This anthology of treasures from the oral literature of Native California, assembled by an editor admirably sensitive to language, culture, and history, will delight scholars and general readers alike. Herbert Luthin's generous selection of stories, anecdotes, myths, reminiscences, and songs is drawn from a wide sampling of California's many Native cultures, and although a few pieces are familiar classics, most are published here for the first time, in fresh literary translations. The translators, whether professional linguists or Native scholars and storytellers, are all acknowledged experts in their respective languages, and their introductions to each selection provide welcome cultural and biographical context. Augmenting and enhancing the book are Luthin's engaging, informative essays on topics that range from California's Native languages and oral-literary traditions to critical issues in performance, translation, and the history of California literary ethnography.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments Pronunciation Guide Song from the myth "Kwikumat Became Sick," Quechan General Introduction Making Texts, Reading Translations Part 1. Selections "Creation Songs," Cupeno 1. Kwaw Labors to Form a World Atsugewi, 1996 Northwestern California Doctor dance song, Yurok 2. Test-ch'as (The Tidal Wave) Tolowa, 1985 3. "The Young Man from Serper" and Other Stories Yurok, 1951, 1985-1988 4. Coyote and Old Woman Bullhead Karuk, circa 1930 5. The Devil Who Died Laughing Karuk, 1950 6. "The Boy Who Grew Up at Ta'k'imilding" and Other Stories Hupa, 1963-1964 7. The Bear Girl Chimariko, 1921 North-Central California Spell said by a girl desirous of getting a husband, Northern Yana 8. How My Father Found the Deer Achumawi, 1970 9. Naponoha (Cocoon Man) Atsugewi, 1931 10. A Story of Lizard Yahi, 1915 11. A Selection of Wintu Songs Wintu, 1929-1931 12. Loon Woman: He-who-is-made-beautiful, She-who-becomes-loon Wintu, 1929 13. Four Songs from Grace McKibbin Wintu, circa 1982 14. How I Became a Dreamer Nomlaki, 1935 15. Mad Bat Maidu, circa 1902 16. Creation Eastern Pomo, 1930 17. The Trials of Young Hawk Southern Pomo, 1940 18. The Woman Who Loved a Snake Cache Creek Pomo, 1988 19. The Dead People's Home Lake Miwok, 1980 South-Central California Excerpt from "The Ciq'neq' Myth," Ventureno Chumash 20. Two Stories from the Central Valley "Visit to the Land of the Dead": Chawchila Yokuts, 1931 "Condor Steals Falcon's Wife": Yowlumni Yokuts, 1930 21. The Contest between Men and Women Tubatulabal, circa 1932 22. The Dog Girl Ineseno Chumash, 1913 Southern California Excerpt from an account of "The Soul," Quechan 23. The Creation Serrano, 1963 24. A Harvest of Songs from Villiana Calac Hyde Luiseno, 1988-1992 25. From "The Life of Hawk Feather": The Bear Episodes Cupeno, 1962 and 1920 26. In the Desert with Hipahipa Mojave, 1902 27. An Account of Origins Quechan (Yuma), 1908 Part 2. Essays on Native California Languages and Oral Literatures "When I Have Donned My Crest of Stars," Kiliwa A Brief History of Collection "Women's Brush Dance Song," Luiseno Notes on Native California Oral Literatures Funeral speech, Quechan Notes on Native California Languages Maps Bibliography Acknowledgments of Permissions Index