History Myth / NativeAmericanMythology

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThoseWilyCoyotes Coyote]] and [[CleverCrows Raven]]]]

-->--'''Whiskey Jack''', ''Literature/AmericanGods''

* Myth/MayanMythology

* GodOfFire: In Navajo myth, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_God_(Navajo_mythology) Black God]] (Haashchʼééshzhiní) is a fire deity who was the first being to learn how to generate fire and invented the fire drill.

** TwentyBearAsses is apparently {{older than they think}}.

** If you want native-crafted items that are okay for Anglos to have, go to a trading post or find a trading post website. You can also buy supplies and instructions for making your own baskets, jewelry, clothing, etc. This way you're supporting the makers and their families.

* TricksterGod: Kokopelli's [[PopCulturalOsmosis family-friendly]] picture is the trope image. His [[MemeticMutation wanted poster]] reads: Charges: despoiling maidens, seducing wives, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and gambling]]. Sometimes travels with horny woman, who calls herself Kokopelli-mana. May have been involved in the bankruptcy of Pueblo Bonito in the 13th century. He has a very big... flute which is always prominently depicted in traditional artwork.

If you are familiar with specific mythology besides those six, then feel free to create a page for it.

* TheForce: Wakan as life energy which one can manipulate. Power to manipulate it is InTheBlood.

* TheseAreThingsManWasNotMeantToKnow: In real life, this concept comes up a lot in Native religions -- usually along the lines of "things only members of a tribe are meant to know," "only adult men," [[WomensMysteries "only adult women,"]] "only initiates into a particular society," etc. (This worldview predates the IllegalReligion issue of the 19th and 20th centuries, but was definitely reinforced by those experiences.) It is often SeriousBusiness, even for younger or relatively "modern" people, and if you are ever talking with a Native person and stumble upon a topic that they're uncomfortable discussing, the respectful thing to do is to drop it right there.

* DealWithTheDevil: Uncegila, Uncegila, Uncegila. For those not familiar, Uncegila is a sea monster whose look can kill. Initially, the victim is [[EyeScream blinded]]. A day later, he [[GoMadFromTheRevelation goes mad]]. Two days later, he's foaming at the mouth. A day after that, he dies, and [[FromBadToWorse his whole family dies]]. Two orphan brothers, one of whom was blind, killed Uncegila using special arrows that never missed. After that, they were instructed to not listen to it for its first three requests and then do whatever it said from then on. In doing so, they would get whatever they asked. Every day, it came up with more complicated ceremonies, though, and life became boring, getting whatever they wanted, so they stopped listening to it, and it exploded.

Writers who are thinking of incorporating these myths into their works should be aware that some Native Americans feel that a form of "[[DisneyOwnsThisTrope cultural copyright]]" exists on their traditional stories, and may object to them being used by someone from outside their tribe or culture, especially if those stories are still part of a sacred tradition. Also, as noted above, these are a ''wide'' range of cultures, so please think twice before you have a Comanche talk about the Wendigo.[[note]][[ComicallyMissingThePoint Talking about the monster is generally considered to be dangerous.]][[/note]]

Writers who are thinking of incorporating these myths into their works should be aware that some Native Americans feel that a form of "[[DisneyOwnsThisTrope cultural copyright]]" exists on their traditional stories, and may object to them being used by someone from outside their tribe or culture, especially if those stories are still part of a sacred tradition. Also, as noted above, these are a ''wide'' range of cultures, so please think twice before you have a Comanche talk about the Wendigo.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[ThoseWilyCoyotes Coyote]] [[TricksterGod and]] [[CleverCrows Raven]]]]