Cherokee Legends (Folklore, Myths, and Traditional Indian Stories) Indigenous languages in the US American Indian people What's new on our site today!
This is our collection of links to Cherokee folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American legends section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Cherokee tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Iroquois and Creeks are very similar. Enjoy the stories! Sponsored Links Important Cherokee Mythological Figures Unetlanvhi (Creator): This is the Cherokee word for God.
Jistu: Rabbit, the trickster figure in the folklore of the Cherokee and other Southeastern tribes. Uktena: A dragon-like horned serpent of Cherokee legend. Thunderers (Aniyvdaqualosgi or Ani-Yuntikwalaski): Storm spirits who live in the sky and command thunder and lightning. Rain Song - Sia. Rain Song A Sia Legend We, the ancient ones, ascended from the middle of the world below, through the door of the entrance to the lower world, we hold our songs to the Cloud, Lightning, and Thunder Peoples as we hold our own hearts.
Our medicine is precious. (Addressing the people of Tinia:) We entreat you to send your thoughts to us so that we may sing your songs straight, so that they will pass over the straight road to the Cloud priests that they may cover the Earth with water, so that she may bear all that is good for us. Fox and Magpie - Unknown. Fox and Magpie An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown One time, Fox and Magpie were roaming about the land.
Each of them had an empty stomach. They were hungry. As they walked about, they looked into a nearby water, that was flowing, and sighted a fish swimming by. The Fox and Magpie continued their journey from there into the trees, after the last experience. Fox and Magpie were now getting very, very hungry. Fox and Magpie were so hungry that their stomachs were beginning to rumble. After they each took a bath in the water. Native American LegendsBack to Top Other Native American Legends. Native American Legends, Folk Tales, and Stories. Native American mythology has a very rich cultural history of its own.
In the telling of tales, many things can be taught or learned. This is one of the ways that many tribes kept their cultures alive; it was not just a collection of stories, but of their beliefs, their ways, and their lives. Many legends are still told; some old, some new, but all are part of the beautiful culture that the indigenous peoples of North America have had and still have. In the telling of some of these stories, I will be handing along things that were told from grandmother to granddaughter; grandfather to grandson, for many generations. These stories, in and of themselves, are near to sacred for many groups of people. There are many different kinds of stories.
In reading these tales, you may notice that many, if not all, have morals or some form of belief that is being taught; these are the teachings of the storytellers. I will, eventually, get back to you. Why Rabbit Has A Short Tail. Native American Culture - Stories/Legends. The Legend of The Cedar Tree. As told by Jim Fox A long time ago when the Cherokee people were new upon the earth, they thought that life would be much better if there was never any night.
They beseeched the Ouga (Creator) that it might be day all the time and that there would be no darkness. The Creator heard their voices and made the night cease and it was day all the time. Soon, the forest was thick with heavy growth. It became difficult to walk and to find the path. Not many days had passed before the people realized they had made a mistake and, once again, they beseeched the Creator. The day ceased and night fell upon the earth. Those that remained still living gathered once again to beseech the Creator.
Canku Ota - Feb. 24, 2001 - The Origin of Fire.