Indigenous language * Native American Indian culture * Totem art

Native American Inchworm Mythology

Inchworms do not play a prominent role in Native American mythology. Like other small animals and insects, they sometimes appear in legends to symbolize meekness and humility. Conversely, a giant inchworm appears as a monster in Cherokee folklore. In some southeastern tribes, inchworms were said to have the power of appearing and disappearing from sight, so inchworms were sometimes sewn inside lacrosse balls as a charm to make them difficult for opponents to see.

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Native American Inchworm Gods and Spirits

Donyakdane (Iroquois)

Native American Legends About Inchworms

*Giant Inchworm Story:
    Cherokee legend about how the inchworm was defeated, in Cherokee and English.

Recommended Books of Inchworm Stories from Native American Myth and Legend
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Insect Mythology:
    Interesting book on the meaning of inchworms and other insects in world mythology, including Native North America and Mesoamerica.
Native American Animal Stories:
    Great collection of American Indian tales about animals, told by Abenaki storyteller Joseph Bruchac.



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