For thousands of years, Indigenous Peoples have used storytelling, or Oral Tradition, to transmit knowledge. This was due to the absence of a written language.
Particularly during the winter months, families would gather around the Wigwam’s central fire and tell stories that both entertained and educated. A storyteller was trained to present stories that reflected ancient morals or explanations about the world around them. The audience was expected to listen attentively and to learn these stories for future generations, thus maintaining their knowledge and traditions through time. Storytelling remains an inherent part of Indigenous culture today.
Want to learn more about Native American Storytelling? Two of our virtual learning videos are available below.
