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Native American Legends: Big Water Snake
Name: Big Water Snake
Tribal affiliation: Blackfoot
Names in Blackfoot: Omachk-soyis-ksiksinai, Omahksoyisksiksina
Pronunciation: similar to oh-mock-soh-yisk-sick-sin-uh.
Also known as: Horned Snake, Water-Monster, Horned Monster, Great Serpent,
Type: Lake monster,
giant serpent
Related figures in other tribes: Mishi-Ginebig (Anishinabe),
Mneto (Fox),
Gitaskog (Abenaki),
Mihni (Cheyenne)
Big Water Snake is an underwater horned serpent,
common to the legends of most Algonquian tribes. "Big Water Snake" is a literal translation of its Blackfoot name,
Omahksoyisksiksina. Big Water Snakes are dangerous man-eating creatures known for lurking in lakes and rivers and
attacking unwary travelers. Their sworn enemies are the
thunder birds, who can kill them with bolts of thunder.
Despite their fearsome appearance and deadly behavior towards humans, Big Water Snakes are respected spirit beings
and Blackfoot people sometimes used protective Water Snake designs on sacred objects such as tipi covers, pipe bags and
medicine pouches.
Sponsored Links
Big Water Snake Stories
The Warrior That Ate The Horned Snake:
Blackfoot legend about a man who offended the Horned Snakes and was turned into one as punishment.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
Mythology of the Blackfoot Indians:
Collection of traditional Blackfoot legends and folktales.
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Blackfoot and other Algonquian tribes.
Additional Resources
Blackfoot mythology
Blackfoot Indians
Blackfoot Indian names
Montana map
Great Plains Indians
Algic languages
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