Storytelling from a culture perspective

Different cultures throughout history have taken different approaches to documenting history.  The Egyptians, for example, used hieroglyphics as a means to communicate their stories in scared temples, in tombs, and in architecture.  The Roman Empire used scribes to document religious epiphanies, historical events, and even business transactions.  Storytelling is one way that is unique among the rest.  The Native American’s used narratives as a means to guide their everyday life. My grandma used to tell me about her mother (my great-grandmother), a full blooded Sioux woman who would tell her many stories of Native American mythology. According to Wikipedia:

“Native American mythology is the body of traditional narratives associated with Native American religion from a mythographical perspective. Native American belief systems include many sacred narratives. Such spiritual stories are deeply based in Nature and are rich with the symbolism of seasons, weather, plants, animals, earth, water, sky & fire. The principle of an all-embracing, universal and omniscient Great Spirit, a connection to the Earth, diverse creation narratives and collective memories of ancient ancestors are common. Traditional worship practices are often a part of tribal gatherings with dance, rhythm, songs and trance”

There are quite a few things that can be inferred from this; firstly, Native Americans used this as a means to not only document history but to create mythology from it. Narratives and folk tale legends such as BlackFeet Tales, Chief Mountain, and Old Man and the Beginning of the World are among a few that were told in cultural ceremonies. They used it as a means to warn their people and create a belief system of morals by which could guide their lives.  Regardless of whether these narratives were true or not, they served a higher purpose of guiding these people.In this day and age, what do you believe would be our generation’s equivalent to these narratives? Tell me what you think!