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Native American Legends and Stories About Twins

The birth of twins is considered a notable event in many Native American cultures. In most cultures, twins are considered good luck, while in some, twins are considered spiritually powerful and were trained as medicine people. Twin gods or heroes are a common motif in the mythology of many North American tribes, and human twins were sometimes associated with these mythological figures. In some Northwest Coast tribes, such as the Kwakwaka'wakw, twins are believed to be blessed by the Salmon People and have special ceremonial roles in the Salmon Ceremony. In some Southwestern tribes, such as the Mojave, twins were considered supernatural visitors who were exempt from normal tribal taboos, and though that tradition is no longer commonly observed, twins are still seen as a special blessing in these tribes. Twins are not viewed positively in all tribes, however. In some South American cultures, twins are considered a bad omen or the result of black magic, and some parents have even abandoned their newborn twins due to this belief.

Here is our collection of Native American legends and traditional stories about twins.

Native American Twin Spirits

*Amalivaca and Vochi (Cariban)
*The God Boys (Caddo)
*Hunahpu and Ixbalanque (Maya)
Keri and Kame (Bakairi)
*The Little Thunders (Seminole)
*Macunaima and Pia (Carib)
*Monster Slayer and Child of Water (Navajo)
*The Twin Gods, Good Spirit and Bad Spirit (Iroquois)
*The Twin Heroes, Lodge Boy and Spring Boy (Plains tribes)

Native American Twin Stories

*Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away:
    Crow legend about the two mythical twins.
*The Twin Brothers * The Brothers Who Became Lightning And Thunder:
    Caddo legends about the twin heroes, Thunder and Lightning.
*The Birth of Good and Evil:
    Oneida myth about Sky Woman's twin grandchildren.
*The Creation:
    Cayuga myth about Sky Woman and her twin sons Good Spirit and Bad Spirit.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Warrior Twins: A Navajo Hero Myth:
    Children's book about Navajo twin heroes who slay monsters and protect the people.



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