Myths and Legends of Alaska


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.5 stars; 17 reviews)

Editor Katharine Berry Judson collates and presents a narrative history of Alaskan Myths. Originally gathered and recorded by government ethnologists, she paints an overall picture of Alaskan history as told by its many tribes. From the Eskimo to the Tlingit, from the Tsetsaut to the Haida, the origin of the still-wild state begins with the great Bird (often called "Raven") and branches out, through its legends, in wonderful and amazing directions. (Summary by John N. Daily) (2 hr 39 min)

Chapters

Preface 5:11 Read by Larry Wilson
The Raven Myth (Eskimo) 21:15 Read by Audrey Giger
The Flood (Tlingit) 4:25 Read by John N. Daily
The Origin of the Tides (Tsetsaut) 2:04 Read by John N. Daily
How the Rivers were Formed (Tlingit) 1:31 Read by Audrey Giger
The Origin of Fire (Tlingit) 0:56 Read by John N. Daily
Duration of Winter (Tlingit) 1:12 Read by John N. Daily
Raven’s Feast (Tlingit) 1:55 Read by Audrey Giger
Creation of the Porcupine (Tlingit) 0:48 Read by John N. Daily
How Raven Taught the Chilkats (Tlingit) 1:21 Read by Audrey Giger
Raven’s Marriage (Eskimo) 6:35 Read by Audrey Giger
Raven and the Seals (Tsimshian) 2:03 Read by John N. Daily
Raven and Pitch (Tsimshian) 2:22 Read by Vern Seward
Raven’s Dancing Blanket (Tsimshian) 1:28 Read by Vern Seward
Raven and the Gulls (Tsimshian) 1:34 Read by Vern Seward
The Land Otter (Tlingit) 1:28 Read by Vern Seward
Raven and Coot (Athapascan) 1:21 Read by Vern Seward
Raven and Marmot (Eskimo) 2:48 Read by Vern Seward
The Bringing of the Light by Raven (Eskimo) 5:11 Read by Vern Seward
Daylight on the Nass River (Tlingit) 1:55 Read by Vern Seward
The Naming of the Birds (Tlingit) 3:30 Read by Vern Seward
The Origin of the Winds (Tlingit) 1:05 Read by Vern Seward
Duration of Life (Tlingit) 1:13 Read by Vern Seward
Ghost Town (Tlingit) 1:26 Read by Larry Wilson
How Raven Stole the Lake (Haida) 3:02 Read by Larry Wilson
The Killer Whale (Haida) 1:39 Read by Amy Gramour
Origin of the Chilkat Blanket (Tsimshian) 4:24 Read by Larry Wilson
Origin of Land and People (Eskimo) 1:30 Read by BettyB
Creation of the World (Athapascan) 1:24 Read by BettyB
Origin of Mankind (Eskimo) 1:26 Read by BettyB
The First Woman (Eskimo) 2:09 Read by BettyB
The First Tears (Eskimo) 1:57 Read by BettyB
Origin of the Winds (Eskimo) 5:43 Read by BettyB
Origin of the Wind (Athapascan) 1:07 Read by BettyB
North Wind (Tlingit) 1:15 Read by BettyB
East Wind and North Wind (Tlingit) 1:18 Read by BettyB
Creation of the Killer Whale (Tlingit) 1:40 Read by Amy Gramour
Future Life (Tlingit) 1:31 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Land of the Dead (Eskimo) 2:45 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Ghost Land (Tlingit) 2:49 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Sky Country (Tlingit) 1:59 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Lost Light (Eskimo) 3:53 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Chief in the Moon (Eskimo) 1:18 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Boy in the Moon (Eskimo) 1:42 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Boy in the Moon (Athapascan) 1:19 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Meteor(?) (Tsetsaut) 0:50 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Sleep House (Tlingit) 1:05 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Cradle Song (Koyukun) 2:34 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Proverbs (Tsimshian) 1:05 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
How the Fox became Red (Athapascan) 1:00 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Beaver and Porcupine (Tsimshian) 7:06 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Mark of the Marten (Athapascan) 0:50 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Wolves and the Deer (Tsimshian) 1:45 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Camp Robber (Athapascan) 1:39 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Circling of Cranes (Eskimo) 1:04 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Last of the Thunderbirds (Eskimo) 2:38 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
How the Kiksadi Clan Came to Sitka (Tlingit) 1:44 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Origin of the Grizzly Bear Crest (Tlingit) 1:10 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Origin of the Frog Crest (Tlingit) 1:22 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Origin of the Beaver Crest (Tlingit) 1:17 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Origin of the Killer Whale Crest (Tlingit) 2:12 Read by Amy Gramour
The Discontented Grass Plant (Eskimo) 6:16 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
The Wind People (Koryak) 1:24 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast
Tricks of the Fox (Koryak) 2:10 Read by Kyle Van DeGlast

Reviews

Myths and Legends of Alaska


(5 stars)

I am a Tlingit Elder, living in Texas. I have long felt Tlingit's had their stories replaced by the stories the white people preferred. I feared all our history, culture and stories were lost. This collection does a real service, keeping our stories alive. Thank you.