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NATIVE NORTH AMERICA
First peoples of Canada and the Continental U.S.A.

Keep in mind
There are hundreds of different Native North American nations, each with its own traditional stories and practices.  There is no "Native American mythology" any more than there is an "Asian mythology" or a "European mythology".

Even after 500 years of colonial oppression,
North American Native myths and cultures live on.


This may come as a shock to current-year academia, but "pre-colonial" is not the same as "cowboys and Indians"!

The Great Spirit of North America

Kichi Manitou
Algonquian peoples, Northeast USA and Canada

Orenda
Hodenosaunee (Iroquois), Upstate New York

Wakan Tanka
Lakota, Northern Great Plains

Wakonda
Omaha, Nebraska

Wonomi
Maidu, California

Tirawa
Pawnee, Nebraska and Oklahoma

Sagalie Tyee
Coast Salish, Pacific Northwest


Awonawilona
Zuni, U.S. Southwest

Cautantowwit
Narragansett, Rhode Island

 

Native North American Origin Stories

According to the Cherokee, the first people were a brother and a sister.

The brother slapped the sister with a fish and told her to have kids.

And so, the sister gave birth once a week.
However, there was soon overpopulation.

From there on out, women could only give birth once a year.

According to the Blackfoot people, Napi (the creator god) was asked by a woman if people would live forever.

Napi threw a piece of wood into a river, and said that if it floated (which, of course, it did), the dead would be resurrected after four days.
The woman threw a rock into the river, and said that if it floated (which, of course, it didn't), death would be absent.
That's how humans became mortal.

The woman in the story is the real hero
.
If there was no death, overpopulation would be even worse.

Close to the Earth

Heroes and Warriors

Journeys to the Spirit World

Kachinas are the essential spirits of the Pueblo peoples of the American Southwest.
They represent a multitude of different ancestors, most importantly rain. (which makes sense in a desert environment)
Kachina rituals include masks, dances, figurines, and even clowns.

I am not comfortable depicting Kachina spirits out of respect for the sacred traditions.
Hence, instead of a Kachina drawing, I made a text wall explaining them.

Animal Kindred

The good ol' days when animals and human beings were interchangeable and could change form at will

Native North American Trickster Tales

Native North American Mythical Creatures

U.S. States and Canadian Provinces with Native Names
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
Connecticut
Illinois
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Nebraska
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Saskatchewan
Manitoba
Ontario
Quebec


Canada itself is an Iroquoian name that means "big village".

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