Tyendinaga Tales

This is a collection of Mohawk folklore tales from the Tyendinaga Mohawk territory in Ontario. For a thousand years the Iroquoian people perpetuated their philosophy, religion, morals, customs and ideas through stories and folktales. Storytelling was used to socialize and instruct young people and acted as a social cohesive for the whole group. In the 20th century, however, folktales were told less and less frequently and were in danger of being forgotten. In an attempt to preserve an important aspect of Mohawk culture, Rona Rustige has collected and recorded 19 folktales that have survived on the Tyendinaga reserve. The tales represent the rich and varied body of oral literature that is the heritage of the Tyendinaga Mohawks.