Indian languages * Indian culture * Indian tribes of North America * What's new on our site

  * Find Native American ancestors in your family tree

Native Languages of the Americas:
Pomo Indian Legends

This is our collection of links to Pomo folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Indian stories 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 Pomos, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Miwok and Wappo tribes are very similar.

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

Important Pomo Mythological Figures

Coyote: The culture hero of the Pomo tribe. In some tales, Coyote plays the mischievous trickster role common in California Indian folklore, but in others, he is a more serious protagonist who creates human beings and teaches them the arts of civilization.

Pomo Indian Folklore

*Pomo Bear Doctors:
    Online book of Pomo mythology and religious practices.
*The Girl Who Married Rattlesnake:
    Pomo legend about a girl who became a rattlesnake.
*Folk Tales of the Kashaya:
    Legends and stories told by Kashaya Indian elders.
*The Origin of Light:
    Gallinomero (Southern Pomo) legend about the creation of the sun and moon.
*The Spirit Land:
    Gallinomero tales about the afterlife.
*Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest:
    Online book about Southwest and California Indian mythology.

Recommended Books on Pomo Mythology

Coyote and the Grasshoppers:
    Picture book illustrating a Pomo myth about the importance of pests like grasshoppers.
Surviving Through the Days: Translations of Native California Stories and Songs:
    Anthology of myths and traditional literature from the Pomo and other Native California tribes.

Additional Resources

 Pomo religion and expressive traditions
 The Religion of the Indians of California
 Books of Native American legends
 Native American belief
 Indian reservations in California
 California culture area
 Hokan linguistics
 Pomo culture
 Native Indians people



Back to the Gods and monsters page
Back to the Amerind homepage
Read some American Indian poetry



Indian Necklaces * Original Names * Loincloths * Blackfoot Indian legends * Indian Words

Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

or buy some books through this link:

Native Languages of the Americas website © 1998-2011 * Contacts and FAQ page