Native American Mythology A to Z by Patricia Ann Lynch

Native American Mythology A to Z by Patricia Ann Lynch

The volume features hundreds of scannable, cross-referenced entries covering everything from minor trickster spirits to grand creation epics. To ensure readers do not falsely blend different indigenous cultures together, each entry explicitly links a myth or figure to its specific Cultural/Geographic Region.

Lynch organizes North America into several distinct cultural zones, including:

1. The Southwest (e.g., Navajo, Hopi, Zuni)

Entries from this arid region emphasize agricultural survival, emergence stories, and complex communal rituals. Lynch details the Kachinas (ancestral spirit guides of the Pueblo peoples), the subterranean emergence chambers known as Kivas, and the exploits of the Changing Woman (a central Navajo deity representing the life cycle, seasons, and fertility).

2. The Great Plains (e.g., Lakota, Cheyenne, Comanche)

Focusing on the nomadic and semi-nomadic hunting cultures of the American interior, these entries prominently feature the sacred relationship between humans and animals. Key entries include Wakan Tanka (the Lakota concept of the Great Mysterious or Supreme Spirit), the foundational ritual of the Sun Dance, and the legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman, who brought the sacred pipe to the people.

By presenting these narratives side-by-side, Lynch's reference guide allows readers to observe recurring thematic patterns that span across different tribal borders:

1. The Trickster Archetype

One of the most robust themes in the book is the role of the Trickster. Whether manifested as Coyote in the Southwest and Plains, Raven in the Northwest, or Iktomi (the spider) among the Lakota, these characters are rarely malicious. Instead, they represent human fallibility, curiosity, and chaos. Lynch demonstrates how Tricksters serve a vital educational purpose: their greed and foolishness teach tribal audiences about social taboos, ethics, and the unexpected consequences of upsetting natural balance.

2. Kinship with the Natural World

Unlike Western mythologies that often position humanity as rulers over nature, Lynch’s entries highlight a flat cosmic hierarchy. Animals, plants, rocks, and weather systems are treated as sentient "nations" or persons possessing their own spiritual power (medicine). Human beings are depicted as younger siblings who must continuously offer respect, songs, and tobacco to their animal neighbors to maintain a harmonious ecosystem.

Language: English.

Genre: Mythology.

Binding: সেলাই করা বাইন্ডিং

Quality: Premium Quality Books.

Printing: High Quality Printing.

Paper: Eye Friendly paper (Cream White)

Cover: Matt cover (Paperback).