NATIVE AMERICAN MYTHS
Source: americanfolklore.net
All retold by S. E. Schlosser
Fire
Alabama Tribe
In the beginning of the world, it was Bear who owned Fire. It warmed Bear and his people
on cold nights and gave them light when it was dark. Bear and his people carried fire with
them wherever they went.
One day, Bear and his people came to a great forest, where they found many acorns lying
on the forest floor. Bear set Fire at the edge of the forest, and he and his people began
eating acorns. The acorns were crunch and crisp and tasted better than any other acorns
Bear and his people had ever eaten. They wandered further and further away from Fire,
eating the delicious acorns and seeking out more when the acorn supply grew low.
Fire blazed up merrily for awhile, until it had burned nearly all of its wood. It started to
smoke and flicker, then it dwindled down and down. Fire was alarmed. It was nearly out.
"Feed me! Feed me!" Fire shouted to Bear. But Bear and his people had wandered deep into
the forest, and then did not hear Fire's cries.
At that moment, Man came walking through the forest and saw the small, flickering Fire.
"Feed me! Feed me!" Fire cried in despair.
"What should I feed you?" Man asked. He had never seen Fire before.
"I eat sticks and logs and wood of all kinds," Fire explained.
Man picked up a stick and leaned it on the North side of Fire. Fire sent its orange-blue
flames flickering up the side of the stick until it started to burn. Man got a second stick and
laid it on the West side of the fire. Fire, nourished by the first stick, burned brighter and
stretched taller and eagerly claimed the second stick. Man picked up a third stick and laid it
on the south side of Fire and laid a fourth stick on the East. By this time, Fire was leaping
and dancing in delight, its hunger satisfied.
Man warmed himself by the blazing Fire, enjoying the changed colors and the hissing and
snapping sound Fire made as it ate the wood. Man and Fire were very happy together, and
Man fed Fire sticks whenever it got hungry.
A long time later, Bear and his people came back to the edge of the forest, looking for Fire.
Fire was angry when it saw Bear. It blazed until it was white-hot and so bright that Bear
had to shade his eyes with both paws. "I do not even know you!" Fire shouted at Bear. The
terrible heat rolling of Fire drove Bear and his people away, so they could not take it and
carry it away with them.
And now Fire belongs to Man.
Coyote and the Columbia
From the Sahaptin/Salishan Tribes
One day, Coyote was walking along. The sun was shining brightly, and Coyote felt very hot.
"I would like a cloud," Coyote said.
So a cloud came and made some shade for Coyote. Coyote was not satisfied.
"I would like more clouds," he said. More clouds came along, and the sky began to look very
stormy. But Coyote was still hot.
"How about some rain," said Coyote. The clouds began to sprinkle rain on Coyote.
"More rain," Coyote demanded. The rain became a downpour.
"I would like a creek to put my feet in," said Coyote. So a creek sprang up beside him, and
Coyote walked in it to cool off his feet.
"It should be deeper," said Coyote.
The creek became a huge, swirling river. Coyote was swept over and over by the water.
Finally, nearly drowned, Coyote was thrown up on the bank far away. When he woke up,
the buzzards were watching him, trying to decide if he was dead.
"I'm not dead," Coyote told them, and they flew away.
That is how the Columbia River began.
Coyote and Wishpoosh
from the Chinook tribe
Now Wishpoosh the monster beaver lived in the beautiful Lake Cle-el-lum which was full of
fish. Every day, the animal people would come to the lake, wanting to catch some fish, but
Wishpoosh the giant beaver drove them away with many threats and great splashing. If
they refused to leave, Wishpoosh would kill the animal people by dragging them deep into
the lake so that they drowned.
Coyote was very upset at Wishpoosh for the way he treated the animal people. Coyote
decided that he would kill the monster beaver and so he went to Lake Cle-el-lum with his
spear tied to his wrist and started to fish. As soon as Wishpoosh saw this upstart person
invading his territory, the giant beaver attacked. Coyote threw the spear and it pierced the
beaver. Immediately, Wishpoosh dove to the bottom of the lake, dragging Coyote with him.
Well, Coyote and Wishpoosh wrestled and tugged and fought each other at the bottom of
the lake until the sides gave way and all the water rushed out, pouring out over the
mountains and through the canyons until it collected in Kittitas Valley and formed another,
larger lake. Coyote and Wishpoosh burst forth into the new lake, shouting and wrestling
and fighting each other with renewed vigor until the second lake gave way and the water
rushed out, joining in with the waters of several rivers to form a massive lake at Toppenish.
Wishpoosh the monster beaver would not give up the fight. He bit and clawed at Coyote
and tried to drown him in the massive lake. Coyote fought back fiercely, and at last the
massive lake gave way, the water roared down into the meeting place of the Columbia, the
Yakima, and the Snake, where it dammed up into a lake so huge none has ever seen its like
before or since.
Coyote and Wishpoosh dragged at each other, pulling and tugging and ripping and biting
until the dam gave way and a huge wave of water swept down the Columbia River towards
the sea. Coyote and Wishpoosh were tumbled over and over again as they were swept
down river in the mighty wave of water. Coyote grabbed bushes and rocks and trees, trying
to pull himself out of the massive wave. By these efforts was the Columbia Gorge was
formed. But Coyote could not pull himself out of the great wave and so he tumbled after
Wishpoosh, all the way to the bitter waters at the mouth of the river.
Wishpoosh was furious. He was determined to beat this upstart Coyote who had driven him
from his beautiful lake. The giant beaver swept all the salmon before him and ate them in
one gulp to increase his strength. Then he swam out to sea with Coyote in pursuit. The
monster beaver threw his great arms around a whale and swallowed it whole.
Coyote was frightened by this demonstration of the monster beaver's strength. But he was
the most cunning of all the animals, and he came up with a plan. Turning himself into a tree
branch, Coyote drifted among the fish until Wishpoosh swallowed him. Returning to his
natural form, Coyote took a knife and cut the sinews inside the giant beaver. Wishpoosh
gave a great cry and then perished.
Coyote was tired after his long fight with the monster beaver. He called to his friend
Muskrat, who helped drag the body of Wishpoosh to shore. Coyote and Muskrat cut up the
giant beaver and threw the pieces up over the land, thus creating the tribes of men. The Nez
Perce were created from the head of the giant beaver, to make them great in council. The
Cayuses were created from the massive arms of Wishpoosh, in order that they might be
strong and powerful with the war club and the bow. From the beaver's ribs, Coyote made
the Yakimas and from the belly the Chinooks. To make the Klickitats, Coyote used the
beaver's legs, so that they would become famous for their skill in running. With the leftover
skin and blood, he made the Snake River Indians who thrived on war and blood.
Thus were the tribes created, and Coyote returned up the mighty Columbia River to rest
from his efforts. But in his weariness, Coyote did not notice that the coastal tribes had been
created without mouths. The god Ecahni happened along just then and fixed the problem
by assembling all of the coastal tribes and cutting mouths for them. Some he made too large
and some he made crooked, just as a joke. This is why the mouths of the coastal tribes are
not quite perfect.
The Maid of the Mist
Ongiaras Tribe
She lost her husband and her hope at a young age, and the beautiful girl could not find her
way through the sorrow upon sorrow that was her lot in life. So she stepped one day into
her canoe, singing a death song softly to herself, and paddle out into the current. Soon the
canoe was caught by the rough waves and hurtled toward the falls. But as it pitched over
and she fell, Heno, the god of thunder who lived in the falls, caught the maiden gently in his
arms and carried her to his home beneath the thundering veil of water.
Heno and his sons ministered to the grieving girl, and she stayed with them until her heart
healed within her. Then the younger son spoke words of love to the maiden and they
married, to the delight of the god of thunder. A young son was born to the couple, and he
followed his grandfather everywhere, learning what it meant to be a god of thunder.
The only shadow on the happiness of the maiden in the mist was a continual longing to see
her people one more time. Her chance came in an unexpected and unwelcome way. A great
snake came down the mighty river and poisoned the waters of her people. They grew sick
and were dying. Soon the snake would return to devour the dead until my people were all
gone. It was Heno himself who gave her the news, and she begged that she might return for
one hour to warn her people of the danger. The god himself lifted her through the falls and
set her down among her people to give warning about the evil snake that was causing such
pestilence among them. She advised them to move to a higher country until the danger was
past, and they agreed. Then Heno came and took the maiden back to her husband and her
home.
In a few days, the giant serpent returned to the village, seeking the bodies of those who had
died from the poison it had spread. When the snake realized that the people had deserted
the village, it hissed in rage and turned upstream to search for them. But Heno heard the
voice of the serpent and rose up through the mist of the falls. He threw a great thunderbolt
at the creature and killed it in one mighty blast. The giant body of the creature floated
downstream and lodged just above the cataract, creating a large semi-circle that deflected
huge amounts of water into the falls at the place just above the god's home. Horrified by
this disastrous turn of events, Heno swept in through the falls and did his best to stop the
massive influx of water, but it was too late.
Seeing that his home would soon be destroyed, Heno called for the maiden and his sons to
come away with him. The younger son caught up his wife and child and followed Heno
through the water of the falls and up into the sky, where the Thunderer made them a new
home. From this place, they watch over the people of the earth, while Heno thunders in the
clouds as he once thundered in the vapors of the great falls. To this day, an echo of the
Heno's voice can be heard in the thunder of the mighty waters of Niagara Falls.
Why Opossum has a Pouch
Koasati Tribe
One evening, Opossum was playing in a field with her babies when Big Bat came swooping
down and grabbed all of the little ones and carried them away. Opossum shouted and
begged for Bat to bring her babies back to her, but he would not. Bat put the little opossums
into a deep hole in the rock and watched over them there.
Opossum walked around and around the forest, crying for her babies. When Wolf heard her
wails, he came to her and asked what was wrong. "Big Bat has taken my babies from me
and he will not give them back," she told him.
"I will get them for you," Wolf said. "if you show me where they are."
So Opossum showed Wolf the deep hole in the rock where Bat watched over her babies.
Wolf bravely walked into the darkness. But a moment later she heard him cursing, and then
he came running back outside saying, "I am sorry, but I cannot retrieve your babies."
So Opossum kept walking around and around the forest, crying for her babies. When Rabbit
heard her wails, he came to her and asked what was wrong. "Big Bat has taken my babies
from me and he will not give them back," she told him.
"I will get them for you," Rabbit said. "if you show me where they are."
So Opossum showed Rabbit the deep hole in the rock where Bat watched over her babies.
Rabbit boldly walked into the darkness. But a moment later she heard him cursing, and
then he came running back outside saying, "I am sorry, but I cannot retrieve your babies."
Opossum was frantic now. Brave Wolf and Bold Rabbit had been unable to retrieve her
babies. She walked around and around the forest, crying hysterically for her babies. When
Highland-Terrapin heard her wails, he came to her and asked what was wrong. "Big Bat has
taken my babies from me and he will not give them back," she told him.
"I will get them for you," Highland-Terrapin said. "if you show me where they are."
Opossum showed Highland-Terrapin the deep hole in the rock where Bat watched over her
babies. Highland-Terrapin carefully walked into the darkness. A moment later she heard
him cursing. Big Bat had thrown hot ashes down in the path in front of him, burning his
large flat feet. But Highland Terrapin kept going in spite of the pain. He could see the little
opossums huddled together a few paces away. They were crying for their mother.
Highland-Terrapin saw Big Bat hovering above them, and he scolded Bat for stealing the
babies from their mother. Highland-Terrapin picked up the little opossums and carried
them out of the deep, dark hole. Big Bat dove at him a few times, but he kept bouncing off
the terrapin's hard shell before he could reach the babies. Finally, Bat gave up and flew
away.
Highland-Terrapin cut a hole in the belly of the happy Opossum mama and placed her
babies inside it. "You keep your babies in there until they stop nursing," he told her. "When
they no longer need milk to drink, you can let them out."
From that day onward, Opossum mamas have carried their little babies in a pouch until
they are old enough to eat on their own.
Guardian of Yosemite
Miowak Tribe
retold by S. E. Schlosser
For many nights and many days, the guardian spirit of Tisayac watched over the beautiful
valley of Yosemite. Often, the gentle spirit would drift invisibly among the good folk of the
valley, and it was during one of these visits that she noticed a tall, proud man named
Tutokanula. He was a strong leader who greatly enhanced the lot of his people, and Tisayac
came more often to the valley so that she could watch him.
One day, Tutokanula was hunting near the place where Tisayac had laid down to rest.
When she realized the proud leader was close by, the shy spirit peered out at him from
among the trees. Seeing the beautiful woman with her golden hair and ethereal
appearance, Tutokanula fell in love. Realizing it was the guardian of the valley, he reached
out his hands to her, calling her by name. Confused by the rush of feelings inside her,
Tisayac flew away, leaving a brokenhearted warrior behind. Tutokanula spent many days
searching for Tisayac. Finally he left the valley and his people in despair. Without his wise
guidance, the valley fell into ruin and most of the good folk left to find a new home.
When Tisayac returned again to her valley, she was horrified to find it barren and her
people gone. When she learned that Tutokanula had forgotten his people, had left them to
fend for themselves without the benefit of his great wisdom, and had spent many days and
nights searching and longing for her, she cried out in despair. Kneeling upon a mighty dome
of rock, Tisayac prayed with all her heart that the Great Spirit would undo this wrong and
would restore to this land the virtue which had been lost.
Hearing her prayer, the Great Spirit took pity on the plight of her people. Stooping down
from on high, he spread his hands over the valley. The green of new life poured forth over
the land; trees blossomed, flowers bloomed, birds sang. Then he struck a mighty blow
against the mountains and they broke apart, leaving a pathway for the melting snow to flow
through. The water swirled and washed down upon the land, spilling over rocks, pooling
into a lake and then wandering afar to spread life to other places. In the valley, the corn
grew tall again, and the people came back to their home.
Then Tutokanula himself came to the valley when he heard that Tisayac had come home.
Upon his return, he spent many hours carving his likeness into the stone so his people
would remember him when he departed from this earth. When the carving was finished,
Tutokanula sat down wearily at the foot of the beautiful Bridal Veil Falls the Great Spirit
had created. Tisayac drifted into the spray of the falls, watching him. He was ready to
depart from his people, from his valley. Would he go with her? She moved forward through
the falling water and made herself visible. When Tutokanula saw Tisayac, he sprang to his
feet with a cry of joy and she held out her arms to him. The brave warrior leapt into the
falls and took his love into his arms at last. For a moment, there were two rainbows arching
over the water. Then Tisayac drew him up and up into the clouds and away as the sun sank
over Yosemite.
Rabbit Plays Tug-of-War
Creek/Muscogee Tribe
Now Rabbit had a favorite place on the river where he always went to drink water. It was
on a bend in the river, and two Snakes lived there, one on the upper side of the bend and
one on the lower. Rabbit soon learned that neither of the Snakes knew that the other Snake
lived there.
Ho, ho, ho, thought Rabbit. I am going to have a bit of fun!
Rabbit went to the Snake that lived on the upper bend of the river. "I am a very strong
Rabbit," he told the Snake. "I bet I can pull you right out of the water."
"I bet you can't!" said the Snake, who was very strong indeed.
"I will go get a grape vine," said Rabbit. "You will pull one end and I will pull the other. "If I
pull you out of the water, I win the contest. If you pull me into the water, then I win."
The Snake on the upper bend agreed. Then Rabbit went to the Snake on the lower bend and
made the same deal. He told both Snakes that he would be standing out of sight on top of
the river bank and would give a whoop when he was in place and ready to start the contest.
Both Snakes were pleased with the arrangement. They were sure they would win against
such a feeble little Rabbit.
Rabbit took a long grape vine and strung it across the wide bend in the river. He handed
one end to the first Snake and the other end to the second Snake. Then he gave a loud
whoop from the middle of the river bank and the two Snakes started tugging and pulling
with all their might.
"That Rabbit is really strong," thought the Snake on the upper bank. He would tug and tug
and the vine would come a little closer to him and then he would nearly be pulled out of the
water.
"My, Rabbit is much stronger than he appears," thought the Snake on the lower bank after
he was almost hurled out of the water by an extra strong pull from up the river.
Rabbit sat on the bank above both Snakes and laughed and laughed. The Snakes heard him
laughing and realized that they had been fooled. Letting go of the rope, they swam to the
middle of the bend and met each other for the first time.
Both Snakes were angry with Rabbit for making them look foolish. They agreed that Rabbit
could no longer drink from his favorite place on the river bend where they lived. In spite of
his protests, they sent Rabbit away and would not let him come down to the riverbank
anymore. So whenever Rabbit grew thirsty, he had to turn himself into a faun in order to
get a drink from the river.
After that, Rabbit decided not to play any more jokes on Snakes.