Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-Tales: with Notes on The Origin, Customs and Characters of the Pawnee People

by George Bird Grinnell, Maurice Frink (Introduction)

In the late 1880s the ethnologist and writer George Bird Grinnell visited the Pawnee Agency in Indian Territory. To Eagle Chief, whom he had known for many years, he explained the object of his "Father, we have come down here to . . . ask the people about how things used to be in the olden times, to hear their stories, to get their history, and then to put all these things down in a book." The chief meditated for a time and then "It is good and it is time. Already the old things are being lost, and those who know the secrets are many of them dead. . . . The old men told their grandchildren, and they told their grandchildren, and so the secrets and the stories and the doings of long ago have been handed down." The result of Grinnell's field work was Pawnee Hero Stories and Folk-Tales , first published in 1899. Here are stories about a Pawnee youth who serves as a peacemaker and a warrior's quest for lost joy, and such tales as "The Dun Horse," "The Bear man," "The Snake Brother," and "The Ghost Wife." Extended notes describe the origins and migrations of the Pawnees, their customs, methods of warfare, and later history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native Americans, Folklore

417 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1976

About the author

George Bird Grinnell was an American anthropologist, historian, naturalist, and writer. Grinnell was born in Brooklyn, New York, and graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in 1870 and a Ph.D. in 1880. Originally specializing in zoology, he became a prominent early conservationist and student of Native American life. Grinnell has been recognized for his influence on public opinion and work on legislation to preserve the American bison. Mount Grinnell is named after Grinnell.

Reviews

[Robert Frecer]

This is not another normal collection of American folk tales - no Coyote, no Fox, no anthropomorphic animals - but a fascinating group of hero stories that testify to a living historical tradition of Pawnee exploits that were so memorable as to inspire worship. More than one involve being left for dead on the warpath, cut into pieces and being resurrected.

A good look at Plains Indian life that is slightly less tragic and fatalistic than most depictions.

[Tamara]

Los nativos americanos forman parte de mis debilidades, y estos cuentos (relatados a su autor durante su larga estancia en las Praderas) han sido enriquecedores y reveladores en cuanto a su vida y costumbres. Los he disfrutado mucho y quedan recomendadísimos.

[Gabriel Galletta]

A diligent and important book. Very interesting, and will keep your attention, specifically at the "Notes on the Pawnees" half of the book.

[Sherrie Dux-Ideus]

Very insightful book.

[Alan Bach]

The first hundred pages or so are the hero tales. These stories are structured like an elder spontaneously telling a story or anecdote of their former heroic youth, and are a bit of a mixed bag, with some not having a satisfying conclusion. The folk tales that follow are more interesting with supernatural happenings, although the stories ar never clear how all these supernatural beings grant great success on the war path or in the hunt or as a doctor; it sort of just happens, and that makes the stories a bit repetitive. The historical descriptions of the Pawnee people's way of life actually makes up the largest section of the book, and was surprisingly the most interesting.

[Rachel]

What a great read. It really helped to understand how the Pawnee lived before the 1870s. It would have been nice to have a section on language and more in depth sections on medicine and such but this book is a great start at learning about the Pawnee religion, culture, and practices.