American Indian Myths and Legends by Richard Erodoes and Alfonso Ortiz

I must say, that I had become a fan of Native American myths and legends after reading these pieces selected by Erodoes and Ortiz. What had made me a fan was that the myths and legends was of great humor to me. Not only was it quite humorous to me as a reader, it also came to me as very absurd and eccentric stories. However, I believe those were the traits that made these myths and legends such an interesting and compelling read.

Both Ortiz and Erdoes display true passion for Native American folklore in the opening pages. However, it was clear to see that Ortiz and Erdoes were very disappointed in modern Native American culture. They claim that it has been “white-manized”, and that it is extremely difficult to obtain knowledge of ancient Native American tales in the modern day.

Not only was Ortiz and Erdoes passionate about Native American folklore, they were very much trying to inspire readers to preserve it. For example, they would continue to reiterate how important language is and how vital these myths and legends truly are to the survival of Native American culture. Ortiz and Erdoes considered these myths and legends to be emblems that represented the Native American as people. In addition, they claimed that these tales are the only things that connect the modern day Native American people to their ancestors’ centuries in the past. This commitment and passion displayed by Erodoes and Ortiz really did sway me as a reader and a person that will appreciate Native American literature.