Native American Mythology

The meaning Wakan Tanka is the Sioux name for the Great Spirit or Great Mystery. It’s meaning is also known as “the divine” and “the sacred”. Wakan Tanka is the creator … Read more

Through Shamanistic communication according to some traditions the dead live in an underworld, which is not too happy, resembling this word, but darker. There is much hunger because descendants failed … Read more

The character of the trickster is prominent in Native American mythology even though it has a far reaching history in that it is considered to be a general god archetype. … Read more

Legends relating to various plants vary from tribe to tribe. One cause of such variance is tribal location. Mythology concerning the origin of tobacco is an example of this. To … Read more

Before it was forbidden the annual Sun Dance was held by many American Native tribes, practically all of the Plains Indian tribes. It was performed in the summer, usually in … Read more

Sukias were healer and also could work sorcery. They came to the older people of South America, sometimes three times a week but they seldom come anymore. They would cure … Read more

Among the Hopi people the Spider is thought as a powerful spirit, and can be referred to as Spider Woman, Old Woman, Spider Lady, Grandmother or Grandma. Her Hopi name … Read more

Sibu is an Indian name for God, meaning Supreme Master or the highest chief. Sibu came before all other things. He made the land out of which he created the … Read more

Quanah Parker (ca. 1850-1911) was a young half-blood Comanche leader in the late 1870s or early 1880s in southwestern Oklahoma. Quanah means “fragrance.” Even though he considered himself to be … Read more

Pinga is a feminine deity whom the moon-god is subordinate according to a legend among the Caribou Inuits. She takes over certain functions of the moon-god. Pinga, “The one above,” seems … Read more

When starting the peyote religion that eventually became the Native American Church, Quanah Parker remembered well what the curandera taught him. He wore the beads like she had instructed, perhaps hers were rosary beads, … Read more

The legend of the sacredness of the peyote plant was revealed in a dream to a woman. She was lost from her group of hunting-men and root-gathering women. She had … Read more

The Inuit shaman, or angekkok, has great spiritual powers, which usually were developed when he reached the age of puberty. It was then after wondering in the desert for a few … Read more

In the Guaymi belief there is God, Navu, the younger of the devil. As God grew he hid from his older brother. But when growing so much he could no … Read more

  The Ghost Dance gradually replaced the Sun Dance which was being banned by a joint effort of the federal government and missioners, at times both seemed the same, because of the … Read more

The woman missionary had been brought by the Indians to the witch doctor’s hut in the Andres Mountains of Peru. He and his friend knew she suffered a sever degree … Read more

Diablero, a Soroan Indian term, an evil person who practices black sorcery and can change (metamorphosis) him/herself into an animal such as a bird, dog, coyote, or any other animal. … Read more

In some Inuit legends the Crow and Swallow are said to have given the world light. Prior to this there was no separation of day and night as time did not exist. … Read more

About the Corn Mother Since maze is a substantial food among the Native Americans it would certainly be included within their mythology. One legend concerns an old lady and an … Read more

Angekkok in some legends the first famine caused by Sedna brought about the emergence of the first angekkok (Inuit Shaman) who in his attempt to save humanity went to the Mother of … Read more