Compare Native American Myths & Legends

Friends, friends, I have fought the sun. He tried to burn me up, But he could not do it. Even battling the sun, I held my own.—Rabbit Boy myth, White River Sioux Native American culture is founded on stories told orally and handed down through the generations, outlining myths that reveal the origin of a tribe, legends that chronicle heroes who fought the gods, stories that tell of malevolent trickster spirits, and canny morality tales for the ages. InNative American Myths & Legendsyou can read about characters such as Old Man, Rabbit Boy, Blue Jay (the trickster bird), the Double-Faced Ghost, the Splinter-Foot Girl, and Mondawmin, the Corn Spirit. You will also discover the meaning of the Potlatch Feast, the legend of the Great Turtle, and the myth of the Bear Foster-Son. The book is divided into seven chapters, covering creation myths; people, family, and culture; the natural world; ghosts and spirits; gods, demons, and heroes; love, morality, and death; and warfare. Illustrated with 180 photographs and artworks,is an exciting and informative exploration of the beliefs and culture of North America’s first inhabitants.