Honoring the WORD.

This article presents the experience of a new teacher who sought to teach Native American students the way he had learned only to find out that what he knew about teaching was not going to apply. He believes that oral tradition can be superior to written literature and that stories from indigenous voices speak more loudly to Native students. The author explains the Western view and compares it to the Indigenous view. Tribal people honor the story of the tribe, its history and values over that of the individual. Examples of how other professors honor the oral tradition while teaching the subjects of the century are presented.