Myths and Legends of the Great Plains

Way beyond, once upon a time, some of the Osages lived in the sky. They did not know where they came from, so they went to Sun. They said, “From where did we come?” He said, “You are my children.” Then they wandered still further and came to Moon. Moon said, “I am your mother; Sun is your father. You must go away from here. You must go down to the earth and live there.” Thus begins the first selection in Katharine Berry Judson’s remarkable collection. These are the stories passed from generation to generation by the Osage, the Dakota, the Omaha, the Ponca, and other peoples who have inhabited the Great Plains of America for many, many generations. The myths explain the unknown origins of their known world. The legends inspire great deeds through the ancient acts of those who came before.