Each story, each myth of Native American stories represents emotion or some moral value. Take for instance the story of the first tears.
Along the waters edge were many seals. Man needed food, and clothing so he chose a seal much older and slower than the others. As he slowly approached the seal spied him and slid into the water. Salty water seeped from his eyes and strange choking sounds came from his mouth. Such a strange emotion he had never felt before.
Son heard fathers cries and called to woman what could this strange thing be? He told them of seals loss before this strange emotion. Son and woman began to cry as well, and that was the first tears. That story comes from the Inuits in Alaska.
Later man and son killed a seal and made a snare to catch more seals.
The Lakota received a sacred peace pipe from a White Buffalo Calf Woman. Two warriors were hunting and spied a white buffalo calf approaching them. It turned into a young Indian girl.
One she took away both flesh and blood for entertaining evil thoughts, the other prayed lest she did the same to him.
She bade him tell hid people in four days they would receive a sacred bundle. True to her word it was delivered as stated. She spent four days among the Lakotas teaching them the meaning of the sacred bundle.
There are stories of earth making which is portrayed by animals. Among them is Grandfather Buzzard, water beetle, and the poor crawfish who became red from the hot sun.
Another story told of the flooded earth and there was no more fire. The people sent owl too look around for hawk was dead. Lizard watched owl and gave reports. Smoke coming from a lodge got owls attention. The next day they traveled to the lodge and asked to warm their hands. After stealing fire they ran, but it was all for nothing, or was it?
People made rain to drown fire from torches and as the group returned they were saddened, all but the dog. Fox was angry because dog was happy. Dog had punk in his ear which was burning fire.
There are many lessons to be learned, many hardships they faced, and many spirits to guide them. Animals played a major role in their stories such as the white buffalo, fox, wolf, hawk, and the owl.
Nature even played an important role. They believed in father sun and mother earth.
There are so many stories from native American History. Which are legend, which are myth, and which are truth? Its hard to tell but they are a most fascinating collection of tales.