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Native American Stories About Respect for Nature
Respect for nature is an important theme in Native American stories. Indeed, respect for nature is important
in the mythology of all pre-industrial societies that depend on the natural world for their living.
Legends About Respect for Nature
Arrowhead Finger:
Story about a Penobscot heroine who respected plants and became a great herbalist.
Nukumi and Fire: 
The Coming of Nukumi:
Mi'kmaq legends showing how the animals sacrificed themselves to sustain people, and therefore must be respected.
The Water Famine: How Gluskabe Stole Tobacco:
The Abenaki-Penobscot culture hero, Gluskabe, teaches that nature's gifts belong to all people.
Gluscabi and the Wind Eagle Why We Need Wind The Bird whose Wings Made the Wind:
Wabanaki legends in which Gluskabe discovers the importance of wind to the ecosystem.
The Story of Redfeather:
Chippewa Indian legend about boy punished by Owl for his disrespect of the birds.
Porcupine's Revenge:
Menominee legend about Porcupine punishing two disrespectful girls.
Brother Crow and Brother Buffalo:
Shawnee legend about how Crow taught hunters to respect the buffalo.
Bitter Spirit and the Stone:
Swampy Cree legend about a rock punishing the trickster hero for disrespecting it.
Grandmother's Creation Story:
Cree legend about the importance of respecting the animals.
The Revenge of the Mountain Goats:
Cree legend about a group of hunters punished for their cruelty and disrespect towards their prey.
Cipayak, the Northern Lights:
Cree legend about a disrespectful youth who offended the Northern Lights.
Humility:
Oral history from a Cree elder illustrating the importance of hunting respectfully.
Yellowstone Valley and the Great Flood:
Native American myth about a flood sent to punish people who were not living in harmony with nature.
The Flood:
Caddo legend about a nature spirit that punished the people with a flood for desecrating dead animals.
The Boy Who Married A Mountain Lion:
Caddo legend about a man who was punished for his brother's disrespect for the animal spirits.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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A Man Called Raven:
Wonderfully illustrated book by a Native author and artist illustrating a Northwest Coast legend about respect for nature.
Sunpainters: Eclipse of the Navajo Sun:
Beautiful book by a Navajo artist about an elderly man teaching his grandson to respect nature and the Earth.
Mwakwa Talks to the Loon:
Delightful picture book illustrating a Cree legend about Loon teaching the people to hunt and fish responsibly.
Salmon Boy:
Good telling of a Sechelt Indian story about a boy who teaches his tribe to respect the ways of the Salmon People.
Buffalo Woman:
Picture book based on a classic Plains Indian legend about the respectful relationship between people and buffalo.
Eagle Boy:
Northwest Coast Indian legend about humans and eagles learning to cooperate.
Heetunka's Harvest:
Children's storybook based on Dakota legends about the punishment of a woman who disrespects a mouse.
Mouse Woman and the Mischief Makers Mouse Woman and the Muddleheads Mouse Woman and the Vanished Princesses :
Lively retellings of three Haida legends about a mouse goddess who teaches the people proper behavior and respect for nature.
Whale Snow:
Children's book depicting the respect for whales in traditional Inuit culture.
Efraín of the Sonoran Desert: A Lizard's Life Among the Seri Indians:
A heartwarming children's story about the respectful relationship between zebra-tailed lizards and the Seri tribe.
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