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Native Languages of the Americas:
Wampanoag Indian Legends

This is our collection of links to Wampanoag folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American legends 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 Wampanoag, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Mohegan and Mohican tribes are very similar.

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

Important Wampanoag Mythological Figures

˜Kehtannit (also spelled Kiehtan, Kehtean, Keihtanit, Kehtanit, and several other ways.) This means "Great Spirit" in the Wampanoag language, and is the Wampanoag name for the Creator (God.) Kehtannit is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Wampanoag folklore. The name is pronounced similar to kay-tan-nit.

˜Moshup (also spelled Maushup, Maushop, and several other ways.) Moshup is a giant who is the culture hero of the Mohegan and Wampanoag tribes (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.) His name is pronounced moh-shup or maw-shup, and he has a wife named Squannit (also spelled Squant, Squaunt, or Squauanit.) Moshup shares some similarities with other Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki Glooskap.

Wampanoag Indian Folklore

*Moshup the Giant * Moshup * Maushop and the Circle of Life:
    Mohegan and Wampanoag stories about the giant hero Moshup.
*Squant, the Sea Monster:
    Wampanoag myth about Moshup's wife Squant.
*A Mashpee Ghost Story:
    Mashpee Wampanoag story about a woman visited by a ghostly sailor.
*The Silver Pipe:
    Wampanoag legend about King Massassoit's wife.

Additional Resources

 Books of Native American legends
 Native American religions
 Wampanoag beliefs



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