Myths and Tales of the White Mountain Apache

Grenville Goodwin, Philip J. Greenfeld

• Publisher: University of Arizona Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9780816514519
• eBook ISBN:
  9780816533503
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: Native American Studies
• Index: Social Sciences

"This volume contains translations of Apache stories that reflect our distinct view of the world and our approach to life. These myths and fables have survived through untold generations because the truth contained in them is eternal and the moral lessons that they teach are still valid. . . . You can read these stories and catch a glimpse of how our ancestors observed nature, drew metaphors from everyday observations and happenings, and applied the lessons learned to everyday life. Read them and you will see how harmony with nature and the natural world is the goal of every Apache." —Ronnie Lupe, Tribal Chairman, White Mountain Apache Tribe
 
These fifty-seven tales (with seven variants) gathered between 1931 and 1936 include major cycles dealing with Creation and Coyote, minor tales, and additional stories derived from Spanish and Mexican tradition. The tales are of two classes: holy tales said by some to explain the origin of ceremonies and holy powers, and tales which have to do with the creation of the earth, the emergence, the flood, the slaying of monsters, and the origin of customs. As Grenville Goodwin was the first anthropologist to work with the White Mountain Apache, his insights remain a primary source on this people.

Table of contents

• COVER PAGE
• TITLE PAGE
• COPYRIGHT PAGE
• CONTENTS
• PREFACE TO THE NEW EDITION
• FOREWORD
• A NOTE ON WRITTEN APACHE
• PREFACE
• 1. THE EARTH IS SET UP
• 2. HE GOES TO HIS FATHER: SLAYING OF MONSTERS
• 3. OBTAINING BOW AND ARROWS
• 4. HE GOES TO HIS FATHER: OBTAINING BOW AND ARROWS: VULVA WOMAN: SLAYING OF MONSTERS: HOW GILA MONSTER GOT HIS NAME: TURTLE SAVES HIS COMRADE: na·yeʾnezγane WINS HIS WIFE BACK: na·yeʾnezγane OBTAINS HORSES
• 5. THEY KILL GIRLS ASLEEP
• 6. THE EMERGENCE
• 7. THE FLOOD: TURKEY MAKES THE CORN: HOW COYOTE SHOWED THE WAY TO MAKE A LIVING
• 8. TURKEY MAKES THE CORN: COYOTE PLANTS COOKED CORN
• 9. LOST WITH TURKEY
• 10. TURKEY TEACHES FARMING
• 11. HOW THE SQUASH PLANT WAS OBTAINED
• 12. HE WHO BECAME AN ANTELOPE
• 13. HE FELL DOWN ON BEAR
• 14. THE TALKING HORSE
• 15. HE RELEASES THE DEER
• 16. SHE WHO BECAME A DEER
• 17. A GA·N BECOMES RAVEN OLD MAN’S SON-IN-LAW
• 18. THE GA·N PEOPLE MOVE AWAY
• 19. A GA·N BECOMES RAVEN OLD MAN’S SON-IN-LAW: THE GA·N DISAPPEAR FROM TSE·GOTSʾUK
• 20. THE MAIDEN FROM WHOM THEY DISAPPEARED INTO THE WATER: INSIDE ELK’S BELLY
• 21. THE MAN WHO BECAME A GA·N
• 22. MAKING A CHIEF: SUN AND THUNDER: SUN AND DARKNESS
• 23. ROAD-RUNNER YOUTH MAKES MULBERY MAN
• 24. THE MAN WHO PURSUED MOUNTAIN SHEEP
• 25. WOLF AND MOUNTAIN LION HUNT TOGETHER: WHITE-TAILED DEER AND MESCAL TALK TOGETHER: SACK AND POT TALK TOGETHER
• 26. GRASSHOPPER LOSES HIS LEG: HOW GILA MONSTER GOT HIS NAME
• 27. CAPTURED
• 28. THE OLD WOMAN AND BABY WHO WERE ABANDONED
• 29. THE ABANDONED CHILDREN
• 30. HER BROTHER BECOMES HER HUSBAND
• 31. HE BRINGS BACK A MOUNTAIN
• 32. THE ORIGIN OF CURING CEREMONIES
• 33. COYOTE STEALS ABERT SQUIRREL’S FIRE
• 34. THE WINNING OF DAWN
• 35. COYOTE STEALS SUN’S TOBACCO
• 36. COYOTE’S DAUGHTER (BECOMES) HIS WIFE
• 37. COYOTE KILLS HIS CHILDREN
• 38. THE BERDACHE COYOTE STORY
• 39. THE JACK RABBIT GIRLS TOSS THEIR EYES UP
• 40. COYOTE HUNTS WITH BOBCAT
• 41. BADGER CARRIES DARKNESS: COYOTE AND BOBCAT SCRATCH EACH OTHER
• 42. COYOTE AND BOBCAT TRICK EACH OTHER: COYOTE CARRIES OFF BEAVER
• 43. COYOTE TROTS ALONG
• 44. COYOTE RACES WITH FROG
• 45. COYOTE AND BEAR CRIPPLE AND CURE EACH OTHER
• 46. COYOTE READS THE LETTER AS HE SITS
• 47. HOW DEER HORNS BECAME HARD
• 48. COYOTE BRINGS IN BIG OWL’S CAP: HOW DEER HORNS BECAME HARD: THE BEAR WOMAN: COYOTE DETERMINES DEATH
• 49. BIG OWL CHOPS OFF HIS PENIS
• 50. TWO HILLS IN LINE
• 51. BIG OWL HUNTS “RATS”: PEOPLE TURN THEMSELVES TO GROUND HEAT: BIG OWL EATS HIS OWN CHILDREN: BIG OWL AND TURKEY MEET EACH OTHER
• 52. COYOTE STEALS WHEAT: COYOTE’S FAECES UNDER HIS HAT
• 53. COYOTE HERDS SHEEP FOR A WHITE MAN
• 54. THE TWO THIEVES
• 55. THE GOOD AND THE BAD BROTHERS
• 56. THE MAGIC RING
• 57. MAGIC FLIGHT