Essay: Indian Mysticism

(Image Information: Comanche Camp by George Catlin (1834);
Web Source: Texas Indians)

As I got further and further into the Tejas Legends unit, I began to realize a recurring motif. In each story, something supernatural always seemed to play a key, if not major role in the story. Whether is was a talking animal, or someone with a mysterious power, it was always something out of the ordinary. While it is often the goal of storytelling to preserve one's culture, I think it is often the Native American stories that best do this. Their stories represent their belief in the supernatural, their gods, and their strong connection to the land. They treat the land not as something they live on, but rather something they live with. They believe they coexist with the land, and this shows in their storytelling.

In Why the Woodpecker Pecks, a group of people in a tribe do not heed the advice of the medicine man, and eat a plant that is off limits. It is during this time that a god sees their children in danger and places each one of them in a tree for safety from the sun and coyotes. When the parents realize the children are gone, they beg the god for mercy, and he turns them into birds (woodpeckers).

In other stories such as The Plant that Grows in Trees, The Maiden who Loved A Star, and How Sickness Entered the World (among others), there was much more magic at hand. All of these stories well represent the Native American belief that one must respect his/her elders, the gods, and nature in order to live a full and happy life. Among all of these stories, there’s good little life lessons too (see Why Hummingbirds Only Drink Dew for gambling tips).

These Tejas Legends did a very good job, in my opinion, of representing not only good life lessons for children and young adults, but they also did a great job of giving a view of what life for Native Americans was like. They are a very proud, honorable people who coexist with nature.