Native American languages * Native American culture * Native American art

  * Find Native American ancestors in your family tree

Legendary Native American Figures: Saya (Tsaya)

Name: Saya
Also spelled: Tsaya, Tsaayaa, Tsááyaa
Tribal affiliation: Beaver
Pronunciation: usually tsah-yah
Type: Culture hero, transformer, creator god

 Saya is the benevolent culture hero of the Beaver tribe (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.) Saya is generally portrayed as a heroic monster-slayer and friend to mankind, though there are some Beaver stories about him that are humorous in nature

Saya Stories

*Tsááyaa and Mosquito Man:
    Video of a Dane-zaa storyteller relating a traditional Saya legend.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends

When You Sing It Now, Just Like New:
    Book of Dane-zaa (Beaver) folklore and oral traditions.

Additional Resources

 Beaver mythology
 Dane-zaa language
 Alberta First Nations list
 Subarctic Beaver tribe
 Athabaskan languages



Back to Native American heroes
Back to Native American legends and folktales
Learn more about the First Nations of Canada.



Native American names * The Powhatan Confederacy * Turquoise Indian jewelry

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 © 1998-2012 * Contacts and FAQ page