3. What are the major differences or similarities between the ethos of the creation story or stories you are familiar with and the story King tells in The Truth About Stories?
Since the beginning of this course, I have been pleasantly surprised by the Indigenous creation stories (and Indigenous stories in general for that matter) that we have been exposed to. As someone who was baptised Catholic and went to Catholic private school from kindergarten until high school graduation, I have had a more-than-healthy serving of Christian doctrine served to me throughout my life, as if sweet aunt Fran would not stop piling mashed potatoes onto your plate at Thanksgiving dinner. I understand the reasons my Catholic schools functioned in this way (and I do not have the word count space in this blog post to get into social brainwashing), and it has left me with a pointed outlook on stories of spirituality and belief. To say the Indigenous stories we have been exposed to has been refreshing would be an understatement, for they have rejuvenated my faith in spirituality stories. Below I’ve formulated a list of some differences I’ve found between Bible stories that I’ve been exposed to and Thomas King’s oral retelling of his creation story:
– Bible stories are stern and cold while King’s Indigenous story is steeped in humour and humility
– in Bible stories, the characters that defy God tend to be punished violently while there is no vindictive deity in King’s creation story that threatens the characters
– the archaic language used in the Bible (and they’re keeping it) compared to the casual, conversational tone and approachable language used by King
– Bible lessons see an omnipotent force talking at the listener while the listener (the live audience) is included in King’s story
– The Christian Bible is written and not prone to change while this Indigenous story is oral and is intentionally changeable because Indigenous stories are about “absorbing and transforming their own context as they work to connect and reconnect the past with the present” (Paterson “Lesson 3.2”). In regards to his story, King offers the audience to “do [sic] it what you will” (Massey Lectures)
– Christian stories portray clear hierarchies of power while King’s creation story puts emphasis on the power of working together (Charm and the animals all work together to get mud from the bottom of the ocean, and the Twins create the land)
Besides these specific differences, the tone of the different types of story put them at opposite ends of the spectrum. Generally, Biblical stories are formal while Indigenous stories feel friendly; approaching the Bible is intimidating (because of the reasons stated above) while Thomas King’s story is welcoming (this can also be attributed his orality). In the audio telling of the creation story, King is ensuring the audience is enjoying themselves and lets them laugh. There is not much laughing when a Bible story is being told.
As for similarities… those were more challenging to find. The greatest similarities I can think of are the fantastical elements of both Biblical stories and Indigenous stories; both modes of storytelling use fantasy as a vessel to portray the lessons they are teaching. And to this effect, the presence of supernatural beings is common is both stories (I’m calling Jesus Christ supernatural) which I believe is an effective tool to enhance the power of the stories being told.
Works Cited
Birkey, Del. “New Testament Limits of Authority and Hierarchical Power.” Priscilla Papers: The academic journal of CBE International, 31 July 2001, https://www.cbeinternational.org/resources/article/priscilla-papers/new-testament-limits-authority-and-hierarchical-power.
Hamilton, Adam. “God’s Violence In The Old Testament: The Problem.” Adam Hamilton, 12 August 2014, https://www.adamhamilton.com/blog/gods-violence-in-the-old-testament-the-problem/#.XmQ4PZNKh-U.
Gipp, Samuel C. “Aren’t There Archaic Words In The Bible?” Chick Publications, https://www.chick.com/information/article?id=archaic-words.
King, Thomas. “The Truth About Stories – Part 1.” The 2003 Massey Lectures from CBC Radio, 6 November 2003, https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/the-2003-cbc-massey-lectures-the-truth-about-stories-a-native-narrative-1.2946870.
Paterson, Dr. Erika. “Lesson 3.2.” English 372 99C Canadian Studies, https://blogs.ubc.ca/engl372-99c-2019wc/unit-3/lesson-3-2/.