Many school-age children celebrate a clichéd Thanksgiving tradition in class in which they play Indians and Pilgrims, and some children try their hand at the game Cowboys vs. Indians. It is known that some died during colonization, that some fought the US government, and that they can be reduced to one of the school's many mascots. This is what many people understand about the original inhabitants of America. The historical knowledge of these people was superficial and stereotyped. The last 150 years have given rise to a literate people now able to record their past, present and future. Native American literature, as it evolves, defines Native American culture and its status in the world as an evolving people more than any historical account can. Before colonization, Native Americans used oral traditions to teach, remember, entertain, and pray. Much of this knowledge has been lost for various reasons. After translation became an option, some of these were written down. This is the beginning of Native American literature, the transformation of sound into speech. An important pattern of distrust of the white man's words is evident in this beginning of their literature. Cochise, an Apache leader, gave a speech in 1872, vaguely titled [I Am Alone], to Americans. This was translated by a white man. It is unknown how accurate it is, however it sends a strong message. Cochise is a proud man, always sincere. “I hereby promise my word, a word that has never been broken” (1463). He has his doubts about the sincerity of the Whites whom he has seen arriving in small numbers and whom he has welcomed into friendship. Cochise was confused by their behavior: "At last your soldiers did me a very great wrong" (1463). When ... middle of paper ... in literature you find accounts of such things as slaughtering buffalo and leaving them to rot on the ground, and the U.S. government banning Indians from practicing their religious rites and beliefs (Momaday 2507). History books don't tell these things. History is written by those who write, and quite often by those who find themselves in power by gift or coercion. History has dealt a severe blow to America's indigenous cultures. The culture shock faced by these people, who dwindled in number compared to the vast and populous tribes, is a shock that is still felt today. Fortunately, more and more Native American literature is being written and discovered. From these accounts, verse, prose and understanding may be gained about these proud people who live in another man's world, once theirs, and have since paid to do so..