The Great Mystery: Myths of Native AmericaThis authoritative guide to Native American myth and legend explores the powerful themes and dramatic stories that explain the great mysteries of life, death, how the world was created, and how it will end. A description of the nature of Native American myths, examining the common themes found in the rich mythology of the First Nations, is followed by chapters on main culture groups that include numerous excerpts from the myths themselves, many of them humorous. Folklorist Neil Philip has created an enthralling and multilayered book, handsomely illustrated with photographs printed in duotone, that will be treasured by anyone intrigued by Native American culture or mythology. |
Contents
CONTENTS | 1 |
The Northeast | 14 |
The Southeast | 29 |
The Plains | 43 |
The Southwest | 61 |
California | 79 |
The Great Basin and Plateau | 95 |
The Northwest | 111 |
The Arctic | 125 |
Acknowledgments | 141 |
Common terms and phrases
American Folklore Society Ani-Tsaguhi animals Apache Arikara asked basket bear Beaver buffalo Bureau of American Buzzard called canoe ceremony Cherokee chief corn Coyote creation myth creator culture Curtis dancers daughter deer Deganawida drum eagle Earth Doctor Earthmaker Edward Elder Brother father fire fish four Frog gave girl gods Hiawatha Hopi human hunt Hupa Indians Inuit Iroquois James Mooney kachinas kill Kwakiutl Lakota land live look Mandan mask medicine bundle Menomini moon mother Mountain Mouse myth tells Native American mythology Navajo Nebraska Press never night Ojibwe Okeepa Old Woman Paiute Pawnee pine Raven Reprinted ritual river sacred pipe salmon singing Sioux sister Sky Holder sky world Smithsonian Institution snake songs spirit stars story Sun Dance sweat lodge Teriak things Thunder Tirawa told totem pole tree tribe Uktena University of Nebraska Wakan Tanka Wakiash whale Winabojo Wintu Wovoka young