A collection of American Indian myths and legends illustrating the customs and values of the traditional Indian way of life.

Myths: tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes, the sacred origins of peoples, the forces of nature. Each society's mythology is unique, echoing throughout its arts and beliefs. Handbooks of World Mythology explore these mythologies in depth, offering insight into the complex interrelations of myth, history, and culture. Designed for general readers and students, each illustrated handbook offers: A lengthy overview that...

"These fascinating tales of the Native American peoples are filled with outlandish characters, heroic feats and astonishing accounts of the world's creation. Extraordinarily diverse and meaningful, they are a cultural landmark in North American literature. Featuring more than 50 legends and illustrated by the striking photography of Edward Curtis, Native American Myths and Legends showcases the imagination, insight and oral traditions of North America's...

"A retelling of various Native American myths, with background information describing the history, geography, belief systems, and customs of the indigenous peoples of North America"--Provided by publisher.

From the raven's role as trickster in Native American religion to its capacity to captivate ornithologists and biologists, the raven is an archetype in myth, dream, song, and ritual. In this beautifully illustrated study, Catherine Feher-Elston looks at ravens and crows in the contexts of Native American folklore, history, and science. Through interviews with Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest and other native peoples, and drawing on the most...