Myths of the Cherokee / Extract from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology

Name: Myths of the Cherokee / Extract from the Nineteenth Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology
Author: James Mooney

By James Mooney

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Archaeology & Anthropology History - American Mythology, Legends & Folklore

About This Book

A field-based ethnographic compilation opens with a concise historical sketch and notes on storytellers, then presents an organized corpus of traditional narratives gathered from elders. It groups cosmogonic and origin accounts explaining creation, fire, staple plants, death, and the flood; extensive animal and bird tales that account for natural traits and social customs; and legends about serpents, fish, and insects. Ritual formulas, ceremonial songs, and variant versions are recorded alongside comparative observations, emphasizing provenance, performance context, and the continuity of oral tradition within the community.

About the Author

James Mooney

James Mooney was an American ethnographer and folklorist known for his extensive studies of Native American cultures, particularly those of the Cherokee and Kiowa tribes. His notable works include "Calendar History of the Kiowa Indians," which provides a detailed account of Kiowa history and traditions, and "Myths of the Cherokee," an important collection of Cherokee folklore. Mooney's research contributed significantly to the understanding of Native American religious practices, as seen in his work "The Ghost-Dance Religion and the Sioux Outbreak of 1890." His writings remain a valuable resource for scholars and readers interested in indigenous cultures and their histories.