Native Languages of the Americas: Sauk Legends and Traditional Stories
This is our collection of links to Sauk folktales and traditional stories that can be read online.
We have indexed our Native American folklore 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 Sauk tribe, the traditional stories of
related tribes like the
Meskwaki and Menominee are very similar.
Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Sauk legend for this page or think one of the ones on here
should be removed, please contact us and let us know.
˜Wisahkeha (also spelled Wisaka, Wisakeha, Wisake, Wizakeha,
and several other ways.)
Wisakeha is the benevolent culture hero of the Sac and Fox tribes (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.)
It is pronounced similar to wee-zah-keh-hah. Wisakeha is the same character as the Cree
Wisahkecahk and shares
some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki
Kluscap, and Anishinabe
Nanabush, and many of the same stories
are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing.
˜Kehci Manito (also spelled
Gichi Manitoa, Gechee Maneto, Kechi Manetowa, and several other ways.)
This means "Great Spirit" in the Sauk language, and is the Sauk name for the Creator (God.) Kehci Manito
is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Sauk folklore. The name is pronounced
similar to keh-chee muh-nih-toh.
˜Lodge-Boy and Thrown-Away.
These mythical twins, born when their pregnant 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 Sauk legends.
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