Pueblo Indian Folk-stories

Charles Fletcher Lummis

U of Nebraska Press, Jan 1, 1992 - History - 257 pages

Charles F. Lummis's profound understanding of Indian and Spanish culture in the American Southwest is reflected in this collection of thirty-two myths centering around the Pueblo of Isleta on the Rio Grande. In adapting these traditional oral tales, Lummis drew on his experience of living at Isleta and his familiarity with the native language. originally published in 1894, Pueblo Indian Folk-Stories is as enchanting as ever. Seven elders seated around a campfire take turns telling about Antelope Boy. the fabled coyote, the man who married the moon, the snake-girls, the sobbing pine, the feathered barbers, the hero twins, the revengeful fawns, and other natural and supernatural entities. Beautifully wrought, these wisdom and initiation stories speak to all who have not lost their sense of wonder.

Contents

• THE ANTELOPE BOY: 12
• THE COYOTE AND THE CROWS: 22
• THE WARDANCE OF THE MICE: 24
• THE COYOTE AND THE BLACKBIRDS: 27
• THE COYOTE AND THE BEAR: 29
• THE FIRST OF THE RATTLESNAKES: 35
• THE COYOTE AND THE WOODPECKER: 49
• THE MAN WHO MARRIED THE MOON: 53
• THE MOTHER MOON: 71
• THE MAKER OF THE THUNDERKNIVES: 74
• THE STONEMOVING SONG: 82
• THE COYOTE AND THE THUNDERKnife: 84
• THE MAGIC HIDEANDSEEK: 87
• THE RACE OF THE TAILS: 99
• HONEST BIGEARS: 103
• THE FEATHERED BARBERS: 106
• THE ACCURSED LAKE: 108
• THE MOQUI BOY AND THE EAGLE: 122
• THE NORTH WIND AND THE SOUTH WIND: 127
• THE TOWN OF THE SNAKEGIRLS: 130
• THE DROWNING OF PECOS: 137
• THE ANTS THAT PUSHED ON THE SKY: 147
• THE MAN Who Would nT KEEP SUNDAY: 161
• THE BRAVE BOBTAILS: 169
• THE REVENGE OF THE FAWNS: 178
• THE SOBBING PINE: 194
• THE QUÈRES DIANA: 200
• A PUEBLO BLuebeard: 203
• THE HERO TWINS: 206
• THE HUNGRY GRANDFATHERS: 215
• THE COYOTE: 222
• DOCTOR FIELDMOUSE: 232
• PAÍSHIA: 240

About the author

Charles F. Lummis, who founded the Southwest Museum in Los Angeles, wrote such books as A Tramp across the Continent, also reprinted in a Bison Book edition. Robert F. Gish is Director of Ethnic Studies and a professor of English and Ethnic Studies at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His books include Frontiers End: The Life and Literature of Harvey Fergusson published by the University of Nebraska Press.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Pueblo Indian Folk-stories; A bison book
• Author: Charles Fletcher Lummis
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: U of Nebraska Press, 1992
• ISBN: 0803279388, 9780803279384
• Length: 257 pages
• Subjects: History / North America; Social Science / Folklore & Mythology