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Mythic themes play out in the religions, legends, and everyday lives of people around the world. Teacher and author Joseph Campbell made the study of world myth his life's work, which he set forth in books such as The Masks of God, The Power of Myth, and The Hero With a Thousand Faces. In this program, the accessible erudition of Joseph Campbell is brought to bear on the subject of the ancient origins of some of those world myths. In this episode, Campbell speaks of the stories and teachings of the American Indian tradition. Campbell's lifelong passion for myth was ignited by seeing his first American Indian as part of Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show. Campbell shares his enthusiasm for Native American heritage, hoping that it will in turn inspire others to learn from Native American wisdom and look for the universal truths in their own experience. The program is beautifully illustrated with paintings, photographs, artifacts, and readings from Native American literature.