Writing systems are not known to exist among Native North Americans before contact with Europeans except among some Mesoamerican cultures, and possibly the South American quipu and North American wampum, although those two are debatable. Oral storytelling traditions flourished in a context without the use of writing to record and preserve history, scientific knowledge, and social practices. While some stories were told for amusement and leisure, most functioned as practical lessons from tribal experience applied to immediate moral, social, psychological, and environmental issues. Stories fuse fictional, supernatural, or otherwise exaggerated characters and circumstances with real emotions and morals as a means of teaching. Plots often reflect real life situations and may be aimed at particular people known by the story's audience. In this way, social pressure could be exerted without directly causing embarrassment or social exclusion. For example, rather than yelling, Inuit parents might deter their children from wandering too close to the water's edge by telling a story about a sea monster with a pouch for children within its reach. One single story could provide dozens of lessons. Stories were also used as a means to assess whether traditional cultural ideas and practices are effective in tackling contemporary circumstances or if they should be revised.
Writing systems are not known to exist among Native North Americans before contact with Europeans except among some Mesoamerican cultures and possibly the South American quipu and North American wampum although those two are debatable Oral storytelling traditions flourished in a context without the use of writing to record and preserve history scientific knowledge and social practices While some stories were told for amusement and leisure most functioned as practical lessons from tribal experience applied to immediate moral social psychological and environmental issues Stories fuse fictional supernatural or otherwise exaggerated characters and circumstances with real emotions and morals as a means of teaching Plots often reflect real life situations and may be aimed at particular people known by the story's audience In this way social pressure could be exerted without directly causing embarrassment or social exclusion For example rather than yelling Inuit parents might deter their children from wandering too close to the water's edge by telling a story about a sea monster with a pouch for children within its reach One single story could provide dozens of lessons Stories were also used as a means to assess whether traditional cultural ideas and practices are effective in tackling contemporary circumstances or if they should be revised