Native Americans use wilderness in their tales to represent many themes and ideas. They lived closely with nature and had deep respect for the creatures and the landscape. This respect and communion with the earth is evident in the roles played by creatures, plants and earth in their tales.
The Pima and Iroquois creation tales have many differences, but carry similar themes. Both peoples describe creation with respect to their natural environments. The Pima of the Gila River mention grease wood, coyotes and buzzards, the sun and moon. These all are elements that are prominent in the southwest. If you have been to the southwest, you will understand how amazingly close and bright the stars and the moon seem there. The Iroquois of the Great lakes and Hudson River talk about great water beasts, fruitful vegetation and a turtle. Both tales discuss darkness and light,
My definition of wilderness, a place untainted by civilization, a great journey,etc. can be compared to these stories. I don't think they are exactly the same, but they aren't in disagreement either. I think the indigenous people of the Americas were much more connected to the land than I am capable of understanding. They speak of the earth and of wilderness as people that live among it. As much as I love nature, I am separate from nature, so my perception is naturally different.
An interesting thought, as an aside, is the Iroquois tale's discussion of the bad mind and the good mind. The good mind "continued the works of creation" and " appointed thunder to water the earth by frequent rains, agreeable to the nature of the system." The bad mind "attempted to enclose all the animals of game in the earth, so as to deprive them from mankind. . ." I thought that was interesting.
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