American Indian culture
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American Indian culture
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This is our index of Arikara folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have organized our Native American mythology 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 Arikara tribe, the traditional stories of the Pawnee and other Plains Indian tribes are very similar.
Neshanu Natchitak:
The Arikara name for the Great Spirit or God. Literally it means "the Chief Above."
Often just called Nishanu ("Chief" or "Lord"), which is still used as the Arikara word for God today.
Mother Corn:
Her Arikara name (Atna or Atina) literally means just "Mother"; the "corn" was added to her
name by anthropologists because she was the goddess or spirit of the corn. According to Arikara mythology,
Neshanu created the Mother from an ear of corn and she became the protector of the Arikaras, leading them to
their homeland and teaching them to farm.
Chirich:
Coyote, the trickster figure of Arikara Indian myth. He is clever but
reckless, and is forever getting himself and the people around him into trouble, particularly through
socially inappropriate behavior like greediness, boastfulness, lying, and chasing women. Like modern
cartoon characters, Coyote frequently dies during the course of his adventures and returns randomly
to life-- it is impossible to truly get rid of that trickster for good. Coyote stories are often humorous
in nature, but they can also be cautionary tales about the consequences of bad behavior and the dangers
of interacting with irresponsible people.
Drinks Brains
and Long Teeth:
These magical twins whose mother was killed by a monster are common to the myths of many Midwestern and Plains tribes.
Whirlwind-Woman:
Powerful storm spirit of Arikara mythology.
Stuwi:
Stuwi is a woman of loose morals who features in many jokes and stories told among Arikara men.
Stuwi stories usually feature adult humor.
Scalped Man (Tshunuxu):
A warrior who returned to life after being killed and scalped in battle and now roams the world
as a fearsome spirit being.
How Corn Came to Earth:
Arikara Creation Myth
The First To Know Maize:
How Antelope Carrier Saved the Thunderbirds:
An Address To Mother Corn:
The Forgotten Ear of Corn:
The Legend of the Peace Pipes:
The Magic Windpipe:
The Young Woman Who Became A Bear:
Mythology of the Arikaras:Myths and Traditions of the Arikara Indians:Traditional Narratives of the Arikara Indians: 
Traditional Narratives From Alfred Morsette: American Indian Trickster Tales:
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