Dictionary of Native American Mythology (Oxford Paperback Reference) [Paperback]

Sam D. Gill (Author), Irene F. Sullivan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Oxford Paperback Reference | Publication Date: July 7, 1994

Passed down from generation to generation, the myths and rituals of Native Americans form a rich religious and cultural base from which all members of each society can create and maintain a sense of community, physical and emotional health, identity, family, and self. Such traditions, handed down through stories and rites, stand as the lifeblood of every Native American culture. This thoroughly illustrated and carefully researched guide explores the amazing array of mythical beasts, heroic humans, and nurturing spirits that make up the fascinating spectrum of Native American mythology. With over one thousand alphabetically arranged entries, representing over one hundred different Native American cultures, readers can quickly explore the meaning of hundreds of elements of Native lore--from names, phrases, and symbols, to images, motifs, and themes. Accompanying essays take a closer look at other issues related to the origin, development, and perpetuation of Native American mythology, such as the Christian influence on myth, varying mythology between tribes, storytelling, and more. We learn about such mythical creatures as Apotamkin of the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy tribe of the Southeast (a bogey monster with long hair and huge teeth who, through the fear he generates, keeps small children from straying onto thin, newly frozen ice in the winter and unguarded beaches in the summer), ritual healing ceremonials such as the Southwestern Navajo's Uglyway ceremony (a ceremony to remove and protect against the forces of chaos and disorder that give rise to illness), and the Marau ceremony of the Hopi Indians of the Southeast (a complex ceremony concerned with rain, the ripening of corn, and the fertility of women, as well as rites of initiating new members into the society). This compelling volume honors the richness of the beliefs and values of the many peoples of native North America, from northern Mexico to the Artic Circle. In addition, a complete bibliography of primary sources and secondary sources points the way to further research, making this the perfect reference for anyone interested in the mythical history of America's original inhabitants.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up-Over 1,300 entries are included in this valuable resource. Terms, concepts, stories, and symbols from more than 100 different Native American cultures are described and illustrated. Maps are useful for locating various peoples, and a tribal index refers readers to entries and to the extensive bibliography. Commonalities, such as the trickster motif, are discussed under English entry titles; other entries are under titles in specific Native American languages. An excellent cross-reference system makes this approach accessible to students. Rituals currently practiced and stories are described in the present tense in order to place "the reader more directly into the action of the story." If a ritual is no longer practiced, the past tense is used. This work updates and supplements North American Indian Mythology (Bedrick, 1985), which has more photographs and is more colorful, but is not as thorough, and The Portable North American Indian Reader (Viking, 1977), which contains poetry and oratory as well as mythology. An important resource, Gill's book will be useful for casual browsers and advanced students.
Margaret Tice, Brooklyn Public Library
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

This dictionary entices readers to explore the complex fabric of North American Indian tales and ritual. While numerous other references treat Native American mythology, none offers the coverage found in this volume. Works such as Yves Bonnefoy's Mythologies (Univ. of Chicago Pr., 1991) and the New Larousse Encyclopedia of Mythology (Paul Hamlyn, 1968) focus primarily on classical, European, and Asian myths, with minimal coverage of Native American cultures. This new dictionary is well researched, drawing from scholarly sources such as the Journal of American Folklore and the American Anthropologist. Entries appear as either descriptive terms or in the anglicized form of Native American words, followed by tribal and/or cultural identifiers. Each entry includes generous cross references and bibliographic citations. An excellent tribal index refers readers to both main entries and to the work's extensive bibliography, which invites readers to pursue the research further in scholarly journals and monographs. This dictionary should be purchased by most libraries as a complement to the Handbook of North American Indians (Smithsonian, 1978+) and Arlene and Paulette Hirschfelder's The Encyclopedia of Native American Religions ( LJ 7/92).
- Randy J. Olsen, Brigham Young Univ. Lib., Provo, Ut.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 456 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 7, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195086023
• ISBN-13: 978-0195086027
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #65 in Books > Education & Reference > Dictionaries & Thesauruses > Foreign Language > Native American

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0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars So-so, August 27, 2007

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This review is from: Dictionary of Native American Mythology (Oxford Paperback Reference) (Paperback)

It's like what it says on the title. A dictionary. It's not what I call a definitive source, but it's ok.