Talk:Miwok mythology

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[edit] C. Hart Merriam's writings

Regarding C. Hart Merriam's writings "The Dawn of the World, Myths and Wierd Tales Told by the Mewan (Miwok) Indians of California, edited by C. Hart Merrian.

In Frank Latta's Handbook of the Yokuts, C. Hart Merriam later concides to Frank Latta that the Miwok tales were actually Western Yokut or Coastoan legends. These legends were brought to the Miwoks in the late 1800s by a medince man from that area. Gifford also acknowledges this in his writings concerning the dances and myths of the Miwoks.

The merging of myths from more than tribe will need sorting admittedly by research experts! I think it makes it more interesting Goldenrowley 02:22, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

I am terribly sorry but when I finally checked Handbook of Yokuts out at the library it does not discuss Merriam or the Miwok as you maintaind. I am terribly sorry to say it was not there perhaps you misremembered anther book? I have found another good source (Kroeber) that says they sharing myths with Yokuts though, this I will put in the place. Goldenrowley 05:50, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] new sources to look at

Temporarily putting some fragments of myths here, from wiki's other pages, for research verification:

• "bird people" page: *Bird people were 'The second people of the world in Southern Sierra Miwok mythology, as reported by Barrett^[1] Goldenrowley 02:20, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

Note: This is consistent with the "raven become people" myth but seems a bit over-simplified.

• "Mount Diablo State Park Page: according to Miwok mythology, it was the point of creation. Goldenrowley 02:27, 10 September 2006 (UTC)

• I moved this from the main page until I can find the source again. I remember reading it at a book at Point Reyes Station (Coast Miwok village) but I am having trouble to remember the name of the book again: "A Coast Miwok myth is that after the flooded earth that Coyote is looking for some children but has none and can only find one feather. Someone says the feather is his grandchild, but he does not believe it. Having nothing else he finally concedes that the feather is his child or his grandchild. The feather becomes the human beings."

Note:this is consistent with the idea that Coyote makes people out of feathers, and that the bird (chicken hawk) is his grandchildren. Goldenrowley 05:08, 21 December 2006 (UTC)