The Pawnee Mythology Contributor(s): Dorsey, George a. (Author), Parks, Douglas R. (Introduction by) |
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ISBN: 0803266030 ISBN-13: 9780803266032 Publisher: Bison Books OUR PRICE: $31.50 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: May 1997 Annotation: The Pawnee Mythology, originally published in 1906, preserves 148 tales of the Pawnee Indians, who farmed and hunted and lived in earth-covered lodges along the Platte River in Nebraska. The stories, collected from surviving members of four bands - Skidi, Pitahauirat, Kitkehahki, and Chaui - were generally told during intermissions of sacred ceremonies. Many were accompanied by music. George A. Dorsey recorded these Pawnee myths early in the twentieth century after the tribe's traumatic removal from their ancestral homeland to Oklahoma. He included stories of instruction concerning supernatural beings, the importance of revering such gifts as the buffalo and corn, and the results of violating nature. Hero tales, forming another group, usually centered on a poor boy who overcame all odds to benefit the tribe. Other tales invited good fortune, recognized wonderful beings like the witch women and spider women, and explained the origin of medicine powers. Coyote tales were meant to amuse while teaching ethics. |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Ethnic Studies - Native American Studies - Social Science | Folklore & Mythology |
Dewey: 398.089 |
LCCN: 97012832 |
Lexile Measure: 870 |
Series: Sources of American Indian Oral Literature |
Physical Information: 1.15" H x 5.96" W x 9" (1.60 lbs) 546 pages |
Themes: - Ethnic Orientation - Native American - Geographic Orientation - Nebraska |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: The Pawnee Mythology, originally published in 1906, preserves 148 tales of the Pawnee Indians, who farmed and hunted and lived in earth-covered lodges along the Platte River in Nebraska. The stories, collected from surviving members of four bands--Skidi, Pitahauirat, Kitkehahki, and Chaui--were generally told during intermissions of sacred ceremonies. Many were accompanied by music. George A. Dorsey recorded these Pawnee myths early in the twentieth century after the tribe's traumatic removal from their ancestral homeland to Oklahoma. He included stories of instruction concerning supernatural beings, the importance of revering such gifts as the buffalo and corn, and the results of violating nature. Hero tales, forming another group, usually centered on a poor boy who overcame all odds to benefit the tribe. Other tales invited good fortune, recognized wonderful beings like the witch women and spider women, and explained the origin of medicine powers. Coyote tales were meant to amuse while teaching ethics. |