Tales of the Earth: Native North American Creation Mythology

A revealing analysis of key themes in Native American origin myths—and their stark contrast with the exceptionalist values of the United States.

Tales of the Earth is a comprehensive yet concise overview of Native American mythologies. After outlining theories of the origins of Native North Americans, David Leeming considers the creation myths of many tribes, emphasizing four commonly occurring figures: the Great Spirit, the trickster, the goddess, and the hero. Leeming suggests that in ad...