native star myth

Young dancers rising into the sky and becoming the Pleiades star cluster

The Pleiades as Lost Dancers

by Elizabeth Fabowale

March 16, 2026

American Myths·Native American Sun, Moon & Star Myths

Across the vast grasslands of the northern plains, the Lakota people preserved many stories that explained the mysteries of the natural world. These stories connected the land, the sky, animals, and people through shared meaning and tradition. Among the most beautiful of these stories is the legend of the young dancers who rose into the sky and became the shining

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Parchment-style illustration of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox in snowy woods, American folktale.

Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox: An American Folktale that Teaches Lessons on Strength, Teamwork, and the Power of Legend

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native star myth

The Pleiades as Lost Dancers

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The Sun and the Moon Are Man and Wife: Cherokee Folktale (United States)

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Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox: An American Folktale that Teaches Lessons on Strength, Teamwork, and the Power of Legend