Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes offers a fascinating insight into the rich cultural heritage of indigenous peoples in the region. Katharine Berry Judson weaves together a collection of traditional stories and beliefs passed down through generations, illuminating the deep spiritual connection these communities had with the land and its natural elements.

The author's storytelling skills bring these myths to life, painting vivid pictures of mythical creatures, heroic figures, and supernatural events that captured the imaginations of ancient civilizations. Each tale is accompanied by insightful commentary, providing context and shedding light on the symbolism and significance of the stories.

Judson's thorough research and respectful treatment of native traditions make this book a valuable resource for anyone interested in Native American folklore and spirituality. Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes is a compelling read that will inspire readers to appreciate the rich tapestry of cultural traditions that have shaped the region.

Book Description:
It is a loss to American literature that so much of the legendary history of these Indian tribes has gone, beyond hope of recovery. Exquisite in color, poetical in feeling, these legends of sun, moon, and stars, of snow, ice, lightning, thunders, the winds, the life of the forest birds and animals about them, and the longing to understand the why and the how of life—all which we have only in fragments…. As in all the other volumes of this series, no effort has been made to ornament or amplify these legends in the effort to make them “literary,” or give them “literary charm.” They must speak for themselves. What editing has been done has been in simplifying them, and freeing them from the verbose setting in which many were found. For in this section of the country, settled before it was realized that there was an Indian literature, the original work of noting down the myths was very imperfectly done. These tales come from the following tribes: Winnebago, Chitimacha, Wyandot, Biloxi, Ojibwa, Mandan, Menomini, Cherokee, Sioux, Knisteneaux, Choctaw , Fox, and Natchez.