How do you celebrate holidays? Do you eat special foods? Do you do certain things each year?
The answers to these questions are examples of customs, or ways of doing things. Many American Indian groups had customs and celebrations that showed their respect for the land. The customs and celebrations were often part of a tribe’s religion, or beliefs about gods and spirits.
Now imagine sitting around a warm fire and listening to a story. Sounds cozy! Before American Indians used written languages, children listened to stories to learn about their culture. Some stories taught children how to act. Some told about the tribe’s history. Other stories explained the tribes’ beliefs about the world and how it came to be.