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Native Languages of the Americas:
Yaqui Legends and Traditional Stories

This is our collection of links to Yaqui 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 Yaqui tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Pima and Papago are very similar.

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

Important Yaqui Mythological Figures

Itom Ae: Mother Earth in Yaqui traditional religion (her name literally means "our mother.") She was considered to be the mother and guardian of the Yaqui people. After Catholicism was adopted by the Yaquis, she became merged with Jesus' mother Mary (a situation that is common in Mexico, where pre-Columbian goddesses often became absorbed into local versions of Mary.) Today, most Yaquis consider Mary and Itom Ae to be one and the same.

Yaqui Indian Folklore

*Yaqui Myths and Legends:
    Online collection of Yaqui legends and traditional stories.
*The Surems and the Talking Tree * Yomumuli and the Little Surem People:
    Yaqui legend about a Surem woman who foretold the future.
*The Yaqui Curandero * The Yaqui Doctor:
    Yaqui legends about a traditional healer punished for cheating death.
*The Enchanted Pascola:
    Yaqui legend about a clumsy dancer who received powers from a magic goat.
*Ku Wikit * The Ku Bird:
    Yaqui stories about the origin of the first parrot.
*How The Mountains Were Created:
    A Yaqui fusion legend about how Itom Ae and Jesus made the mountains.
*The Legend of Skeleton Mountain * The Big Bird:
    Yaqui legends about a monster bird that carried off people.
*The Snake People:
    Yaqui story about a man punished for injuring a snake.
*The Singing Tree:
    Yaqui myth about a prophecy received from a sacred tree.

Recommended Books on Yaqui Mythology

Yaqui Myths and Legends:
    Collection of Yaqui legends and traditional stories.
Deer Dance: Yaqui Legends of Life:
    Another good collection of Yaqui myths and folklore.
The Deetkatoo:
    Great collection of traditional tales about little people from the Yaqui and other tribes.

Additional Resources

 Yaqui religion and expressive traditions
 Yaqui and Mayo Easter ceremonies
 Books of Native American legends
 Yaqui words
 Indian religions
 Arizona Indians
 Native Americans of the Southwest
 Southwest crafts
 Uto Aztecan
 Yaqui culture
 The American Indians



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