In a village, an old woman, guardian of the pecan trees, hoarded the nuts, sharing only a few with visitors. The villagers, desperate for pecans, plotted to steal from her. They enlisted four mischievous boys, but Coyote intervened, wanting the nuts for himself. He feigned friendship to gain access, then killed the old woman. As a result, pecan trees flourished, becoming communal resources for all.
Two close friends went hunting and encountered a large snake. One friend killed and cooked the snake despite the other’s pleas to eat buffalo meat instead. After eating the snake, he began transforming into a snake himself. Fully transformed, he instructed his friend to find a hole for him to live in and to inform their village to offer gifts during hunts, promising assistance. The snake lived for years until he was ultimately killed by lightning.
Two men went hunting but returned empty-handed, deciding to sleep in the woods. They were awakened by a voice, and while one fled in fear, the other encountered a dead man needing assistance to reach Spirit Land. The living man made arrows and a new bowstring, enabling the dead man to ascend to the spirit realm. Afterward, he shared this tale with his people, establishing the tradition of burying bows and arrows with the dead, while reinforcing the belief to avoid crafting them at night due to the omen of death.
In a tale of companionship and bravery, a young man and his talking Dog venture into the wilderness for a hunt. The Dog, possessing prophetic abilities, warns the man of impending danger. After wounding a deer, they face threats from water creatures while swimming. Grateful for divine intervention that saves them, the young man sacrifices part of the deer. Together, they choose to leave the dangers of Earth, ascending to the sky where they become eternal stars, representing their bond.
In ancient times, Coyote established rules for the dead, allowing them to return to the earth after ten days. A body should be buried within six days, or it may escape. If caught before the seventh day, the deceased is surrounded by fire and returned home for six nights, eventually revived by bathing. If not caught, they transform into large monkeys, living in the wild and often interacting with people, which led to the belief that these monkeys are the last remnants of humanity.
In ancient times, an old woman had seven playful sons who prioritized fun over work and often neglected their responsibilities. After a scolding one evening for returning home late, the boys resolved to escape their mother’s care. The next morning, they prayed, and as they circled their house, they began to ascend into the sky. Their mother, realizing their ascent, could not stop them. Ultimately, they transformed into the Seven Stars, visible during winter but absent during the spring’s work season.
In a tale of betrayal and survival, two spies sent to locate an enemy encounter a treacherous situation. One man is left to starve in a deep hole by his jealous friend, who falsely reports his death. Rescued by a Buzzard, the trapped man learns of his friend’s envy over a perceived threat to his marriage. Upon returning home, the man exposes his friend’s treachery, leading to consequences that haunt the jealous husband. This account underscores themes of jealousy, loyalty, and the consequences of betrayal.
A girl lived with her hunter brothers and formed a secret bond with a Turtle, whom she married. While her brothers were away, she brought Turtle home, risking his safety. When they returned, they discovered Turtle and killed him, prompting the girl to pursue them. The brothers escaped across a river with the help of deceitful ducks, while the girl received assistance from a truthful duck. She continued to chase them but ultimately learned her brothers had been transformed into stars, leading to her tragic death.
A maiden, discontented with village suitors, dreams of marrying a star and wakes to find herself wed to an old man who claims to be the star. Unhappy with her wish, she longs to return home. After six days, the couple’s efforts yield a rope to descend to Earth. Hanging from the rope, she calls for help from Buzzard and Hawk, who ultimately rescue her. Back home, she is reunited with her parents and shares her story, leading to a newfound respect for Buzzards in her village.
In a tale of unique power, a girl who could summon buffalo lived with her six star brothers. Each day, they swung her from a lariat to attract the buffalo for sustenance. When Coyote visited, he promised not to swing her, but out of greed, he forced her into the swing, sending her into the sky. Unable to bring her down, he lied to the brothers about her fate. Realizing Coyote’s treachery, they banished him and resolved to go to the sky to find their sister.
During a prolonged drought, the people became desperate in their search for water, engaging in irrational acts against deceased aquatic creatures. A mysterious figure descended from the sky, carrying a green leaf, and chastised them for their actions. He then summoned water that inundated the earth, saving a select few atop a mountain. After four days, the waters receded, restoring life to the land, and the survivors discovered that some unrescued individuals had transformed into alligators and other aquatic beings.
In the early days, tribes formed from a large population began to clash, notably the Caddo, Kiowa, and Comanche. The Caddo chief convened a council to gather young warriors, who sang and drummed on a buffalo hide to prepare for battle. He set strict rules regarding discipline, hydration, and group movement. After marching and scouting, the Caddo engaged the enemy, achieving a minimal victory. Upon their return, the warriors were celebrated with a joyous war dance, a tradition that continued with subsequent war parties.
In a tribe, a man who engaged in women’s work and shunned fighting faced ridicule from other men. When war arose, he refused to join the men, claiming a divine purpose against violence. After enduring severe punishment and miraculously reviving, he spread chaos among the tribe, leading to internal strife and violence. Ultimately, his death, caused by a small imperfection, could not quell the destructive forces unleashed. The old man who once condemned him eventually recognized the folly of their actions and grieved the consequences.
In the village of Tall-Timber-on-Top-of-Hill, a young woman is left behind during a migration after the birth of her baby. Alone and fearful, she encounters Spotted-Wolf, who warns her of dangers on the journey and provides her with tobacco for assistance. When a cannibal threatens her, she calls for help and is rescued by wolves. The tale continues with another type of cannibal that feigns death to steal corpses, ultimately thwarted by a clever medicine-man who ensures protection for the dead.
In a time of uncertainty, a man camping by a creek witnessed a massive water monster, prompting disbelief among his peers until an old, blind man discerned its ominous meaning: a rise in waters was imminent. Soon, a lake formed, fraught with danger. Four hunters crossed silently, but one, defying the warning, spoke aloud and was drowned along with his companions. Only the cautious man returned home, empty-handed, and later sought to recover the lost bodies, discovering only two.
In a time of darkness, a singular man emerged, bringing seeds and the promise of a new world led by the chief, Moon. As the people migrated westward, they formed new villages and languages. Despite initial unity, divisions arose, leading to Moon’s disgraceful actions, ultimately resulting in his ascension to the heavens. Medicine-Screech-Owl succeeded him, guiding the people and defeating a ferocious animal. However, Coyote’s mischief continued to disrupt the community, prompting further challenges for Medicine-Screech-Owl as he sought to maintain order.
In the beginning, a boy emerged with his grandparents, having lost his parents in the earth. Despite their love, hunger plagued the boy until he learned to hunt. His grief deepened with the death of his grandmother and grandfather, prompting a prayer that summoned the Moon, who adopted him as a son. Gaining powers, he thrived and married, yet faced tragic consequences from his actions. Despite being killed, he resurrected and eventually revealed his lunar heritage before ascending to the Moon, leaving behind a legacy of strength and mystery.
While alone, Rabbit discovers Mountain-Lion’s home and steals his teeth, knowing they intimidate other animals. Concerned about Mountain-Lion’s impending return, Rabbit devises a plan with his grandmother. She prepares a boiling kettle and tells Mountain-Lion that Rabbit has a guest, the “Chief of all beasts.” When Mountain-Lion hears this, he becomes frightened and flees, leaving Rabbit and his grandmother safe from his wrath.
In a time when the world was new, a Medicine-Man and his son mourned the death of the boy’s mother. While hunting, the boy discovered an unknown friend, who claimed to be his brother. To capture this spirit boy, the Medicine-Man devised plans to ensnare him. After several failed attempts, they succeeded, and the spirit boy transformed into a brother. Together, they gained powerful abilities and set out on adventures, ultimately confronting and defeating a cannibal, before reuniting with their family and ascending to the sky as Lightning and Thunder.
A boy known as Red-Mountain-Lion grew into a successful hunter with an unusual connection to mountain-lions. After his brother discovered him with a female mountain-lion in a cave, Red-Mountain-Lion exhibited increasingly strange behavior. Following a failed war expedition, he encountered a series of rattlesnakes, leading to a mysterious incident where he was found unconscious and scalped. A medicine-man blamed his brother’s neglect of animal gifts for Red-Mountain-Lion’s foolishness and eventual decline. Though he lived to old age, he ultimately perished due to his erratic behavior.