Check Your Sources...

...especially if they're "Indian legends." Many, or perhaps most "Indian legends" aren't actually Indian stories. The post is really worth reading in full, because it discusses how to find out what stories are authentic, why it matters, and how it all relates to colonialism - all of which is relevant to research methods as well.

Authentic indigenous stories come from a different cultural context than you may be familiar with. That should be obvious, but I think that it bears noting. If you go into these stories expecting to have your cultural beliefs and norms reinforced, you’re dong it wrong. Trite western moral lessons are not going to be handed to you in our stories.

Listening to or reading authentic aboriginal stories means you are accessing different cultures. Please don’t forget that. And the next time someone tells you a “Native American” saying or story, ask yourself if it resonates with you because it’s really “indigenous wisdom”…or if it’s just a western story wrapped up in a cloak of indigeneity.