Seneca myths and folk tales

"Senecca Myths and Folk Tales" by Arthur C. Parker is a collection of indigenous folklore and legends written in the early 20th century. The book aims to record and present the oral narratives of the Seneca people, shedding light on their beliefs, customs, and storytelling traditions. It captures the essence of ancient tales, exploring themes of transformation, magic, and the natural world in ways that reveal the cultural psyche of the Seneca tribe. The opening of the collection sets the stage for an exploration of Seneca folklore through the author's personal experiences and dedication to preserving these stories. Parker recounts his journey back to the Cattaraugus reservation, where he gathered stories and legends from local informants. He describes the atmosphere of storytelling, marked by the respectful silence of children as elders unveil tales of life's mysteries, transformations in nature, and the mythic origins of various creatures and phenomena. Through this introduction, Parker emphasizes the significance of these tales, not as mere entertainment, but as an important part of the Seneca identity and heritage. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Arthur Caswell Parker was a Native American archaeologist, historian, folklorist, museologist and noted authority on Native American culture. Of Seneca, Scottish, and English ancestry, he was director of the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences from 1924 to 1945, when he developed its holdings and research into numerous disciplines for the Genesee Region. He was an honorary trustee of the New York State Historical Association. In 1935, he was elected first president of the Society for American Archaeology.