Seneca Indians - Stories and Legends

The Seneca are famous for their Stories and legends. Here we present brief summaries of some of their most popular stories and mythos.

Seneca Indian Lore is rich and varied, from Seek Your Father to Turtle's Race With the Bear, the stories serve as great historical documents on the tribe's belief systems and the evolution of their politics.

Godasiyo the Woman Chief

One story tells of how Godasiyo, a woman Chief, tried to bring two warring tribes under her leadership for the purpose of peace by migrating westward to form a new unified village, only to fail during the canoe journey as they came upon a fork in the river, causing an argument between the young men who were paddling the two canoes which carried her float. As they each tried to paddle in different directions, her float was detached from their canoes and sank to the bottom of the river. As Godasiyo drowned, the people of the two divided parties shouted at each other, but alas, they couldn't understand each other, their language having suddenly changed. This myth explains why all the different North American Indian tribes speak different languages.

The Legend of Niagara Falls

Another story tells of the Niagara Falls Seneca, who in reality endured many hardships such as famine and disease. Here we are told of a young girl who gets attacked by a rattlesnake, but escapes by letting herself fall into the rapids, and ends up behind the falls where the Good Spirit of Thunder and Lightning tells her to that the Evil Spirit of Famine and Starvation also resides there, and intends great harm upon her people by letting a huge water serpent poison the water, telling her that she should convince her tribe to move away from the Chippewa River and up the Niagara River to settle on Buffalo Creek. Alas, the Evil Spirit sends the serpent to follow her tribe, but because they have obeyed the Good Spirit, it kills the serpent for them with a thunderbolt. When the Chiefs got to Buffalo Creek, they found the dead serpent and the Evil Spirit hanging from a pole, they thanked the Good Spirit, and good fortune, bountiful harvests and good health was theirs for years to come.

How Rabbit Lost His Tail by Ann Tompert, et al (Hardcover - April 1997)

How the Rabbit Lost His Tail is a wonderful Seneca legend which should appeal to children of all ages. According to this legend, the rabbit used to have a long flowing tail, but lost it during a misfortunate accident brought on by carelessness, and sloth. The tale (no pun intended) could be viewed as a cautionary fable, playing on morals and teaching children using various animals as central characters

Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) Creation Myth

The Iroquois creation myth is a fascinating one, it tells of a world inhabited by all living things, all except humans... It is interesting to note that they tell of the earth being covered by water, and that these waters are inhabited by monsters. Perhaps the story was passed down from generation to generation, from the prehistoric Iroquois on... As the story goes, the birds which fill the air witness a woman falling from the heavens, and prevent her from hitting the water by spreading their wings as a safety net. But then the monsters in the water also try and prevent her from the dangers of the deep, but realize they cannot help her, so they send a giant tortoise to carry her across the waters. the tortoise magically begins to grow, until it becomes an island; an island upon which the woman gives birth to twin sons, a Good Spirit, and an Evil Spirit.

The Tortoise continues to grow, covering the earth, and when it moves, the earth quakes. Years pass, and the Sky-Holder decides to put humans upon the earth, so he creates six pairs of humans to populate the planet; the first are the Mohawk, the second the Oneidas, the third the Onondaga, the fourth are the Cayuga, the fifth are the Seneca, and the sixth are the Tuscarora.

In closing

Of course, there are several more Iroquois and Seneca stories to tell, fables and legends to keep alive, so we must try and ensure that they do. Perhaps they have endured because of the firm hold the Iroquois Nations have had on their land, and the fact that the historical Iroquois live in longhouses, which no doubt meant they would gather round to listen to the storytellers tell their tales. This is just one of the advantages sedentary tribes have on their nomadic brethren, a more stable base from which to establish a cultural identity, as opposed to constant struggle against the elements, and unknown dangers.

Again, we believe this had an important part in the development of their political system, and the great oratory skills of leaders such as Red Jacket.

In addition to storytelling, the Seneca are also accomplished artisans, being expert wood and bone carvers, and jewelry makers. Seneca beadwork, silverwork and baskets are highly sought after in the arts and crafts markets. All in all, the Seneca are one of the most sophisticated Native American cultures, with a rich heritage and knowledge which has been instrumental in shaping American history, from our engineering to our method of government.

More Iroquois Tales

Seneca Myths and Folk Tales
by Arthur C. Parker (Hardcover - June 1923)

One More Story : Contemporary Seneca Tales of the Supernatural (Bowman Books, No. 5)
by Duwayne Leslie Bowen, Beth Clark (Illustrator) (Paperback - February 1994)

Seneca Indian Myths
by Jeremiah Curtin (Compiler) (Paperback - July 2001)

The Legends of the Iroquois (Empire State Historical Publications Series, No. 93)
by William Walker Canfield (Compiler)

Amylee
Blacksnake
Duwayne Leslie Bowen (storyteller)
Susan Clements (stories and poems)
Jesse Cornplanter
Ha-yen-doh-nees
Randy A. John
Arthur Parker (anthropologist)
Jamie Sams
Paula Underwood
Lucille Jerry Winnie
Laura Waterman Wittstock