"Kiowa Tales" is a seminal collection of oral traditions, myths, and legends from the Kiowa people, meticulously compiled by the pioneering anthropologist and folklorist Elsie Worthington Clews Parsons. This work serves as an essential record of the cultural heritage and spiritual landscape of the Kiowa nation, featuring a diverse array of narratives that range from trickster stories and origin myths to historical accounts and hero tales.
Within these pages, readers will encounter the rich symbolism and vibrant storytelling techniques characteristic of the Great Plains indigenous cultures. Parsons' scholarly approach ensures that the tales are presented with an emphasis on their ethnographic significance, providing deep insight into the social structures, moral values, and worldviews of the Kiowa. The collection includes notable figures such as Saynday, the legendary trickster whose exploits offer both humor and profound lessons on the human condition.
As a significant contribution to American folklore and indigenous studies, "Kiowa Tales" remains a vital resource for scholars, students, and anyone interested in the preservation of Native American oral literature. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in maintaining cultural identity and continuity across generations.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.