Tag Archives: Native American folktales

The Old Woman at the End of Time

Some Native American legends speak of a very old woman who lives at the End of the World. Because she is so very old, she moves very slowly. She spends day and night working at a gigantic loom, weaving an enormous blanket. On her campfire, she keeps a great pot of sweet berry soup bubbling away. Her only companion is a very old, very faithful dog. The dog lays with his chin on his paws and watches. Legends say that if the very old woman ever finishes her enormous blanket, the world will come to an end. The blanket the … Continue reading →

How the Stars Got Into the Sky

Have you heard the tales of the Native American trickster, Coyote? Sometimes Coyote is a helper and sometimes he is not, but he is always interesting. This is a tale of Coyote and how the stars got into the sky. A long time ago, when the world was young, there were no stars in the sky. The sky above was like a thick, blue blanket — the only light was the moon. A mystical man who could make things from fire thought it would be a very good idea to place shining balls of fire into the sky to make … Continue reading →

Animal Folktales: Why Dogs Sniff Tails

A long time ago, when the world was young, there were no dogs. There were only wolves, running wild. It was the mother in the family who took the first wolf puppy, taught it how to be a part of the family, and called it a dog. She told the dog it would be able to do anything it wanted to — with one exception. A dog may not get up on his back legs and dance like people do. This was the dog’s only rule. The dog agreed. Years passed and more and more dogs joined families, and did … Continue reading →