Native Americans use storytelling to get to know one another, as well as, passing history and messages on to newer generations. These stories are a heritage, but they will be known only as long as they are told. When someone ceases to tell a story, part of our cultural knowledge is gone. The stories of Native American Indians have always possessed some greater meaning. They are often based in nature or about animals. And even though the tribes may vary in location or beliefs, deep within you will find a common thread. Respect for nature can be heard in stories from tribes from Canada to Florida.
The stories included in this book show Native American storytelling at its best. These stories have been passed from generation to generation as with tradition, and have been left as much intact as possible. I was born Cherokee, and I learned many of these stories from my grandfather as a child, just as other Cherokee children did. As with tradition, these stories are now shared with you, to go forward and share with a future generation.
This book contains stories such as: How the Wildcat Caught the Gobbler, How the Terrapin Beat the Rabbit, The Raven, Why Rabbit Has A Short Tail, The Ballgame Between the Birds and the Animals, The Hunting of the Great Bear, Coyote and Porcupine, The Badger and the Bear, The White Faced Bear, Run, Rabbit, Run, The Bear And The Rabbit Hunt Buffalo, The Elk Spirit of Lost Lake, The Origin of the Thunderbird, Origin of the Buffalo and many, many more.