Myths & More

The Uktena Link to story. Title: The Uktena and the Ulûñsû'tï Publication: Myths of the Cherokee, 1900 Author: James Mooney Notes: James Mooney (February 10, 1861–December 22, 1921) was an American ethnographer and author who studied Native American groups, particularly Cherokee. He published Myths of the Cherokee during Ghost Dance, a 19-century religious movement that incorporated Native American belief systems. Cherokee IPA: Uktena [noun]: “ook-teh-nah” Ulûñsû'tî [noun]: “oo-lune-soo-tee” Agän-uni'tsï [noun]: “ah-gen-oo-neat-see” Gälûñ'lätï [noun]: “gah-lune-lah-tee” Characters: Sun, who plagues the earth after seeing people’s misdeeds Little Men, vengeful of Sun’s actions Uktena, “The Keen-Eyed” monster snake (with a diamond crest called a Ulûñsû'tî) Rattlesnake, who was sent to bring vengeance instead of Uktena Agän-uni'tsï, a Cherokee warrior Places: North America Events: Sun becomes angry with the people and sends a plague Little Men is mad at Sun...

Whooping Crane Ruby Throated Hummingbird Link to story. Title: The Crane and the Hummingbird Publication: Myths of the Cherokee, 1900 Author: James Mooney Notes: James Mooney (February 10, 1861–December 22, 1921) was an American ethnographer and author who studied Native American groups, particularly Cherokee. He published Myths of the Cherokee during Ghost Dance, a 19-century religious movement that incorporated Native American belief systems. Characters: Crane Hummingbird The woman Places: North America Events: A Crane and a Hummingbird love the same woman The woman preferred the Hummingbird for his looks The Crane challenges the Hummingbird to a race to win over the woman For seven days the birds race around the woman’s house Despite the Hummingbird’s swiftness, the Crane is able to fly for long hours The Crane wins the race on the seventh day The woman says she will never marry the ugly crane and remains single