Creation Myths and Archetypes

Native American tribes used oral tradition to pass down stories through the generations. Because of the nature of oral tradition, the stories evolved and changed over time. Many creation myths, or stories to explain the origin of the world and its people, included personified animals as major characters. They often explained why the earth looks the way it does, why the tribes live where they do, how the people learned to speak, and what they believe life will look like in the future.

Many Native American myths include archetypes, literary devices found throughout cultures and time periods. In fact, modern stories and films still use archetypes or perfect examples of types of characters, plot lines, and themes. One main archetype in “Coyote and the Monster of Kamiah" is Coyote himself, the Trickster.