“Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun”

1. “Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun” Emma Birky, Kaity Gaskill, Joselyn Simms

2. Background - Zuni • New Mexico • Discovered and named by Fray Marcos de Miza • Pueblo Indians • Were influenced by Catholic missionaries

3. Background Cont’d • Cycle of religious ceremonies • Earth Mother, Sun Father, and Moonlight-Giving Mother • Sun is seen as giver of life • Friendly towards Americans, jealous of Mexicans, hate Navajo - “bitter enemies”

4. Background Cont’d • Spoke Zuni, but no written literature • Passed on traditions through tales, myths and legends • Culture dependant upon oral literature • Much of culture is lost because stories have been forgotten • What oral stories were you told as a child?

5. “Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun” • Reflection of times: Pre-Civil War – Civil War = many Indian tribes being forced out of land, onto reservations • This caused death of Indian cultures • Important: Shows that culture is dying because it is one of the few stories the Zuni have left

6. “Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun” • Meaning of title • Prayer • Eight days after birth, presented infant to Sun Father

7. “Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun” • Symbol: passing of life from one generation to the next. Where is evidence of this? • Last stanza: What happens when “your road is fulfilled”? • What modern traditions reflect the Zuni culture?