Alaska Native storytelling
Due to a new-found language barrier, new generations of Alaska Natives could not communicate with their elders and therefore could not inherit all of the traditional stories.
[1] New technology has also reinvigorated the art through various webcasts and other online mediums; however the amount of native speakers is still declining.
The introduction includes the storyteller’s English and Native names, hometown, family background, and how they learned the story.
When the events are based in a season other than the winter, aspects of an Alaskan summer, like longer days and sunshine, are involved.
When the story is centered during winter, the story-tellers will use the forces in nature such as the snow, wind storms, blizzards, and the ice.
Storytelling in Alaska Native culture is heavily influenced by animals that are a part of the tribes’ everyday lives.
Amongst the many tribes in Alaska, the raven shares the same meanings, such as the trickster, always getting into trouble, events such as bringing light into the world .
As with any culture, there are stories told to explain a broad spectrum of life‘s aspects, and others are created to express humor alone.
Found within many of the stories that have been recorded, some still told today, are a set of valuable life lessons that are handed down through the relationship of the storyteller and the avid listener.
Woven into a great adventure or a fantastic tale various ideals can be easily recognized within many Alaska Native stories.
These ideals are painted directly into the heart of the story making it a great lesson for the avid listener.
Respecting nature, honoring family and tribe, having faith and trust, or getting along with their fellow men are several that are characteristic and thought important enough to pass on.
This guidance offers warnings against apparent evils such as pride, envy, poor decision making, or committing sins.
Schlosser and entitled “How selfishness was rewarded”,[14] a woman uses a magical combination of words to summon fish from the ocean late at night.
The tale ends with, "To this day, the plaintive hoot of the owl may be heard in the wilds of Alaska, reminding those who hear it of the price a young girl once paid for her selfishness.
"[14] The different types of lessons on guidance along with the virtues that are shared and passed along through the tribe’s generations are an important element of the ancient and rich Alaska Native culture and they stories they create.
