Native Languages of the Americas:
Ute Indian Legends, Myths, and Stories

This is our collection of links to Ute folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Indian mythology section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from Ute mythology, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Paiute and Shoshoni tribes are very similar.

Enjoy the stories! If you would like to recommend a Ute legend for this page or think one of the ones on here should be removed, please let us know.

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Important Ute Mythological Figures

Wolf: Creator and culture hero of the Ute tribe. Like other figures from the mythic age, Wolf is usually represented as a man in Ute stories, but sometimes takes on the literal form of a wolf.

Coyote: Wolf's younger brother, Coyote is a trickster figure. Though he often assists his brother and sometimes even does good deeds for the people, Coyotes behavior is so irresponsible and frivolous that he is constantly getting himself and those around him into trouble.

Ute Indian Folklore

Pokoh, the Old Man:
    Ute myth of creation.
Blood Clot:
    Ute legends about the hero Blood Clot Boy.
Porcupine Hunts Buffalo:
    Ute legend about Coyote trying to steal a buffalo kill from Porcupine.
Puma and the Bear:
    Ute myths about Bear stealing the wife of Mountain Lion.
Two Fawns and a Rabbit:
    Ute legend about two fawns becoming deer.
Two Grandsons:
    Ute legend about a boy killed by cannibal monsters.
Coyote and Duck:
    Ute legend of a feud between Duck and Coyote.

Recommended Books on Ute Mythology

Ute Tales:
    Good collection of Ute legends and folktales.
American Indian Trickster Tales:
    Compilation of more than a hundred stories about Coyote, Rabbit and other Native American tricksters.
    (Use discretion sharing these with kids as some of the stories contain adult humor.)