Legend Of Crazy Woman’s Fork
October 3, 2015
The Absarakas, or Crow nation, have the reputation of being good friends to the whites, and it is also said they have never warred with them. Iron Bull, a renowned chief of…
Read more
Legends, Lore & Symbols
Native American legends and oral stories record tribal histories. Here we have collected legends from over 300 tribes, along with native American tribal prophecies and the meanings of native American symbols in lore and art. Most tribes have legends for their creation and origin stories about where and how they arrived on the surface of planet Earth.
Every aspect of life, death, and existence has its own story to explain why things are the way they are. Often, different Native American tribes had very similar beliefs, but most tribes have their own unique variations in the details of these legends.
Most native American societies have some sort of trickster figure, who embodies both mischeviousness and foolish acts that teach a valuable lesson, along with acts of bravery and wisdom. In many tribes, the trickster figure is either a coyote or a raven.
Most Native American mythology has some roots in fact.
Legends, Lore & Symbols
- Native American Vampires
The Magic Springs
September 25, 2015
An old man was living with his son, his daughter and her husband, who was a great hunter. The two brothers-in-law hunted every day one winter, but could not find any tracks.…
Read more
Sharpened Leg
September 25, 2015
Two young men were living together. One day one of them heard his comrade chopping outside the lodge. He saw that the other man was sharpening his leg to a point, after…
Read more
Two Companions, A Gros Ventre Legend
September 25, 2015
A man living far south dreamt of a man in the north and wished to become his comrade. He went in search of him, and they set out traveling together. The Southerner…
Read more
The Comrades’ Pranks
September 25, 2015
Two boys were living together as comrades. They said to their parents, "We will go to look for people." The father of one of them raised objections, but the other consented, and…
Read more
The Buffalo Wife
September 25, 2015
A man wanted some eagle-feathers. He got to an eagle nest, found four young birds there, and plucked off their wings. The old eagle attacked him, but was killed in the struggle.…
Read more
How Arch Rock on Mackinac Island was formed
Arch Rock is a natural rock bridge above the eastern shoreline of Mackinac Island in northern Michigan. From certain angles, the arch, which is about 150 feet above the lake, appears to be suspended in the air. This mythical explanation of its origin was recorded in 1850.
The Legend of the Cherokee Rose (nu na hi du na tlo hi lu i)
More than 175 years ago, gold was discovered in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia and as thousands of new settlers invaded the area, it spawned tensions with the American Indian tribes.
As a result, President Andrew Jackson established the Indian Removal Policy in 1830, which forced theCherokee Nation to give up its lands east of the Mississippi River and migrate to Indian Territory (now present day Oklahoma.) This is the legend of why the wild Cherokee Rose can be found all along the Trail of Tears from North Carolilna to Oklahoma.
Legend Of Crazy Woman’s Fork
The Absarakas, or Crow nation, have the reputation of being good friends to the whites, and it is also said they have never warred with them. Iron Bull, a renowned chief of the Crows, relates the following legend.
The Magic Springs
An old man was living with his son, his daughter and her husband, who was a great hunter. The two brothers-in-law hunted every day one winter, but could not find any tracks.
There was a great deal of snow, and the young husband made himself snowshoes. He passed through an unfrozen spring. When he came home, his wife saw blood on his snowshoes.
Sharpened Leg
Two young men were living together. One day one of them heard his comrade chopping outside the lodge.
He saw that the other man was sharpening his leg to a point, after having chopped off his feet. He was frightened and fled, running for a night and a day.
Two Companions, A Gros Ventre Legend
A man living far south dreamt of a man in the north and wished to become his comrade. He went in search of him, and they set out traveling together. The Southerner killed a bear and ate its tongue. He said to his companion, "Run away now, something queer has happened." He changed himself into a bear and pursued his friend, who fled in terror.