Creatures of Native American Mythology
Walk the sacred lands where Thunderbirds rule the skies, Coyote plays his tricks, and countless nations honor the spirits of animals, ancestors, and the natural world.
🌿 A Note on Cultural Respect
Native American spirituality encompasses over 570 federally recognized tribes in the United States alone, plus hundreds more First Nations in Canada and indigenous peoples throughout the Americas. Each nation has its own distinct beliefs, ceremonies, and sacred beings. What we present here is an educational overview drawn from published ethnographic sources and publicly shared stories.
Many ceremonies and spiritual practices remain closed to outsiders, and we respect those boundaries. Some beings discussed here (like the Skinwalker) are considered taboo to speak of in their originating cultures. We encourage readers to seek out voices from these communities directly and to approach all indigenous spirituality with deep respect.
Indigenous Traditions
Native American mythology encompasses hundreds of distinct tribal traditions across North America. Each nation carries unique stories honoring the interconnection of all living things.
Sky Spirits
Thunderbirds command storms and protect humanity
Tricksters
Coyote, Raven, and others teach through chaos
Nature Spirits
All beings possess spiritual essence and power
Animal Guides
Totems and spirit animals guide individuals and clans
Mythologies by Region
Pacific Northwest
Raven the creator, Salmon People, the Sasquatch, totem pole spirits of Haida, Tlingit, and Kwakiutl
Southwest
Navajo Yei, Hopi Kachinas, Skinwalkers, Spider Woman, the Pueblo emergence stories
Plains
White Buffalo Woman, Lakota Thunderbirds, the Crow lodge tales, vision quest spirits
Eastern Woodlands
Iroquois Sky Woman, Cherokee Uktena, Algonquian Wendigo, the Little People
Arctic & Subarctic
Inuit Sedna, Ijiraq shapeshifters, the aurora spirits, Raven the light-bringer
Southeast
Creek Tie-Snakes, Seminole Little People, the Horned Serpent traditions
🦊 The Tricksters: Coyote, Raven & Iktomi
Trickster figures appear across nearly every Native American tradition, though their form varies by region. They are creators and destroyers, teachers and fools, embodying the chaos necessary for transformation:
Coyote
Central to Plains, Southwest, and California tribes. Stole fire for humanity, scattered the stars imperfectly, and embodies survival through cunning
Raven
Pacific Northwest creator who released the sun, moon, and stars from a chief's boxes. Both hero and troublemaker
Iktomi
The Lakota spider trickster who invented language but also tricks and deceives. Creator of the dreamcatcher
Rabbit/Hare
In Southeast traditions, the clever Rabbit outsmarts larger animals—ancestor to Br'er Rabbit tales
Featured Creatures
Thunderbird
The mighty spirit bird whose wingbeats create thunder across many traditions.
Wendigo
The cannibalistic spirit of winter hunger and greed.
Skinwalker
The Navajo witch who transforms by wearing animal skins.
Coyote
The trickster god who brought fire and chaos to humanity.
Uktena
The horned serpent of Cherokee tradition with a crystal crest.
Deer Woman
The spirit who appears to unfaithful men with deer hooves.
Categories of Sacred Beings
Sky Powers
Thunderbird, Sun, Moon, Star People—celestial beings who govern weather and seasons
Water Spirits
Horned Serpents, Water Panthers, underwater beings who control lakes and rivers
Animal Spirits
Bear, Wolf, Eagle, Buffalo—teachers, clan ancestors, and spirit guides
Little People
Yunwi Tsunsdi, Jogah, Nunnehi—small beings who help or hinder humans
Giant Beings
Sasquatch, Stone Giants, Cannibal Giants—ancient and powerful creatures
Dangerous Spirits
Wendigo, Skinwalkers, witches—beings of darkness and transgression
🦅 The Thunderbird: Lord of the Skies
The Thunderbird appears across tribal traditions from the Pacific Northwest to the Great Plains to the Eastern Woodlands. This massive supernatural bird creates thunder with its wingbeats and lightning from its eyes (or by carrying lightning serpents in its talons):
- Lakota Tradition — Wakinyan, the sacred Thunderbird, is one of the most powerful Wakhan (sacred beings)
- Pacific Northwest — The Thunderbird hunts the Orca, creating storms in their battles
- Anishinaabe — Animikii protects humans from underwater panthers and horned serpents
- Iroquois — Giant Thunderbirds dwell in the western sky and battle evil spirits
The Thunderbird represents the upper world of sky spirits, often in eternal opposition to the underwater panther of the lower world—a cosmic balance between above and below.
🧹 Beings of Fear: The Wendigo
Among the most terrifying creatures in Native American tradition, the Wendigo of Algonquian peoples embodies the ultimate transgression—cannibalism. Associated with winter, famine, and greed, the Wendigo was once human but became a monster through consuming human flesh:
- Appearance — Described as gaunt, skeletal, tall as trees, with ash-gray skin and a heart of ice
- The Curse — Anyone who eats human flesh risks becoming a Wendigo themselves
- Wendigo Psychosis — A culture-bound syndrome where individuals fear they are becoming Wendigos
- Modern Warning — Some scholars interpret the Wendigo as a warning against greed and overconsumption
The Wendigo remains a powerful symbol in contemporary horror, though many Native communities caution against trivializing these beliefs.
Explore Native American Mythology
Discover the sacred beings from hundreds of indigenous traditions across North America.
