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Native American Legends: Orenda
Name: Orenda
Tribal affiliation: Iroquois tribes,
Huron
Alternate spellings: Iarenda, Olenda
Pronunciation: varies by language and dialect; usually anglicized to oh-ren-dah.
Type: High god
Related figures in other tribes: Wakantanka (Sioux),
Wakonda (Mandan)
Orenda is a word that means "spiritual energy" in the Huron (Wyandot) language, and has often
been used to refer to gods and spirits in the Iroquois tribes as well. Although any divine spirit
could correctly be referred to as Orenda, the name is most commonly used to refer to
the Creator or Great Spirit,
or, among Christian Iroquois people, to God.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Skywoman: Legends of the Iroquois:
A wonderful collection of myths and legends by two Iroquois authors.
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Additional Resources
Iroquois myths
Iroquois languages
Seneca Indians
Mohawk Indians
Huron Indians
Northeast Woodlands
Iroquoian
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