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Native Languages of the Americas:
Iroquois Legends and Traditional Stories

This is our collection of links to Iroquois folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American myths 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. On this page, we have included myths and legends from the Seneca Tribe, Oneida Tribe, Onondaga Tribe, Cayuga Tribe, and Mohawk Tribe, five allied tribes of the northeast woodlands who speak similar languages and share many cultural similarities, including much of their folklore.

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

Important Iroquois Mythological Figures

Click on each character's name for more detailed information about his or her role in Iroquois mythology.

Sky Woman: The mother goddess of the Iroquois tribes, said to have fallen through a hole in the sky.

The Twins: Sky Woman's grandsons. One of them (variously named Sapling, Good Spirit, Good Mind, Right-Handed, etc.) was the benefactor of the Iroquois, slew monsters and created many things to help humankind; his twin (variously named Flint, Bad Mind, Bad Spirit, Left-Handed, etc.) was evil and caused destruction.

Thunders: Powerful storm spirits who live in the sky and cause thunder and lightning. Although they are dangerous beings and their gaze can bring death to mortal men, they usually play a positive role in Iroquois legends and spirituality and are typically portrayed as honorable and fair.

Naked Bear: A giant, hairless bear monster. Some people associate them with mammoths.

Iroquois Indian Folklore

*Iroquois Myths and Legends:
    Four online collections of Iroquois mythology.
*Iroquois Creation Myth * Haudenosaunee Creation Story * Sky Woman * Iroquois Creation Myth:
    The Iroquois Creation Story * Skywoman and the Creation:
    Iroquois legends about the creation of the world and the origin of the Haudenosaunee tribes..
*The Birth of Good and Evil:
    Iroquois myth about Sky Woman's twin grandchildren.
*Iroquois Oral Traditions:
    Twenty-four traditional Iroquois stories.
*Hiawatha Tarenyawagon * Hiawatha the Unifier * De-Ka-Nah-Wi-Da and Hiawatha:
    Websites about the legendary Iroquois heroes Hiawatha and Dekanawida.
*Tree of Peace:
    Oneida myth about the pine tree and the formation of the Iroquois League.
*The Warrior Maiden:
    The legend of Aliquipiso, an Oneida girl who sacrificed herself to save her tribe.
*Origin of the Pleiades:
    Iroquois myth about children who became stars.
*Brothers Who Followed The Sun:
    Iroquois legend about three mythical brothers.
*The Great Father Mosquito:
    Iroquois legend about the origin of mosquitos.
*Why The Owl Has Big Eyes:
    Iroquois story about owl being punished for his disobedience.
The Hungry Fox and the Boastful Suitor:
    Iroquois legend about Fox making a fool out of a boastful man.
*The Flying Head * Dagwanoenyent * The Flying Head Story:
    Iroquois legends about the Flying Head monster.
*The Human Race Is Saved:
    Legend of a hero who saved the Iroquois people from a plague.
*How Fire Came to the Six Nations:
    Iroquois myth about the origin of fire.
*Sayadio in the Land of the Dead:
    Iroquois myth about a man who went to the afterlife to find his sister.
*Four Iroquois Hunters:
    A funny folktale about four Iroquois men having a boasting competition.
*The Gifts of the Little People:
    Iroquois stories about the little people (Jo-Ge-Oh).
*The Hunting of The Great Bear * The Monster Bear:
    Iroquois legends about the origin of a constellation.
*Skunny-Wundy and the Stone Giant:
    Iroquois legends about the hero Skunny-Wundy.
*Origin of the Iroquois Nations:
    Tales about the creation of the Six Nations.
*Spring Defeats Winter:
    Iroquois tale about the passing of the seasons.
*Niagara Falls * The Sacrifice at Niagara Falls:
    Iroquois legends about the great waterfall Niagara.
*The Powerful Boy:
    Seneca Indian myths about a boy hero who slays monsters.
*Godasiyo the Woman Chief:
    Legends about a female Iroquois chief.
*Seek Your Father * Sky Woman and Aientsik:
    Iroquois legends about Sky Woman and her family.
Chipmunk and Bear * How Chipmunks Got Their Stripes * Chipmunk and Bear:
    Iroquois legends about Chipmunk being punished for his impertinence.
*Rabbit Dance:
    Oneida legend about the origin of the Rabbit Dance.
*How The Eagle First Came To The People:
    Mohawk legend about a boy who turned into an eagle.
*Why the Turtle Has a Broken Shell * How the Turtle Flew South for the Winter:
    Iroquois legends about how Turtle broke his shell.
*Bear's Race With Turtle * Turtle's Race With Bear:
    Iroquois folktales about Turtle teaching Bear a lesson.
*The Story of Corn:
    Mohawk legend about the origin of corn.
*The Corn Spirit:
    Tuscarora legend about learning proper respect for the corn.
*Thunder Boy:
    Seneca stories about the life of the hero Híno'Hoháwank.
*The Origin of Stories:
    Seneca legend about where storytelling came from.
*Fox and Rabbit:
    Seneca legend about how Rabbit escaped from Fox.

Recommended Books on Iroquois Mythology

Legends of the Iroquois:
    Legends and traditional stories told by a Mohawk elder.
Legends, Traditions and Laws of the Iroquois:
    Collection of Iroquois mythology and oral history told by a Tuscarora chief.
Oneida Iroquois Folklore, Myth, And History:
    Book of Iroquois legends and oral history from the Oneida tribe.
Iroquois Indian Myths And Legends:
    Traditional stories from the Iroquois tribes.
The Deetkatoo:
    Great collection of traditional tales about little people from the Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, and other tribes.
Owl Eyes:
    Picture book based on a light-hearted Iroquois legend about why owls are nocturnal.
Turtle's Race With Beaver:
    Another children's book illustrating an Iroquois myth about Beaver.

Additional Resources

 Iroquois mythology
 Books of Native American legends
 Native American religion
 Iroquoian languages
 New York Native American Indians
 The Northeastern Woodlands
 Iroquois Indians
 Indian website



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