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Native Languages of the Americas:
Omaha Indian Legends

This is our collection of links to Omaha folktales and traditional stories 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 Omahas, the mythology of related tribes like the Ponca and Osage tribes are very similar.

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

Important Omaha Mythological Figures

Ictinike (also spelled Ishtinike, Iktinike or other ways. Sometimes he is called the Monkey in recent translations.) Ictinike is the Trickster figure of the Omaha and Ponca tribes. Ictinike was the son of the Sun God, but due to his bad behavior was exiled to earth, where he had many adventures and got in every imaginable kind of trouble.

Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away. These mythical twins whose mother was killed by a monster are common to the folklore of many Midwestern and Eastern tribes. They are generally portrayed as heroic monster-slayers in Omaha legends.

Two-Face (or Double-Face or Two-Faces.) A man-eating ogre with a face on each side of his head.

Omaha Indian Folklore

*Omaha Origin Story:
    Narrative about the origin and development of the Omaha Indian tribe.
*Two-Face and the Twins:
    Omaha story of the birth of the Hero Twins.
*How Rabbit Caught the Sun in a Trap:
    Omaha legend about Rabbit getting in over his head.
*How To Count To 100:
    Omaha fable about good behavior.
*Death and Funeral Customs Among the Omahas:
    Omaha legends, stories, and beliefs concerning death and the afterlife.

Recommended Books on Omaha Myth

Ke-ma-ha:
    Collection of Omaha legends and stories by prominent Omaha author Francis LaFlesche..
American Indian Trickster Tales:
    Compilation of more than a hundred stories about Iktinike, Rabbit and other Native American tricksters.
    (Use discretion sharing these with kids as some of the stories contain adult humor.)

Additional Resources

 Omaha religion and expressive traditions
 Omaha language
 Books of American Indian myths
 Indian religions
 Indian tribes of Nebraska
 The Plains tribes
 Siouan speakers
 Native Indians cultures



Back to the list of Native American animal spirits
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Learn more about the Omaha tribe.



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