Summary:
The oral tradition of Native American people cannot survive through literary transcription. While literary works easily capture the technical element of the oral tradition, the elements of interaction, participation, and the storyteller's responsibility that are vital to the oral tradition are not present in literary transcriptions. Telling the story is an integral part of Native American culture, and when the role of the storyteller fades away, part of the culture will be lost.
The impact of contemporary Native American authors is not diminished by the fact they fail to fully transcribe tales of the oral tradition into an equally successful literary story. The basic elements of the oral tradition are technically adhered to but the interaction between audience and the teller is absent. The lack of personal interaction with the histories and ethical tales changes the culture of Native Americans. Literary stories are generally published for public consumption. The public, not sensitive to Native culture, then controls the success and future publication of the stories. Societal accountability impacts the marketability and perhaps the integrity of the Native story. The conflict of interest between the working author and the integrity of the Native experience is worthy of mention, if not examination. Contemporary Native authors can not successfully transcribe oral tales.....
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