Sun

Nokomis and the spider: the story of the dreamcatcher

Picture of Ojibwe dreamcatcher

“I spent over 10 years traveling to Native American pow wows across the United States, visiting a different reservation almost every week. Dreamcatchers were everywhere, from grandmother-made heirlooms to commercial versions sold at gift shops. Understanding the difference matters. This article tells the real story.” — Raven SiJohn, AAANativeArts.com (Est. 1999) The dreamcatcher comes from the Ojibwe people, one of the largest Native American nations in North America, and the story behind it is more beautiful than most people realize.…

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Ahöla Kachina, also known as Ahul, opens the mid-winter Powamu ceremony

Ahul kachina

The Ahöla Kachina, also known as Ahul, is a spirit being, embodied by a man, in Hopi religion. Ahöla is one of the important chief katsinam for First and Second Mesas because he opens the mid-winter Powamu ceremony, sometimes called the Bean Planting Festival, officially beginning Katsina season.Continue to Ahöla Kachina, also known as Ahul, opens the mid-winter Powamu ceremony →

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Why birds go south in winter

Views: 1970  Ojibwe Legend: Why birds go South in winter Long ago there was only summer. The days were always warm and sunny. Winter and snow were unknown. For the young it was a time of happiness. They played all the time. Animals played with animals. Fish played with fish. Insects played with insects. Birds played with birds. They had many games — hide-and-seek, blind-man’s buff, and tag. They ran races, they wrestled, and they played lacrosse. The lakes, the meadows,…

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Zuni Men of the Early Times

Eight years was but four days and four nights when the world was new. It was while such days and nights continued that men were led out, in the night-shine of the World of Seeing. For even when they saw the great star, they thought it the Sun-father himself, it so burned their eye-balls. Men and creatures were more alike then than now…Continue to Zuni Men of the Early Times →

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Coyote and Eagle Steal the Sun and Moon

Back when it was always dark, it was also always summer. One day, Coyote and Eagle went hunting. Coyote was a poor hunter because of the dark. Eventually, they came to the Kachinas, a powerful people. The Kachinas had the Sun and the Moon in a box. After the people had gone to sleep the two animals stole the box. At first Eagle carried the box but Coyote convinced his friend to let him carry it. The curious Coyote soon…

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