ABSTRACT
The indigenous narratives collected in Latin America are generally called myths, distinguishing them from their Hispanic counterparts, usually called folktales. A signal feature of this lore, despite the dominance of Hispanic language and culture, is that the preferred identification, especially in novels, poetry, and politics, leans heavily toward the indigenous side. The time depth of indigenous myths can be glimpsed more impressively from native records – for example, painted vases. As with native myths, the collection of Hispanic folktales did not really get started until after the rise of modern folklore studies, and even a little later, as the twentieth century began. Throughout Latin America the Hispanic indigenista novel and the poetry that rehearses myth have been brought low by a growing chorus of native voices: they don’t wish to be spoken for, they wish to speak for themselves.
