Class 11 Essays 1st Essay Sharing Tradition Frank Lapena

 1^st Essay

Sharing Tradition

        Frank Lapena

"Sharing Tradition" by Frank LaPena is a reflective essay that explores the importance of preserving Native American traditions and passing them down to future generations. LaPena, a Native American artist, writer, and professor, emphasizes the significance of cultural heritage and the role of storytelling in maintaining identity and community.

About essayist (Frank LaPena)

Frank LaPena (1937–2019) was a Wintu-Nomtipom artist, poet, and cultural leader. He dedicated his life to revitalizing and preserving Native American art, dance, and oral traditions. His work often reflects deep respect for his cultural roots and an awareness of the challenges faced by Indigenous communities in maintaining their traditions in a rapidly changing world.

Main themes

1. Cultural Preservation and Continuity :LaPena highlights the importance of keeping Native traditions alive by sharing stories, rituals, and customs with younger generations.

2. Oral Tradition and Storytelling : He underscores the role of storytelling as a means of preserving history, values, and identity.

3. Community and Intergenerational Knowledge  : The essay celebrates the role of elders in transmitting knowledge and the responsibility of younger generations to listen and learn.

4. Respect for Ancestry and Spirituality: LaPena reflects on the spiritual and ancestral connections that shape cultural practices, reinforcing their sacredness.

5. Resilience in the Face of Cultural Erosion: While acknowledging the loss of some traditions, LaPena expresses a belief that through conscious effort, communities can revive and protect their heritage.

Summary in short 

Sharing Tradition is an essay by Frank LaPena about the importance of keeping Native American culture alive. He explains that traditions, stories, and ceremonies connect people to their ancestors and nature. LaPena, from the Wintu tribe, says these customs help shape identity and values.

He talks about how elders pass knowledge to young people and worries that traditions are fading because of modern life and fewer elders. Storytelling helps young people learn about their heritage and feel proud.

LaPena ends by saying everyone should work together to protect these traditions. Despite challenges, he believes Native communities can keep their culture strong through effort and unity.

Summary in detail 

"Sharing Tradition" by Frank LaPena is a reflective essay that emphasizes the importance of preserving Native American culture through the passing down of traditions, stories, and rituals. LaPena, drawing from his Wintu heritage, highlights how traditions are not just practices but vital threads that connect communities to their ancestors and the natural world. He stresses that these customs hold deep spiritual and cultural significance, shaping the identity and values of Native peoples. By sharing stories and engaging in cultural ceremonies, LaPena argues, individuals maintain a living connection to their roots.

A key focus of the essay is the role of elders in transmitting knowledge to younger generations. LaPena expresses concern about the erosion of Native traditions due to modernization, loss of language, and the diminishing number of elders who hold this knowledge. He believes that storytelling and cultural practices are essential for bridging the gap between generations. By listening to the wisdom of elders, young people can gain a deeper understanding of their heritage, fostering pride and continuity within their communities.

LaPena concludes by underscoring the collective responsibility to keep traditions alive. He acknowledges the challenges but remains hopeful that through conscious effort, Native communities can revive and preserve their cultural practices. The essay serves as both a reminder and a call to action, encouraging all people to value and protect the traditions that shape their identities. Ultimately, LaPena’s message is one of resilience, unity, and the enduring power of cultural heritage.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. According to LaPena, what is the importance of the oral tradition? To what extent do you agree with his opinions and why?

According to Frank LaPena, oral tradition is vital for preserving the cultural identity, history, and spiritual beliefs of Native American communities. It serves as a bridge between generations, allowing elders to pass down essential knowledge, values, and life lessons that shape the identity and resilience of their people. LaPena emphasizes that oral tradition is more than storytelling it is a way to honor ancestors, maintain a connection to the land, and keep cultural practices alive.

I strongly agree with LaPena’s views because oral traditions play a crucial role in safeguarding the heritage of many communities, including Indigenous and minority cultures around the world. Without this form of knowledge transfer, valuable aspects of history and identity risk being lost. Oral traditions not only preserve the past but also foster a sense of belonging and unity, strengthening communities in the face of cultural erosion.

b. Who preserve and pass on the oral tradition?

Elders and cultural leaders are primarily responsible for preserving and passing on oral tradition. They serve as the keepers of stories, rituals, and historical knowledge, sharing their wisdom through storytelling, songs, and ceremonies. Elders play a vital role in teaching younger generations about their cultural identity, values, and spiritual beliefs, ensuring that these traditions remain alive. In many communities, parents and extended family members also contribute by recounting family histories and participating in cultural practices. Additionally, cultural institutions, schools, and community leaders may help preserve oral traditions by organizing events, festivals, and educational programs. This collective effort strengthens cultural continuity and reinforces the importance of preserving ancestral knowledge.

c. What is the danger of not passing on information from generation to generation?

The danger of not passing on information from generation to generation is the loss of cultural identity, history, and traditions. When stories, rituals, and knowledge are not shared, valuable aspects of a community’s heritage can fade, leading to disconnection from ancestral roots and a weakening of cultural pride. This loss can result in younger generations feeling detached from their history, reducing their understanding of their values and sense of belonging. In many Indigenous and minority communities, cultural erosion threatens languages, ceremonies, and spiritual beliefs that are not documented in written form. Without the transfer of knowledge, communities risk losing their unique perspectives and wisdom; which are essential for maintaining resilience, unity, and a strong collective identity.

d. What is the difference between oral tradition and literary tradition?

Oral tradition and literary tradition differ primarily in how knowledge, stories, and cultural values are preserved and transmitted. Oral tradition relies on spoken word, storytelling, songs, and performances passed down through generations by elders or community members. It is fluid and adaptable, allowing for variations as stories evolve with each retelling. In contrast, literary tradition involves recording information in written form, providing a fixed and permanent record that can be consistently referenced over time. While oral tradition often emphasizes communal participation and personal connection, literary tradition allows for broader dissemination and access across different regions and generations. Both traditions play vital roles in preserving culture, but oral tradition is more vulnerable to loss if not actively practiced, while literary tradition offers long-term preservation but may lack the intimacy and adaptability of oral narratives.

e. How does LaPena establish a relationship between art and the oral tradition?

Frank LaPena establishes a relationship between art and oral tradition by highlighting how both serve as essential tools for preserving and expressing cultural identity. He views art—such as painting, dance, and music—as extensions of the stories and values passed down through oral tradition. Just as storytelling keeps history and spiritual beliefs alive, artistic expressions visually and physically represent the same narratives, reinforcing cultural memory. LaPena suggests that art can capture the essence of oral traditions, transforming them into lasting forms that engage future generations. By intertwining art with storytelling, LaPena emphasizes that culture is preserved not only through words but also through creative practices that reflect the spirit and identity of a community. This connection helps ensure that even if the oral transmission of stories diminishes, the messages and meanings can live on through artistic expression.

Reference to the context

a. LaPena states that the oral tradition helps maintain the values of a culture. If you believe that the oral tradition is important, how would you maintain it?

To maintain the oral tradition, I would focus on creating opportunities for storytelling and cultural exchange within families and communities. Organizing regular gatherings where elders can share stories, songs, and personal experiences with younger generations is essential for keeping traditions alive.

I would also encourage the recording of these stories through audio, video, or written documentation—so they can be preserved and revisited over time. Incorporating oral traditions into educational programs and local festivals would help ensure that the broader community values and participates in the process. Additionally, using social media and digital platforms to share stories can expand the reach of oral traditions, making them accessible to a wider audience. By blending traditional methods with modern technology, oral traditions can remain relevant and vibrant, continuing to shape cultural identity for future generations.

b.“Not everyone is capable of fulfilling the roles of the elders.” Explain this statement with reference to the essay.

In the essay, when LaPena states, “Not everyone is capable of fulfilling the roles of the elders,” he is emphasizing the unique responsibility and wisdom that elders hold within the community. Elders are seen as the carriers of cultural knowledge, traditions, and spiritual values that have been passed down through generations. Their roles are not just about age or experience, but about their deep understanding of cultural practices and their ability to communicate these traditions effectively to younger generations.

LaPena suggests that fulfilling this role requires more than just passing on stories—it requires a deep connection to one’s cultural roots, a respect for ancestral wisdom, and the ability to communicate these teachings in a way that resonates with others. Not everyone is equipped with these qualities, and as such, the role of elder is considered sacred and irreplaceable in many cultures. Without the proper transmission of this knowledge, traditions risk being lost.

c. What is the controlling idea or thesis of this essay?

The controlling idea or thesis of Frank LaPena’s essay “Sharing Tradition” is that the oral tradition is crucial for preserving and passing down cultural identity, values, and wisdom from one generation to the next. LaPena argues that the act of storytelling and the sharing of traditions by elders are vital for maintaining a community’s sense of belonging and spiritual connection. He emphasizes the responsibility of both elders and younger generations to actively engage in this transmission to ensure that cultural practices and knowledge are not lost. Through this process, the community can remain grounded in its heritage, fostering continuity and resilience in the face of external challenges.

d. How do topic sentences guide the reader through the essay? What would be lost without them?

Topic sentences guide the reader through Frank LaPena’s essay by clearly outlining the main point of each paragraph, helping to structure the argument and maintain a logical flow. They provide a roadmap, signaling what the reader can expect in the following sections and reinforcing the central themes of the essay, such as the importance of oral tradition, the role of elders, and the responsibility of younger generations. Without these topic sentences, the essay would lack clarity and direction, making it harder for the reader to follow LaPena's argument. The ideas might feel disjointed, and the reader could struggle to understand how each point connects to the overall thesis, diminishing the essay’s effectiveness in conveying its message.

e. What are the four major problems developed by LaPena with regard to maintaining the oral tradition. How are they used to structure the essay?

In “Sharing Tradition”, Frank LaPena develops four major problems regarding the maintenance of the oral tradition:

1.   Loss of Elders: LaPena highlights the diminishing number of elders who are the primary bearers of cultural knowledge and stories. As older generations pass away, the risk of losing valuable traditions increases, leaving younger generations without guidance or connection to their heritage.

2.  Modernization and Disconnection: The influence of modern technology and societal changes, such as urbanization, has caused younger generations to grow distanced from their cultural roots, resulting in a lack of interest or awareness in traditional practices.

3. Language Loss: The decline of indigenous languages due to colonization and globalization is another problem LaPena addresses. Without the language, much of the nuance and depth of oral tradition can be lost, as language is deeply tied to cultural identity and the transmission of knowledge.

4.      Failure of Younger Generations to Engage: LaPena notes that many younger people are either uninterested or unaware of the importance of oral tradition, leading to a failure to learn and pass on the knowledge of previous generations.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write a paragraph or two explaining your attitude toward the oral tradition of passing along information.

I believe that the oral tradition of passing along information is invaluable and deeply important for maintaining cultural continuity and connection. Stories, songs, and spoken wisdom carry not only historical facts but also the emotions, values, and lessons that shape communities. Oral traditions offer a personal and intimate way of transmitting knowledge, allowing for a deeper understanding of one's culture and identity. In many ways, they create a bond between generations, ensuring that younger people can learn from the experiences and wisdom of their elders. This process is not just about preserving facts—it’s about keeping the spirit, values, and worldviews of a community alive.

At the same time, I think that while oral tradition is essential, it can be complemented by modern means of communication, like writing or digital recording, to ensure that this knowledge is preserved and shared beyond immediate communities. Technology can help safeguard oral traditions in ways that would have been unimaginable in the past, providing a lasting record that future generation can access. However, I do not think technology should replace face-to-face storytelling and the rich, communal experience that comes with it. Balancing both traditional and modern methods of passing down knowledge would, I believe, help maintain the cultural heritage while making it accessible to a wider audience.

b. Our culture is our identity. Write a few paragraphs explaining how you intend to preserve your culture, values and norms.

Preserving my culture, values, and norms is important to me because they are integral to my identity and shape how I navigate the world. One of the primary ways I intend to preserve my culture is through storytelling and sharing my experiences with younger generations. Just like the oral traditions in many cultures, recounting stories about our history, family customs, and traditions helps create a sense of continuity. I plan to actively engage with my family and community in sharing stories, explaining the significance of cultural practices, and discussing our heritage. This not only strengthens our collective identity but also ensures that future generations understand the values and lessons that have been passed down.

Additionally, I believe that participating in and organizing cultural events, such as festivals, rituals, and gatherings, is a powerful way to keep traditions alive. These events allow for the practice of cultural rituals and the celebration of norms that are meaningful in our community. In my daily life, I will make a conscious effort to live according to the values that are central to my culture, such as respect for elders, hospitality, and the importance of family. This personal commitment reflects the way culture is embodied and practiced, beyond just being something talked about.

To preserve my culture in the face of globalization and modernization, I also recognize the importance of documenting and sharing cultural practices in ways that adapt to the digital age. Whether through writing, photography, or video recordings, I want to contribute to the preservation of traditions for those who may not have direct access to them. By balancing traditional methods of preservation with modern tools, I believe I can help ensure that my culture, values, and norms remain a strong part of both my personal identity and the broader community.