Storytelling continues to be an integral part of Native American culture, allowing us to understand what was important to Native Americans. Through their stories, Native Americans expressed their understanding of the environment and the relationship that existed between them and their environment. These stories also give us insight into Native American legends, history, and a body of knowledge essential to their survival. Native American stories are deeply rooted in their relationship with Mother Earth. Their many years connected to the land, life, water and sky have created many stories explaining these important connections to Mother Earth. Since ancient times, Native Americans have looked to their Creator for messages to help them survive. Native Americans discovered that animals, plants, and rocks all had messages to share with them, messages that they continue to communicate to future generations. Native American stories are as varied as their tribes, all sharing a fundamental theme of respect and care for the resources provided by Mother Earth. However, many traditional Native stories are based on two key concepts: honoring all life, especially the plants and animals that Native Americans depend on, while also honoring the human ancestors who embodied the tribal way of life. Native Americans' use of storytelling continues to be a way to connect their current way of life to their rich history, recalling all the events that are close to their hearts. Storytelling continues to shape Native American society and how it views its history. Storytelling, a rich tradition in Native American culture, continues to be a means by which Native American history and knowledge are... middle of paper. .... to the repression and assimilation of Native American history. As Native American writer and spokesperson Leslie Marmon Silko said in her book “Ceremony,” “you don’t have anything if you don’t have the stories.” It is clear from his statements that tribal history depends on this oral tradition. Through storytelling, we remember loved ones, places, the ordinary, the extraordinary, as well as moments of clarity, sorrow and joy. Through storytelling, knowledge can be successfully passed down from generation to generation. It is clear from the narration that the storytellers do not want the Native Americans to continue on the path of destruction and harm each other. The storyteller, through his story, sends an obvious message to the listeners. Do not repeat the wrongs of our ancestors if we are to survive as a nation.