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Native Languages of the Americas:
Maidu Indian Legends

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 Chinook and Wasco-Wishram tribes are very similar.

Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Maidu legend for this page or think one of the ones on here should be removed, please contact us and let us know.

Maidu Indian Folklore

*Maidu Texts:
    Collection of Maidu myths and legends.
*Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest:
    Online book about Southwest and California Indian mythology.
*Tolowim Woman And Butterfly Man:
    Maidu legend about the fate of a fickle woman.
*Maidu Creation Myth:
    Maidu story of the origin of the world.
*The First Man And Woman:
    Nishinam (Southern Maidu) origin myth.
*The Theft of Fire:
    How fire came to the Maidu people.
*Why the Sun Follows the Moon:
    Maidu legend about the origin of the sun and moon.

Additional Resources

 Books of Native American legends
 Native spirituality
 The Religion of the Indians of California
 Maidu religion and expressive culture



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