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Native American Legends: Oniate (Dry Fingers, Dry Hand, Oniata)

Name: Oniate
Tribal affiliation: Iroquois tribes
Alternate spellings: Oniatë, Oniaten, Oniatän, Oniatä, Oniata, Onyate, O'nya:te:, O'nya:ten
Pronunciation: oh-nee-ah-ten
Also known as: Dry Hand, Dry Fingers
Type: Ghost, monster

 Oniate, the Dry Fingers or Dry Hand, is a disembodied mummified arm of Iroquois (especially Seneca and Cayuga) folklore. In some stories Dry Fingers is purely a bogeyman, appearing in deserted areas to terrorize people passing by. But in other stories Dry Fingers is a vengeful apparition that only punishes badly behaved people, especially those who speak evil of the dead, sow discord, or pry into other people's business. The arm can fly, and any person touched by its withered, dried finger is killed, afflicted with a disease, or struck blind.

The Oniate is not to be confused with Onatah, an Iroquois corn spirit and fertility goddess. There was also a heroine named Oniata in one of the folktales told by the Seneca chief Cornplanter, who is not related to the Dry Fingers (though both names are sometimes spelled the same in English.) Oniatë literally means "dry fingers" in Cayuga and Seneca (onya means "fingers" and të means "dried out"); the names of the corn goddess and folktale heroine both come from the word for "corn," oneo.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror:
    Eerie collection of stories about Native American ghosts and other monsters, told by an Abenaki storyteller.
Skywoman: Legends of the Iroquois:
    Wonderful illustrated collection of Iroquois Indian legends, by Oneida and Mohawk authors.
Legends of the Iroquois:
    Another good book of Iroquois stories, told by a Mohawk elder.
Seneca Myths and Folk Tales:
    Classic collection of Seneca Indian legends.

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Additional Resources

 Iroquois stories
 Iroquois culture
 Seneca nation
 Cayuga nation
 New York Indian reservation
 Woodland tribe
 Iroquois family



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