Final answer:
Myths and origin stories are traditional narratives that explained natural or social phenomena and provided a sense of order and community. They are useful in understanding the customs, values, and worldviews of ancient peoples. The nature of these stories can be literal or metaphorical, depending on cultural interpretations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stories that encompass the early history of a people and explain natural or social phenomena are traditionally known as myths or origin stories.
These narratives served multiple purposes for ancient cultures, including providing answers to life's most pressing questions, offering a sense of order, and conveying moral and ethical lessons. For the ancient people of the Eastern Woodlands, such stories fulfilled a key role in maintaining a cohesive community, documenting history, moral values, and explaining natural events in a way that was both educational and binding.
Using preserved origin stories provides significant insight into ancient peoples and customs, as it allows us to understand their worldviews, their interpretations of natural events, and the societal functions their myths held. It's important to recognize that within any culture, perceptions of these stories can vary widely, with some seeing them as literal truth while others view them metaphorically.