The Apache Creation stories are important to learn about in American Literature classes. The Apache tribe is part of the origins of America and therefore their culture is important to every American’s life. It is in the nature of humans to wonder about the unknown and search for answers. At the foundation of nearly every culture is a creation myth that explains how the wonders of the earth came to be. These myths have an immense influence on people's frame of reference. It is critical for people to learn of these myths because they can influence the way people think about the world and their place in relation to their surroundings

In the beginning, there was nothing, only darkness. Suddenly a small man appeared and he created four other gods, and together they created the earth. They soon found out from a hummingbird that the west side of the earth was covered in water and that there will be a mighty flood. The first woman, White Painted Woman, was the only one who survived the great Flood by floating in an abalone shell. For this she is also called, White Shell Woman. On a mountain, she was impregnated by the sun, and gave birth of a son, Killer of Enemies.

The creation myths were also very important to the Native Americans because they contained symbolism and personification to express the central themes. Many creation myths contain the theme of birth. Birth represents new life, and the beginning of life on earth is symbolic to the beginning of a child's life. Also a supreme being appears in almost every myth. However some myths contain more than one supreme being, but these sources of power are what trigger the train of events that create the world. Living in harmony with animals also play key roles in many creation myths. They were often viewed as equals by the Native Americans, and they showed this through their stories by personification. In the Apache stories, the animals showed human-like emotions and characteristics. Their myths told of a time when animals and humans lived in harmony. The roles of the animals in the myths may have reflected the feelings of the individual culture for animals. The White Mountain Apaches’ main overriding theme is the change and maturation of a girl into a woman. Today, the Apaches celebrate puberty ceremonies in which they recreate the creation story.

The style of the creation myths are unique because they were orally past down from generation to generation. Because the stories were not formally recorded, selected members of the communities became honored storytellers. They committed the legends, myths, and teachings of their people to memory, though they may have used sand paintings, birch bark scrolls, or drawings on animal hides and stones to jog their recollections. These sacred tellers of tales became, in a sense, walking collections of literature. The proverbial truths contained in their poetry, songs, stories, and prose were passed on from one generation to the next. Creation m

Some topics in this essay:
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