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Yurok House, by Edward Curtiss [1923] (Public Domain Image)

Creation Myths of Primitive America

By Jeremiah Curtin

[1898]


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Despite the title, which suggests that this is a comprehensive study of Native American creation myths, this is actually a very good set of animal myths from two tribes of California, the Wintu and Yana. These tribes inhabited the northern Central Valley; the Yana are closely related to the Yahi, the tribe of Ishi, the 'last wild Indian'. Also, these are not creation myths per se; they are tales from an epic cycle about the proto-animal inhabitants of the California dreamtime, the beings who existed before the arrival of humans. That said, this is a very reputable collection which is cited to this day in scholarly papers about native California. Curtin treats this this lore with great respect, and because he is also a first-rate story teller, this is also a great read. Curtin, a distinguished folklorist and author, also wrote Tales of Fairies and of the Ghost-World, a collection of Irish supernatural folklore.


Title Page
Contents
Introduction

Wintu Myths

Olebis
Olelbis and Mem Loimis
Norwan
Tulchuherris
Sedit and the Two Brothers Hus
Hawt
Norwanchakus And Keriha
Kele and Sedit
Kol Tibichi

Yana Myths

The Winning Of Halai Auna At The House Of Tuina
The Hakas and the Tennas
Ilhataina
Hitchinna
Tirukala
Sukonia's Wives And The Ichpul Sisters
The Finding of Fire
Haka Kaina
Titindi Maupa and Paiowa, the Youngest Daughter of Wakara
The Two Sisters, Haka Lasi And Tsore Jowa
The Dream of Juiwaiyu and his Journey to Damhauja's Country
The Flight of Tsanunewa and Defeat of Hehku
The First Battle in the World and the Making of the Yana

Notes

Notes
The Wintus
Olelbis
Mem Loimis
Norwan
Tulchuherris
Sedit and the Two Brothers Hus
Hawt
Norwanchakus and Keriha
Kele and Sedit
Kol Tibichi
The Making of Doctors Among the Wintus
Songs of Spirits
The Yanas
The Winning of Halai Auna
The Hakas and the Tennas
Ilhataina
Hitchinna
Tirukala
Sukonia's Wives and the Ichpul Sisters
The Finding of Fire
Haka Kaina
Titindi Maupa and Paiowa the Youngest Daughter of Wakara
The Two Sisters Haka Lasi and Tsore Jowa
Juiwaiyu
The Flight of Tsanunewa and Defeat of Hehku
The First Battle in the World and the Making of the Yanas
Wintu Places Mentioned in the Myths
Yana Places Mentioned in the Myths
Value of Letters in the List of Places and in the Names of Persons Throughout the Volume