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"Two Deer" by Acee Blue Eagle exemplifies the rich oral tradition of Native American literature, which has thrived for millennia. This form of storytelling, vital for preserving cultural values, history, and spirituality, highlights the interconnectedness of the natural and spiritual worlds. Despite a history dominated by European narratives, Native Americans welcomed settlers and shared invaluable knowledge of agriculture and survival. This piece not only reflects their heritage but also serves as a reminder of the influence and resilience of Native American voices throughout history.
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Historical significance • Native Americans have been on the continent at least 30 times longer than the Europeans • Despite the fact that no written story of Native Americans exists, archaeologists have deduced a great deal from artifacts • Usually greeted the European settlers as friends • Instructed settlers in their agriculture and woodcraft and introduced them to maize, beans, squash, maple sugar, snowshoes, toboggans and birch bark canoes • Without the help of the Native Americans, settlers would have succumbed to the bitter winters
Literary characteristics • Oral tradition- stories, songs and poems that convey a people’s values, concerns and history by word of mouth • In an oral tradition, telling of a tale may change with each speaker, and words are almost sure to change over time (no “fixed” versions of these literary works exist) • Oratory was prized among Native Americans • Native American literature celebrates the wonders of the natural world and its interconnectedness with the world of the spirit • Origin myth- traditional stories passed from generation to generation that explain different customs, religious rites, natural landmarks and/or events beyond people’s control
