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Native Languages of the Americas:
Modoc Indian Legends

This is our collection of links to Modoc folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Indian 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 Modocs, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Yakima and Nez Perce tribes are very similar.

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

Important Modoc Mythological Figures

Kumush (also spelled Kumokum, Kumokums, Kumukumts, Gmukamps, and other ways): The creator god of the Modoc tribe.

Modoc Indian Folklore

*People Brought in a Basket:
    Modoc creation myth.
*How Old Age Came into the World:
    Modoc myth about the origin of death.
*When the Grizzlies Walked Upright:
    Modoc legend about a woman who married a bear.
*The Bat:
    Modoc tale about an opportunistic bat.
*The Witsduks:
    Modoc legend about the origin of the Witsduk snowstorm spirits.

Recommended Books on Modoc Mythology

Myths of the Modocs:
    Legends and traditional stories
Coyote Was Going There: Indian Literature of the Oregon Country:
    Excellent anthology of folklore from the Modoc and other Oregon tribes.
Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest:
    Collection of legends and folktales from the Modoc and other northwestern tribes.

Additional Resources

 Modoc religion and expressive traditions
 Modoc language
 Books of Native American myths
 Native American religion
 Indian tribes of Oregon
 Great Western Plateau
 Penutian languages
 Native American Indians culture



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