Losing a Library

Kane's chapter on patterns continues further to talk about the importance of mythtelling. He reiterates the notion of conservatism expressed by Ong for respect for the old focusing on the tried and true as he states: "No wonder the natives say losing an elder is like losing an entire library." p. 38 Kane also informs how these mythtellers use their tales for purposes of practicality as well. "In traditional cultures much of this practical knowledge is conveyed by mythtelling. It is conveyed by stories." p. 39. I don't know about you but when I was a kid, I most definately listend better when it was in the form of a story and not a lecture accompanied by a pointed finger. Perhaps one of my favorite stories that demonstrate the very real purpose of some practical myths appears with the story of the white berries.

"This is something I was told as a child. If you're hungry, don't eat the white berries. But I never knew the story of Nanabozo who made that mistake one day, and had to climb a tree to escape from his mounting pile of diarrhea. Nanabozo is the trickster god of the Algonkians. His name is heard in the Algonkina greeting"Bozo!" I is a kind of "God bless you!"...Nanabozo teaches by negative example. He teachers by telling you what not to do. 'Nobody eats me! Nobody eats me!' the berry tree screamed at Nanabozo one day. Perverse as always, Nanabozo ate the berries on the white berry tree. Even the birds knew better than he did. soon enough, he was squatting on the lower limb of a tree. But the stuff came higher-it just kept coming and coming. He moved higher, then higher, until he was sitting on the very top of the tree trying to escape the mountain of diarrhea that was rising up to meet him. No, it is not a good idea to eat white berries." p 39