They come from the Pawnee, Iroquois, Algonquin, Inuit, Navajo, Sioux, and Hopi--and every one of these myths reveals the richness and depth of Native American culture, with its honored traditions and rituals. Born out of a deep sensitivity and respect for nature, they are exquisitely beautiful and contain the most profound spiritual and emotional truths. Through these legends, meet the Master of Life, who created the world; Thunderbird, who brings the storms; Grandmother Spiderwoman, who descends Earth to spin her silk; Coyote and his friends; as well a cast of other intriguing characters central to various Indian nations' cosmology. As part of an ancient heritage, these stories are a lasting tribute to the imaginative power and worldview of the first Americans.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
From the mouths of one generation to the ears of the next, the tales in Native American Myths have been passed down through the ancient tradition of oral storytelling. Though something is lost when these stories inhabit the page instead of the fireside, Diana Ferguson (Tales of the Plumed Spirit) was determined to preserve the spiritual heritage of American Indians in order to "enrich the lives us all." Whether we hear stories from the cliff-dwelling Pueblos or the Northwest coastal Makah, we find common mythic archetypes: creators, tricksters, heroes, and quests. Yet each tribe also has its unique tales, inspired by the land they inhabit and their wild animal companions. The Nez Perce, natives of the plateau and basin, tell stories of wily coyotes and enemy wolves. Natives of the plains tell buffalo tales, and the Northeast coastal Algonquian speak of canoeing in the fog and meeting a great white whale. Almost every spread includes photographs of artifacts and landscapes, as well as evocative tribal drawings and paintings. --Gail Hudson
From Booklist
This high-quality addition to a series retelling various peoples' traditional stories appeals to those seeking access to the myths of the multiple nations of North America. Well researched (though only one story is attributed to a specific source) and culturally diverse, Ferguson's collection includes myths from the arctic North and the desert Southwest, from the woodlands of the East to the rain forests of the West. Many similar collections lack myths involving female figures, but Ferguson includes some significant myths about goddesses. The illustrations of classic artifacts and artworks and Ferguson's brief, informative descriptions of cultural and historical matters further aid in making this an enjoyable read. Patricia Monaghan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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