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HAUDENOSAUNEE STORYTELLING |
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| CREATION STORY I | CREATION STORY II |
 Stone Giant, 1978 soapstone by Joe Jacobs, Cayuga |
Traditions, history lessons, and ways of behaving can all be taught by
stories. Haudenosaunee honor those who speak and remember well. Artists also
become storytellers. Here, artist Joe Jacobs depicts the Stone Giant who lives in the rocks. Traditional enemies of the Haudenosaunee, the Stone Giants were much feared cannibals . They lived in upstate New York before the Haudenosaunee, and they resisted being replaced. Like giants everywhere, however, they eventually were outwitted. When they died, their bodies became stones. That is why there are so many stones all around us. The mute stones are reminders that they once thrived. |
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Haudenosaunee have always been acknowledged as great orators. To speak eloquently, to be able to persuade, to be humorous, and to communicate well are considered to be great talents. If a young person showed that he had a good memory, he would be trained to remember the history, treaties and other important events of the people. At certain times, he would be asked to recite those historical accounts and/or speeches so that the people would remember and learn from their past. The chiefs and his helpers need to be able to recite the ceremonial speeches that are passed down through the oral tradition from generation to generation. An equally important form of oration is storytelling. Stories are told to instruct, to influence behavior, to explain why things are the way they are in the natural world and for pure enjoyment. All of these forms of oration hold the essence of Iroquois identity. |
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