North American Indians
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North American Indians
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This is our collection of links to Maidu folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American stories 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. In particular, though these legends come from the Maidus, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Achumawi and Atsugewi tribes are very similar.
Earth-Maker
(Kodoyanpe, in the Maidu language, also known as Earth-Initiate):
The benevolent Creator god of Maidu mythology.
Coyote:
The Maidu trickster figure. Coyote is Earth-Maker's assistant in the creation of the
world, and sometimes does things to help mankind. However, his failings of character
(Coyote is portrayed as reckless, greedy, deceitful, careless, and socially inappropriate) are
constantly getting him and the people around him into trouble.
Kohuneje:
In Maidu stories, Kohuneje is a hairy Bigfoot-like monster who lives in the forest and eats human children.
Maidu Texts:Tolowim Woman And Butterfly Man:Maidu Creation Myth:The First Man And Woman:The Theft of Fire:Why the Sun Follows the Moon:Mythology of the California Tribes:Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest:Surviving Through the Days: Translations of Native California Stories and Songs: 
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