“Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun”

Emma Birky, Kaity Gaskill, Joselyn Simms

Background - Zuni New Mexico Discovered and named by Fray Marcos

de Miza Pueblo Indians Were influenced by Catholic missionaries

Background Cont’d Cycle of religious ceremonies Earth Mother, Sun Father, and Moonlight-

Giving Mother Sun is seen as giver of life Friendly towards Americans, jealous of

Mexicans, hate Navajo - “bitter enemies”

Background Cont’d Spoke Zuni, but no written literature Passed on traditions through tales, myths

and legends Culture dependant upon oral literature Much of culture is lost because stories

have been forgotten What oral stories were you told as a child?

“Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun”

Reflection of times: Pre-Civil War – Civil War = many Indian tribes being forced out of land, onto reservations

This caused death of Indian cultures Important: Shows that culture is dying

because it is one of the few stories the Zuni have left

“Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun”

Meaning of title Prayer Eight days after birth, presented infant to

Sun Father

“Prayer Spoken While Presenting an Infant to the Sun”

Symbol: passing of life from one generation to the next. Where is evidence of this?

Last stanza: What happens when “your road is fulfilled”?

What modern traditions reflect the Zuni culture?