A SHIFT FROM MYTHOLOGY TO HISTORY: A HISTORICAL AWAKENING OF THE NATIVE

Abstract [English]

This paper delves into the pivotal role of oral tradition in Native American culture, as embodied in N. Scott Momaday's seminal work, The Way to Rainy Mountain. By weaving together personal experience, ancestral memories, and verbal narratives, Momaday mounts a compelling challenge to Eurocentric historical documentation, reclaiming Native American identity, culture, and history in the process. Through a critical examination of Momaday's narrative strategies, this study explores how he employs Native aesthetics to transcend the dominant Western epistemological frameworks that have historically marginalized Native American voices. By subverting the traditional boundaries of documented history, Momaday's work offers a powerful counter-narrative that redefines the parameters of historical truth. Furthermore, this paper reexamines the erasure and misrepresentation of Native American culture through Eurocentric documentation, highlighting the ways in which dominant narratives have perpetuated cultural amnesia and historical distortion. By relooking at the intersections of history, culture, and power, this study aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics underlying Native American cultural heritage. Ultimately, this research seeks to illuminate the significance of oral tradition as a vital means of preserving cultural memory, resisting dominant narratives, and reclaiming indigenous epistemologies. By centering Native American voices and perspectives, this study strives to promote a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of American history and culture.