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This is our collection of links to Chipewyan folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed 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 Chipewyans, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Slavey and Carrier tribes are very similar.
Yedariyé
or Niottsi (also Yedariye, Yeddariye, Yuttoere,
Ni-ottsi, Nitosi, etc.):
This is the name of the great sky god of the Dene tribes.
He is a benevolent creator spirit who will occasionally intervene to help people in distress.
Yedariyé means "He who lives on high," and Niottsi means "Creator."
Old Man:
Also known as the Transformer or Wanderer, Old Man is a heroic monster-slayer in Chipewyan folklore.
Frequently he uses his cleverness rather than his strength to defeat his enemies,
at which point he either kills them or transforms them into something harmless.
Dene Creation Myth:
The Monster Bird:
Raised-By-His-Grandmother:
Sa-Klu-Nazetti (The Sun Taken in a Snare):
Love and Support:
Bear and Squirrel:
The Boy Who Became Strong:
Elder Speak:
Chipewyan Tales:
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