Search
The Arctic Sky: Inuit Astronomy, Star Lore, and Legend
Asiatic Parallels in North American Star Lore: Milky Way, Pleiades, Orion
Asiatic Parallels in North American Star Lore: Ursa Major
Discusses Ininewuk (Cree) perspectives of astronomy, including mythology, stories and unique interpretations.
Bat Steals the Moon
Retelling of traditional story.
Source: Man in the Moon: Sky Tales from Many Lands collected by Alta Jablow and Carl Withers.
Battle of the Northern Lights
Traditional Sami story.
Source: The Storytelling Star by James Riordan.
A Blackfoot Sun and Moon Myth
Can a Myth Be Astronomically Dated?
A Collection of Curricula for the STARLAB Inuit Star Lore Cylinder. Including Inuit Star Lore by Ole Knudsen
Although designed for use with the SKYLAB cylinder, can be modified for use without it.
A Collection of Curricula for the STARLAB Maya Skies Cylinder, Including The World of the Maya by Eileen M. Starr
Although designed for use with the STARLAB cylinder, can be adapted for use without it.
A Collection of Curricula for the STARLAB Native American Mythology Cylinder. Including Stories of the Early Americans by Gary D. Kratzer; Background Information on the Navajo by Gloria D. Rall; More Native American Star Legends by Doris Forror
Although designed for use with the STARLAB cylinder, contains script which can be adapted for use without it.
Coyote Places the Stars [by] Harriet Peck Taylor
Designed to accompany retelling of traditional Wasco story about how stars came to be arranged in the shapes of animals. Recommended for use with Grade 3 students.
[Cree Star Stories]
Exploring the Night Sky Indigenous Inquiry Kit
Includes annotated bibliography, book critiques, and four lessons plans appropriate for sixth grade.
Forty-Third Annual Report of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 1925-1926
How Coyote Created the Sun
Retelling of a traditional story. Suggested age range 6-11 years.
How Coyote Made the Stars
Retelling of a traditional story.
How Fisher Went to the Skyland: The Origin of the Big Dipper An Ojibwe Story from the Great Lakes Region
Retelling of a traditional story.
In Our Own Words: Bringing Authentic First Peoples Content to the K-3 Classroom
Indian Notes [Vol. 6, no. 1, January, 1929]
Indigenous Knowledge and Our Connection to the Land
Lesson plans which can be used with a variety of grades.
Interpreting Pawnee Star Lore: Science or Myth?
Iroquoian Cosmology
"Reprint of a work which was issued in two pts. in the 21st (1899-1900) and 43d (1925-1926) Annual Reports of the Bureau of American Ethnology."
Includes Onondaga, Seneca and Mohawk version.
Lesson Plan: Sky Wolf's Call: The Gift of Indigenous Knowledge by Eldon Yellowhorn and Kathy Lowinger
Lessons from the Earth and Beyond: Bringing Indigenous Knowledge Systems into the Classroom: Educator Resources
Website includes curriculum connections, lesson plans and inquiry-based activities for primary, junior and intermediate grades for three topics: lessons from the earth, lessons from the water, and lessons from beyond.
Mi'kmaq Night Sky Stories; Patterns of Interconnectiveness, Vitality and Nourishment
Montana Skies: Blackfeet Astronomy
Includes traditional stories about the girl who married a star, the bunched stars and scarface and associated activities.
Additional Resource: Videos of stories read aloud.
Montana Skies: Crow Astronomy
Includes traditional stories about the sun and the moon, seven stars, and the twins and the hand star and associated activities for each.
Additional Resource: Videos of stories read aloud.
Muin: The Celestial Bear: A Hight Sky Story from the Mi'kmaw Nation
Story describes the movement of stars associated with the cycle of the seasons.
Native American Indian Art
Native American Starlore
Tells some of the traditional stories associated with astronomical features of the night sky.
The Northern Lights
Numerology as the Base of the Myth of Creation, According to the Mayas, Aztecs, and Some Contemporary American Indians
Reading Sheet: Coyote Places the Stars
Retelling of traditional story.
Seeing the Skies through Navajo Eyes: An Introduction to Cross-Cultural Astronomy
Designed as a resource for planetariums, for middle school teachers, and a book that families can read together.
Sky Stories
Star Legends among the American Indians
Blackfoot traditional stories.
Star Lore of the Cree
Includes stories about stars and constellations such as the Sweat Lodge, the Great Bear Hunt, the Dog Stars, and Kokominakasis.
Related resource: Cree Star Map
Star Lore of the Ojibway
Brief description of stories associated with stars and constellations such as Ajiijaak (Cygnus), Biboonkeonini the Winter Maker, Jiibay Ziibi (Milky Way), Maang (Ursa Minor), and Ojiig (Big Dipper).
Related resources: Ojibwe Constellation Guide + Ojibwe Gizhig Anung Masinaaigan; Ojibwe Star Map.
Star Stories
Series of nine short animated videos which tell traditional Ankara, Blackfoot, Cheyenne, Chipewyan, Ho-Chunk, Chippewa, Cree, Mohawk, and Paiute stories about how certain stars and constellations came to be.
Stare Lore of the Dakota and Lakota
Brief description of stories associated with stars and constellations such as Agleoeka (Cygnus), Chanśáśa ipúsye (dried or red willow), Gleœka Wakaŋ (Sacred Hoop), Keya (Pegasus), and Wanagi Tacanku (Milky Way).
Related resources: Constellation Guide; Dakota and Lakota Star Map
Tipiskawi Kisik: Night Sky Star Stories
Series of five short videos which look at traditional Cree understandings of astronomy.
Tlingit Moon and Tide Teaching Resource: Elementary Level
Traditional - From The Ancestral Times: How The Milky Way Was Created: The Catfish and Crow Myth
Traditional Legends: Meanings on Many Levels
Discusses the Mi'kmaq traditional story of the Celestial Bear hunt (Ursa Major).
[Traditional Mi’kmaq Sky Story]: Muin and the Seven Bird Hunters
Underwater Panthers, Thunderbirds, and Anishinaabe Star Knowledge
Speaker relates seven star stories: Ojiig - The Fisher which encompasses the Big Dipper; Maang - The Loon, the inverted Little Dipper; Bishi Bizhiw - the Great Underwater Panther whose tail is the head of the Leo and its head which is the head of Hydra; Animikii Binesii - Thunderbird, the constellation Cignus; Nanboozhoo or Nanabush, the constellation Orion; Gwiingwa'aage "The One who Came from a Falling Star" - Wolverine which refers to a meteor striking the Earth and creating a lake; and No'aachige'anang - the Prophecy Star which refers to Halley's Comet.
Duration: 26:20.