The Coyote And The Buffalo Analysis

Native American Myths Native Americans used myths to keep traditions alive from generation to generation. They educated their tribes on the experiences and lessons learned from their ancestors in the past. The culture of the Native Americans that was used in these stories are still alive in societies around the world today. In The World on the Turtle’s Back the culture is balanced by the good and bad in the world. The movie “Brother Bear” presents the respect for animals that is still alive and appreciated today, as well as many years ago. The way the word works is similar to the way it worked back in Native American times, which is described in the short myth The Coyote and the Buffalo. The cultures that were portrayed in Native American
But no matter how different opinions are in contrasting lives, the overall culture is similar. Greed and selfishness lead to rough lives in all ways of life. The Native American story The Coyote and the Buffalo displays these morals. In this myth, after the buffalo tries to kill the coyote, the coyote compromises and builds the buffalo a new set of horns. He gives the coyote a buffalo cow for his help, but tells him to never kill the buffalo, just cut off a little meat from his leg. Coyote then decided he wanted to eat the bones, so he goes against his direction and kills the buffalo cow. He has consequences for his greed, being that a woman steals his bones, leaving him with nothing. His selfishness influenced the rest of his life. “Coyote had to return to his own country without a buffalo. And that is why there have never been any buffalo along the swah-netk-qhu” (line 93-96 pg. 52), the coyote never had a buffalo cow again, and neither did the river. Today, the world will give you consequences for your actions. Like this story, if you do what you are told not to do, out of greed or selfishness, you will be punished. Having good morals and values will give you a good life, today and in Native American