Native Languages of the Americas:
Wayuu/Guajiro Myths, Legends, and Stories

This is our collection of links to Guajiro folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our American Indian legends 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 the Guajiros, the traditional stories of other Venezuelan tribes like the Arawak and Carib tribes are very similar.

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

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Guajiro Mythological Figures

Maleiwa (also spelled Mareiwa): The creator god of Guajiro mythology, who made humans and taught them how to live.

Juyá (also spelled Juya): The Guajiro god of rain and hunting.

Pulowi (also spelled Püloui): Juya's wife (or in some Guajiro stories, his ex-wife). Pulowi is a dangerous earth goddess.

Guajiro Indian Folklore

The Way of the Dead Indians:
    Guajiro legend about death and the afterlife.
Pulowi of the Land and Pulowi of the Sea:
    Wayuu legend about the wives of the god Juya.
Kasipoluin the Rainbow:
    Wayuu myth about the rainbow and the rain.
The Origin of Fire:
    Wayuu story about how the dung beetle stole fire from the god Maleiwa.