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Native Languages of the Americas:
Creek Legends, Myths, and Stories (Muskogee, Muscogee)

This is our collection of links to Creek stories and folktales 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 Creeks, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Choctaw and Chickasaw are very similar.

Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Creek legend for this page or think one of the ones on here should be removed, please let us know.

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Important Creek Mythological Figures

By-The-Door and Thrown-Away (also known as Lodge Boy and Bad Boy.) These mythical twins, born when their pregnant mother was killed by a monster, are common to the folklore of many Midwestern and Eastern tribes. In Creek mythology, they are generally portrayed as rowdy monster-slayers who cause a lot of trouble during the course of their adventures.

Chufi: Rabbit, the trickster figure in the folklore of the Creek and other Muskogean tribes.

Kolowa. A kind of hairy, man-eating ogre. Some recent Creek story-tellers have translated it as "gorilla."

Tie Snakes. These are mythological water spirits common to the folklore of Southeastern tribes. They are the size and shape of an ordinary snake, but have immense strength. In Creek stories, Tie-Snakes lived underwater and were feared for their ability to catch humans and drag them underwater to drown.

Isti Papa (Man-Eater): A giant cannibal monster common to southeastern Indian legends. Although some storytellers describe it as resembling a giant bear or elephant, most Creek people associate it with a big cat, and its name is translated as "Lion" or "Great Lion" in many stories.

Creek Indian Legends

*Creek Flood Myth:
    Creek legend about the flooding of the earth and Dog's noble self-sacrifice.
*Florida Creek Folktales:
    Muskogee Creek folklore and sacred stories from Florida.
*Creek Myths and Tales:
    Online collection of Muscogee legends.
*The Cussitaws Come East:
    Migration legend of the Cussitaw Creeks.
*How Rabbit Brought Fire to the People:
    Creek legend about the origin of fire.
*How Day and Night Were Divided* The Story of Day and Night:
    Muskogee myth about the creation of days.
*How Rabbit Fooled Wolf * How Rabbit Fooled Alligator:
    Muskogee legends about Rabbit playing tricks on other animals.
*Legend of the White Potato Clan:
    Muskogee legend about the Creator's gift to clanless children.
*The Story of Walnut-Cracker:
    A Hitchiti/Creek ghost story.
*Why Bats Are Classified As Animals * Story of the Bat:
    Creek story about a ball game between the birds and land animals.

Recommended Books on Creek Mythology
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

The Great Ball Game:
    Picture book illustrating a Creek legend about a contest between the animals and the birds.
Southeastern Native American Legends:
    Book comparing traditional Muskogee stories with the stories of other Southeast tribes.
American Indian Trickster Tales:
    Compilation of more than a hundred stories about Rabbit and other Native American tricksters.
    (Use discretion sharing these with kids as some of the stories contain adult humor.)

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Additional Resources

 Creek medicine
 Creek Indians
 Creek words
 American Indian books of folklore
 Native religions
 Georgia Indian tribes
 The Southeast tribes
 Muskogean
 Muscogee Creek nation
 Native American Indian language



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