The Great Bear

The quote “Truly, the only immortal thing in either world was stories” (173) from The Great Bear resonates within the framework of Indigenous cultures, in which storytelling is not just a mode of expression but a vital conduit to understanding the world and maintaining a connection with the past. In these cultures, stories, myths, and words are not static entities; they are dynamic, living forces that imbue life and animate the world around us.

Central to many Indigenous worldviews is the concept of animacy, where everything in the universe is alive and interconnected. Stories, in this context, are more than just narratives; they are inherent in nature itself. They give voice to the mountains, rivers, animals, and ancestors, ensuring that these entities are not merely objects in the landscape but active participants in the ongoing story of existence. This view of animacy elevates storytelling to a sacred act, one that breathes life into the past and makes the ancestors present.

Indigenous myths and legends, therefore, are not merely tales of what has been but living narratives that continue to evolve and adapt. Each telling of a story is not just a