Native American history
Native tribesNative Americans
Native American history
Native tribes
This is our index of Bannock folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have organized our American Indian myths and legends section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same story 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 Bannock, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Paiute and Shoshone tribes are very similar.
Esa/Wolf:
Creator god and culture hero of the Bannock tribe. Like other figures from the mythic age,
Esa is usually represented as a man in Bannock stories, but sometimes takes on the literal form of a wolf.
Ejupa/Coyote:
Wolf's younger brother, Coyote is a trickster figure. Though he often assists his brother
and sometimes even does good deeds for the people, Coyotes behavior is so irresponsible
and frivolous that he is constantly getting himself and those around him into trouble.
Water Babies:
Mysterious and dangerous water spirits from the mythology of the Bannock and other Western Indian
tribes. They inhabit springs and ponds, and are usually described as water fairies who lead humans to a watery grave
by mimicking the sounds of crying babies at night. Sometimes they are said to kill babies and take their place as changelings.
In Bannock traditions, respectful treatment and offerings are often considered to ward off violence by the water babies.
Ninumbee:
A violent race of magical little people who were said to kill and eat people.
Since Time Immemorial:Shoshone-Bannock Creation Legend:The Wolf, the Fox, the Bobcat and the Cougar:Ejupa and the Seasons:American Indian beliefs about the eclipse:Coyote Was Going There: Indian Literature of the Oregon Country: Sage Smoke: Tales of the Shoshoni-Bannock Indians:Indian Legends from the Northern Rockies:
lore from the Bannock and other Great Basin tribes.
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