Native American First Nations
Indian map
What's new on our site

This is our collection of links to Seneca folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our American 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, so you may also want to visit our page comparing stories from the the Iroquois tribes (which include the Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Mohawk, and Seneca Indians), since the traditional stories of those tribes are very similar.
Sky Woman:
The mother goddess of Seneca mythology, said to have fallen through a hole in the sky.
The Twin Gods:
Sky Woman's twin grandsons, Sky Holder
(Djuskaha) and Warty (Othagwenda.)
These twin deities were the creators and culture heroes of the Iroquois people.
Sky-Holder was the god of life and created many things to help humankind; his twin Warty
was the god of death and primarily caused destruction.
Hawennio:
The high god of Seneca mythology, a benevolent teacher and caretaker of the world.
Thunders:
Powerful storm spirits who live in the sky and cause thunder and lightning. Although they are
dangerous beings and their gaze can bring death to mortal men, they usually play a positive
role in Seneca myths and are typically portrayed as honorable and fair. The thunder god
Hine is their eldest brother and leader,
often called "Grandfather" by the Senecas.
Onatah:
Spirit of the Corn, a fertility goddess and one of the Three Sisters of Seneca agriculture.
Drum Dancers (Jogeon, in Seneca):
Little people of Seneca Indian legends. They are dwarf-like nature spirits about 2 feet tall.
Stone Coats (Genosgwa, in Seneca):
Mythological giants of the Iroquois tribes, with skin as hard as stone.
Flying Head (Dagwanoeient, in Seneca):
Monster in the form of a giant disembodied head, usually created during a particularly violent murder.
Naked Bear (Niagwahe, in Seneca):
A giant, hairless bear monster. Some people associate them with mammoths.
Doonongaes:
A dragon-like horned serpent of the Great Lakes, feared for its habit of capsizing canoes and eating people.
The Great Peacemaker and Hiawatha:
The legendary founders of the Iroquois Confederacy and architects of the Great Law.
Godasiyo:
Legendary female chief of the Seneca tribe.
Dry Hand:
Disembodied mummified arm of Seneca ghost stories.
Seneca Indian Myths:
The Powerful Boy:
The Woman Who Fell From the Sky
Seek Your Father:
Godasiyo the Woman Chief:
Bear's Race With Turtle
Turtle's Race With Bear:
Niagara Falls
The Sacrifice at Niagara Falls:
Brothers Who Followed The Sun:
Dagwanoenyent
The Flying Head:
Thunder Boy:
The Origin of Stories:
Chipmunk and Bear
How Chipmunks Got Their Stripes:
Fox and Rabbit:
Spring Defeats Winter:
Turtle's Race With Beaver:
Brother Wolf: A Seneca Tale:
Maiden of the Mist: A Legend of Niagara Falls:
Skunny Wundy: Seneca Indian Tales:
Seneca Myths and Folk Tales:
The Deetkatoo:
Back to our Seneca homepage
Buy some Native American Indian books
Learn more about the Haudenosaunee.

Native American art
Native roots
Cashinahua language
Lora's games
Tribal tattoo design
Would you like to help support our organization's work with endangered American Indian languages?

Contacts and FAQ page