One of the best-studied, least-discussed texts of Native American oral literature is a long Mojave "epic" taken down from a man named Inyo-kutavere by Alfred Kroeber in 1902 and published in 1951. The text was published in twenty-nine pages along with forty-eight pages of commentary and twenty-five pages of notes. In 1999, Arthur Hatto, an…

The Cheyenne version of how bones appeared in High Plains country streams, is detailed in this legend of fifty young men, a turtle and death. (RTS)

The origin of the Big Dipper is described in this Canadian Indian legend. (RTS)

This delightful American Indian legend describes a meeting between a mountain lion, numerous domesticated cats, and a small boy. (RTS)

This ancient Cherokee story details an encounter the Indians had with a strange beast after they misused nature thereby learning to respect the Creator. (RTS)

The American Indian oral tradition is presented in this article on the Omaha tribe's Rabbit Dance. (RTS)

This article presents the Abenaki version of their "discovery of the earth" and the origin of their one god, Katahdin. (RTS)

This article presents the legend of Laidamlulu (Morning Star), noting how she received her name and duty. (RTS)

This is a tale of Two Fall Together, the name of a stretch of foamy water in the Mohawk River where a young man and Angry Spirit struggled and the Mohawks eventually lived in peace. (Author/RTS)

This book contains the traditional tales and beliefs of the Chippewa, Dogrib, Slavey, and Loucheux peoples. These histories and traditions were spoken to a priest named Emile Petitot (1838-1916) who wrote the words down in the Dene language. This edition was translated from the French and compared with versions in the original tongues by the…

The Tlingit and Haida are Native Americans who inhabit southeast Alaska and share many traditions and stories. Written by a non-native scholar, this book contains nine Tlingit and Haida tales concerned with shamans and kushtakas. Land otters were fearful hybrid beings of the spirit world. Able to live on land and in water, they had the special…

Provides overview of Thanksgiving Address of Haudenosaunee, which defines and expresses Native American worldview. Summarizes three epic narratives: Creation Story, which explains forces of good and evil on earth; Great Law of Peace, which provides system of government; and Code of Handsome Lake, which outlines way to continue old ways and adapt…

Proposes a way to reconcile evolution with creationism by hypothesizing that the universe was created when the scientific evidence shows, speculating that this was when God began the series of creations described in Genesis, and assuming that God gave humans intelligence to uncover the methods by which he ordained scientific evolution. (Author/MJL)

Studies the myth as history through the texts collected from Jim Stacey, a Yavapai narrator, in 1930. Demonstrates how Stacey adjusted myths to a system of cycles and shows how Stacey's versions of those myths differ from the versions of other Yavapai narrators. (CM)

Describes the cultural and historical contexts for the "Testamento," a story of the Yaqui homeland in Mexico and the struggle of the Yaqui to retain their land. Recounts the experiences of the authors in obtaining the "Testamento" and traveling through Yaqui land. Contains extensive references. (KS)