This collection of writings by and about New England's American Indians focuses on the Indians' relation to the land. Articles examine Indian folklore and spiritualism, the importance of the oral tradition, and advice to young Indians about receiving the oral tradition and passing it forward. Articles describe Indian lifeways; native cooking,…

Part of a series of stories about the Blackfeet Indians, the illustrated story details the capture of the first horses by the Blackfeet. In the story, young Running Crane is allowed to join a party of warriors who raid a Crow camp for horses. Running Crane uses gentleness to capture a black horse but is separated from the raiding party and must…

Yurok Indian legends in Yurok Unifon text include English translations of the entire texts in order to produce fluent reading for English speakers and a continuous text for Yurok readers. Although corresponding sentences are numbered, translation is not word-for-word or sentence-for-sentence. The five stories refer to a time when animals could…

The two illustrated children's stories are part of a series about the Blackfeet Indians. The first story, originally published in 1916, is the story of Weasel Woman, an orphaned girl who stole her way into a raiding party and became a successful warrior and, ultimately, a war chief named Running Eagle. The second story is a Blackfeet creation tale…

While Native myths and legends were educational tools to transmit tribal beliefs and history, traditional American Indian poetry served a ritualistic function in everyday life. Few traditional Native songs, which all poems were, survive; only Mayan and Aztec poems were written, and most of these were burned by a Spanish bishop. In addition, many…

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)

As part of an effort to preserve oral tradition and produce a history about the Blackfeet people, Tom Many Guns relates the story of his life and, in so doing, brings out the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet. The recollections were gathered through interviews and translated from Blackfeet to English using every effort to preserve Tom Many…

This volume contains approximately 35 brief stories told by members of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Many of the stories deal with legendary Indian heros, warriors, or cultural myths. Some, however, seem to portray actual events in the lives of the narrators themselves or their immediate ancestors. Many stories deal with Indian magic or…

Minerva Allen, Assinibone tribal historian and mediator in dealings with off-reservation entities, talks about her poetry, prose, and songs; and her efforts to secure the continuance of tribal languages and traditions. Her role as an educator and writer of textbooks is also discussed. Selected poetry is included. (JMM)

The article uses an interdisciplinary approach to reexamine the literary form and merit of a Zuni ritual narrative poem from the midwinter Shalako ceremonies. After describing the poem's cultural context, the article addresses its shape, structure, language, and style. The article includes the English language text of the poem. (SB)

The Native American's daily life was a walk with supernatural happenings, directed by the power of the Great Spirit. An important experience for a young man was the vision-search. Fortunate youths had a personal encounter with the Great Spirit and received evidence of a special ally or spirit-brother. At the same time, the individual might receive…

Written for children, this story is one in a series about the history of the Blackfeet from the precontact period to the mid-nineteenth century. The story begins when the tribe first encounters gunfire in a battle with the Plains Cree, then their neighbors to the east. A Blackfeet warrior is killed and the others return home to tell the chiefs and…

An anthology of 30 short poetry and prose selections by and about American Indians tries to show what it is like to be an Indian in today's world. In addition to material by Hap Gilliland, Arthur Chapman, Mayme E. Finley, Jack Fiddler, and excerpts from Christopher Columbus' account to Ferdinand and Isabella, items are included by: Duke Redbird…

Ghost stories are universal. They are told and heard in different cultures throughout the world. They generally center around an incident or experience that is true, but that cannot be explained as an everyday occurence. True but unexplained experiences on the Blackfeet Reservation are told and retold in the winter months. In contemporary…

Three illustrated stories from the Karuk Indians of northwestern California are told in free English translation and in Karuk with literal English translation. Stories tell of Bluejay who pretends to be sick to get higher pay for doctoring the person she is making sick, how the Karuk learned to kill the fattest deer, and the waterdog who kills the…