Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month: Folklore and Religion

At the time of European contact, the Illinois, like all Native American groups, had a rich set of oral traditions that included many folk tales. These stories were told and retold in wigwams throughout the Illinois Country.

Lakota legends tell how porcupines got their quills and how bears taught their people to fish. Stories tell what happened to the buffalo herds. Legends portray Coyote as a trickster, and tell listeners not to follow Coyote's example. Ikto'mi is a trickster, but also a cunning teacher. Find out what happened to a greedy and selfish field mouse. Another tale tells how Devil's Tower formed to let a group of little girls escape a hungry pack of bears. The Lakota creation story tells of a great flood and the formation of Turtle Continent.

Discover the unique myths that contribute to the Navajo culture! On this web site you will examine the myths related to the sky, earth, and the Navajo world. Each myth listed provides you with the story of each one and how it relates to the culture along with an illustration that captures the main ideas about the myth.

Read retellings of famous Native American Myths, Legends and Stories such as Rainbow Crow, the Maid of the Mist, and the King of Sharks, as well as First Nation tales from Canada. The evil Windigo stalks a local tribe during a long winter, Nanabozho paints the flowers, and the patient heron outraces the hummingbird in this grouping of Native American myths and stories of truly legendary proportion.