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Native American Starfish Mythology

Starfish do not play a major role in Native American mythology. According to Kwakiutl legend, starfish once were women who defied the somewhat antisocial trickster deity Mink, who punished them by transforming them into starfish. Other legends identify starfish as the wealth of the Northwest Coast sea god named Kumugwe (or Komokwa,) and traditional carvings of Kumugwe are often adorned with starfish.

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The Starfish is used as a clan symbol in some Northwest Coast tribes, such as the Tlingit and Haida, and starfish crests can sometimes be found carved on totem poles.

Native American Starfish Gods and Spirits

Kumugwe (Kwakiutl)

Native American Legends About Starfish

Recommended Books of Starfish Stories from Native American Myth and Legend
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Native American Animal Stories:
    Great collection of American Indian tales about animals, told by Abenaki storyteller Joseph Bruchac.



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