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Native Languages of the Americas:
Tanacross Indian Legends, Myths, and Stories

This is our collection of links to Tanacross stories and folktales that can be read online. We have indexed our American Indian myths section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same story 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 Tanacross, the mythology of related tribes like the Ahtna and Tanana tribes are very similar.

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

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Important Tanacross Mythological Figures

Raven: Raven is the creator god of the Tanacross and other Alaskan Athabaskan tribes. He is a revered and benevolent transformer figure who helps the people and shapes their world for them, but at the same time, he is also a trickster character and many Tanacross stories about Raven have to do with his frivolous or poorly thought out behavior getting him into trouble.

The Traveler (Yaamaagh Telcheegh, Yaabaa Teeshaay, or Yamaagh Telch'eeg): Also known as the Transformer or Wanderer, the Traveler is a heroic monster-slayer in Tanacross folklore. Frequently he uses his cleverness rather than his strength to defeat his enemies, at which point he either kills them or transforms them into something harmless.

Tanacross Indian Folklore

*Yaabaa Teeshaay: First Man Stories from Healy Lake:
    An online collection of Tanacross legends from an Alaska Native heritage organization.

Recommended Books on Tanacross Myth
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links

Crow Is My Boss: The Oral Life History of a Tanacross Athabaskan Elder:
    Compelling book of traditional and autobiographical stories told by a Tanacross Indian elder.
Our Voices: Native Stories of Alaska and the Yukon:
    Collection of legends and oral history from the Tanacross and other Athabaskan tribes.

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Additional Resources

 Native Indian spirituality
 Alaska Native
 Subarctic Indian culture
 Athabascan people
 The history of Native Americans



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