Indian languages * Native American Indian cultures * Native totem

Native American Mouse Mythology

As in most other world mythology, the role of mice in Native American folklore is usually based on their very small size. Sometimes, as in the case of the Hopi hero Warrior Mouse or in children's folktales from many different tribes, mice prove that size does not matter as much as courage and persistence. In other tales, the small size of mice enables them to succeed at a task where others had failed (even the important mythic role of Fire-Stealer, in some tribes.) And in the Blackfoot tribe, mice held special status, being considered the brothers of mankind for their legendary role in giving humans leadership over the animals. But in some Northwest Coast tribes like the Tlingit, mice are associated with witchcraft.

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Mice are also used as clan animals in some Native American cultures, such as the Hopi tribe, whose Field-Mouse clan is called Pisha.

Native American Mouse Gods and Spirits

Mouse Woman (Haida)
Warrior Mouse (Hopi)

Native American Legends About Mice

Why Blackfeet Never Kill Mice:
    How Mouse gave Man leadership over all the animals.
A Miwok Mouse Story:
    Miwok Indian legend about Tol-le-loo the Mouse stealing fire from Robin.
When Tcikabis Trapped The Sun * The Snaring of the Sun * The Sun Snarer * Snaring the Sun:
    Algonquian and Athabaskan stories in which Mouse saves the world by freeing the sun from a snare.
*Why The Mouse Is So Silky:
    Swampy Cree legend about the culture hero rewarding mice for their industriousness.

Recommended Books of Mouse Stories from Native American Myth and Legend
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The Story of Jumping Mouse:
    Award-winning picture book based on a Native American story of a mouse rewarded for his generosity.
Field Mouse Goes to War:
    Adventurous story of the Hopi hero Warrior Mouse, with illustrations by a Hopi artist.
The Mouse Couple:
    Extremely cute children's book illustrating a Hopi legend about a mouse girl's search for a husband.
Heetunka's Harvest:
    Picture book for kids based on the Dakota legend of the bean mice punishing a greedy woman.
*Mouse Woman and the Mischief Makers * Mouse Woman and the Muddleheads * Mouse Woman and the Vanished Princesses :
    Lively retellings of three Haida legends about a mouse goddess.
Native American Animal Stories:
    Good collection of American Indian tales about animals, told by Abenaki storyteller Joseph Bruchac.



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