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Earth Elder Stories : The Pinayzitt Path, By Alexander Wolfe

Decent Essays

Stories that have been passed on for decades by Indigenous people have many cultural values and meanings that can help teach and guide others. In his book Earth Elder Stories: The Pinayzitt Path, Alexander Wolfe’s includes three stories “The Sound of Dancing,” “The Orphan Children,” and “Grandfather Buffalo,” that reveal important Anishinaabe cultural values. In the story “The Sound of Dance,” the value of family sacrifice is shown as a strong Anishinaabe cultural value. In the story “The Orphan Children,” Wolfe expresses the importance of orally transmitted knowledge as a core Anishinaabe cultural value. Then in “Grandfather Bear,” the keeper of knowledge emphasizes the importance of the connection to the past, especially within family relations in Anishinaabe culture. There are many cultural values that can be found in these three stories told my Alexander Wolfe. Family sacrifice is one of many values shown throughout these stories, specifically in the story “The Sound of Dancing”.

There are many cultural values expressed in the story “The Sound of Dancing”. The value of family sacrifice is shown throughout the entire story. The story is based upon a grandfather who sacrifices his life for his grandson in order for him to pass on the knowledge he had given him. During a conversation between the grandfather and grandson, Wolfe writes, “My grandson, the time has come for you to go. I have kept my promise for I have kept you as long as I could. Now you must leave. But

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