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Native Languages of the Americas:
Mohican Indian Legends and Stories

This is our collection of links to Mahican stories and folktales that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American legends 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 Mohicans, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Pequot and Wampanoag are very similar.

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

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Important Mohican Mythological Figures

Click on each character's name for more detailed information about his or her role in Mohican mythology.

Waunthut Mennitoow (also spelled Wauntht Mennitow and other ways): This means "Great Spirit" in the Mohican language, and is the most common name used for the Creator (God.) Waunthut Mennitoow is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is not personified in Stockbridge/Mahican legends.

Moskim: Rabbit, a benevolent but somewhat foolish culture hero of Mohican folklore. Not many stories about Moskim are still told today, but he seems to have shared some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki Gluskabe, Anishinabe Nanabosho, and Cree Whiskeyjack. "Moskim" is pronounced moh-skeem.

Atlantow: The manitow (spirit) of death. A destructive, often evil being usually in opposition to Waunthut Mennitoow. After the introduction of Christianity, Mohican people frequently identified Atlantow with the Devil. Sometimes also known as Matantu (the name for the same character in the language of the neighboring Delaware tribe.)

Puckwudgies: Magical little people of the forest. In some Mohican tales they are mischievous but benign and may help people who treat them kindly, but in others, they can be dangerous and capricious and are best to be avoided.

Ahamagachktiat Mecehqua: Big Rump Bear, a giant hairless bear monster. Some people associate this creature with ancient mammoths.

Mohican Indian Folklore

*The Long Journey:
    Stockbridge Mohican myth about the origins of their people.
*A Widow’s Revenge:
    Mohican legend about a woman who brought her husband's murderers to justice.

Recommended Books on Mohican Mythology
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

Spirit of the New England Tribes:
    Collection of Mohican and other Algonquian legends and traditional stories.

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Additional Resources

 Native books of legends
 Religion of Native American Indians
 Mohican language
 Indian tribes of New York
 Eastern Woodlands
 Algic
 Mohican history
 Native American websites for elementary students



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Learn more about the Mohican Indians.



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