Scholars have divided North America into different regions based on patterns of Native American mythology. Although each region contains many different peoples and languages, some elements of mythology are shared across the region, and some themes are particularly important in each region.
In the eastern part of the Arctic region, the myths of the Inuit or Eskimo people focus on Sedna, a deity known as the mistress or mother of sea animals. In the western Arctic, tales about Igaluk, the moon god, and trickster stories are common. The peoples of the subarctic region of inland Alaska and western Canada have myths about tricksters and heroes who transform the world into its present state. Such characters also play an important role in the Coast-Plateau region of the Pacific
Northwest. Stories about the origins of groups called clans, found in many regions, are widespread among peoples of the northwest coast from Puget Sound to southern Alaska.
In addition to trickster and “transformer” myths, the California region produced various myths about animals and about the deities who started the process of creation. The Great Basin region, located east of California, has a number of myths about female heroes and about gods who die and are reborn. Myths about a “dying god” also appear in the Midwest region, which stretches into central Canada. Clan and trickster myths are important in the Midwest as well.
Between the Great Basin and the Midwest is the Plains region, where legends of heroes and tricksters predominate. Such tales appear also in the Southeast region, along with stories about councils of animals. Myths from the Northeast cluster around culture heroes.
Stories about dying gods appear among peoples of the Southwest, such as the Hohokam, as well. The tales are similar to Aztec and Mayan legends from South and Central America. Myths about migrations, heroes who rid the world of monsters, and the origins of humans within the earth are also important in the Southwest.
World History
