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/se/mtsi/mtsi114.htm - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Chromesun_mississippian_birdman.jpg - http://www.snowwowl.com/images/pantherwarriortm.jpg - http://sp1.yt-thm-a04.yimg.com/image/25/f12/628170173 - http://sp1.yt-thm-a01.yimg.com/image/25/f10/341132025
 * Resources and Notes:** - http://www.opossum.org/facts.htm
 * Pictures Credits:**

http://www.questia.com/library/sociology-and-anthropology/myth-and-folklore/native-american-folklore.jsp http://www.nativeweb.org/
 * Websites For More Information:** http://www.sacred-texts.com/nam/se/mtsi/index.htm