Native American Mythology

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Steffen

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2015
2,233
12,800
I need some recommendations from you goodly folk here. I collect mythology/folklore books and am looking for something dealing with Native American lore.

Suggestions would be welcome. Feel free to recommend any other good collection as well (I'm also trying to get a decent one about Egyptian mythology).
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
I need some recommendations from you goodly folk here. I collect mythology/folklore books and am looking for something dealing with Native American lore.

Suggestions would be welcome. Feel free to recommend any other good collection as well (I'm also trying to get a decent one about Egyptian mythology).
4129PfWXmYL._SX324_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
41RQ1cfMKNL._AC_UL320_SR200,320_.jpg
417eLf5EauL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg
 

Tery

Say hello to my fishy buddy
Moderator
Apr 12, 2006
15,304
44,712
Bremerton, Washington, United States
There are lots of books on local tribal lore at museums. Many of the larger ones have websites, too. Maybe try that? Smaller publishers but very localized stories. I've picked some up at the British Columbia regional museum that I've never seen anywhere else on the Haida and other Northwest tribes.

Also, for Egyptian myth you can't go wrong with A.E. Budge.
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
The best way is to go, as Tery suggests, to a tribal headquarters, or contact them in some way (most have websites now) and request any literature they have on their religious beliefs and traditions. Just FYI, do not call it mythology when contacting the tribes. It is their religion.

One book that is a must read is "Black Elk Speaks". It is a record of Sioux life and culture and also includes some of their parables. It's a great book. "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" is also a great book that records real Native culture and events.

Although maybe a little outdated, "Indian Cultures of Oklahoma" by Lu Celia Wise was a book everyone had when I was kid. I still have an old copy of it. Again the CULTURE and the RELIGION are very much the same thing.
 

Giguh

New Member
Mar 2, 2017
3
21
55
Steffen, osiyo! I am a bi-racial translator of Native American myths, legends and sacred Cherokee formulas of the medicine men/shamans. (It's okay. You can call it "myth"). Here is an invaluable source, if you want the real deal. It dates from the nineteenth century, and won't set you back too much, dollar-wise. It was compiled by a man named James Mooney. You can even get it in Kindle format. The title is "History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee."

Amazon.com: History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees eBook: James Mooney: Kindle Store

You can find some material in this vein, also, at my website, Jennifer Reeser

Best of luck with this. Do na da go huh i.

Giguh
 

Steffen

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2015
2,233
12,800
Ah, I knew you guys would come through! =D

Many great suggestions, thank you one and all. Just a few things I'd like to mention:

GNTLGNT as always buddy, you let the pictures do the talking. Thank you.

Tery , a special thank you for name-dropping EA Budge: there were so many books on Egyptian mythology on Amazon I didn't really know where to start.

hossenpepper , again some good suggestions. I also appreciate your clarifying that what I call "mythology" is actually the Native People's religion/culture. As a Hindu, I should have known better! I do not live in the US, but my siblings do, and I've mentioned to my sister that I would like to visit one of the reservations, so it's on our bucket list for my next trip abroad.

Giguh some valuable suggestions, thank you so much.
 

hossenpepper

Don't worry. I have a permit!!!
Feb 5, 2010
12,897
32,897
Wonderland Avenue
Ah, I knew you guys would come through! =D

Many great suggestions, thank you one and all. Just a few things I'd like to mention:

GNTLGNT as always buddy, you let the pictures do the talking. Thank you.

Tery , a special thank you for name-dropping EA Budge: there were so many books on Egyptian mythology on Amazon I didn't really know where to start.

hossenpepper , again some good suggestions. I also appreciate your clarifying that what I call "mythology" is actually the Native People's religion/culture. As a Hindu, I should have known better! I do not live in the US, but my siblings do, and I've mentioned to my sister that I would like to visit one of the reservations, so it's on our bucket list for my next trip abroad.

Giguh some valuable suggestions, thank you so much.
Oh no malice or consternation in my advice if you took that way. I cry pardon if so. I was simply helping ensure you don't get hung up on or no reply from those working at their tribal headquarters. Some might not care, but many will and won't help you if they feel insulted is all.

I am part Osage. Here is my tribe's website where you can find more resources and info:
Osage Nation |
 

AnnaMarie

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2012
7,068
29,564
Other
Thanks for the reminder.

I wanted to pick up a book for my granddaughter. She is Mohawk.

I may not have to special order as there are a lot of new First Nation children's book available in the bookstore. Robert Munsch has a new one that comes from out the end of this month too. There are some wonderful looking native alphabet books.
 

Holly Gibney

Well-Known Member
Aug 2, 2016
153
783
46
Have you ever visited the Village of First Nations forum? It is an internet forum for First Nations people in Canada, and it is full of very friendly, welcoming people and a lot of open and forthright discussions of politics and First Nations cultures. If you introduce yourself honestly to them and ask for help and advice, I'm sure they would be very glad to help you out.

You can find them here - Discussion Forums • Index page
 
Mar 12, 2010
6,538
29,004
Texas
Our favorite author borrowed a legendary figure from the Indian tribes of North America/Canada. Can y'all guess which one?

The Wendigo played a role in SK's novel Pet Sematary. The little bald doctor who cut the balloon strings in Insomnia was also probably a Wendigo creature.
 

GNTLGNT

The idiot is IN
Jun 15, 2007
87,651
358,754
62
Cambridge, Ohio
Steffen, osiyo! I am a bi-racial translator of Native American myths, legends and sacred Cherokee formulas of the medicine men/shamans. (It's okay. You can call it "myth"). Here is an invaluable source, if you want the real deal. It dates from the nineteenth century, and won't set you back too much, dollar-wise. It was compiled by a man named James Mooney. You can even get it in Kindle format. The title is "History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee."

Amazon.com: History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees eBook: James Mooney: Kindle Store

You can find some material in this vein, also, at my website, Jennifer Reeser

Best of luck with this. Do na da go huh i.

Giguh
Imagepipe1a.jpg
 

doowopgirl

very avid fan
Aug 7, 2009
6,946
25,119
65
dublin ireland
Steffen, osiyo! I am a bi-racial translator of Native American myths, legends and sacred Cherokee formulas of the medicine men/shamans. (It's okay. You can call it "myth"). Here is an invaluable source, if you want the real deal. It dates from the nineteenth century, and won't set you back too much, dollar-wise. It was compiled by a man named James Mooney. You can even get it in Kindle format. The title is "History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee."

Amazon.com: History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees eBook: James Mooney: Kindle Store

You can find some material in this vein, also, at my website, Jennifer Reeser

Best of luck with this. Do na da go huh i.

Giguh
Welcome. I may check some of this reading out myself.