A young Chippewa Indian from Minnesota collected these legends and stories told by the Tanaina Indians of southwestern Alaska. Called suk-tus ("legend-stories") and stemming from the seventeenth century, they are anecdotal narratives centered on a particular animal or animals common to the Tanaina country. Thus the tales are peopled with foxes, beavers, wolverines, porcupines, and other animals, some of which disguise themselves in human form for sinister purposes and all of which have human desires and weaknesses. According to the author, some embellishments in the stories certainly resulted from contact with Western civilization, particularly during the Russian and early fur-trading periods, but basically they are aboriginal Tanaina and are told as they have been handed down through oral tradition. Originally, suk-tus were related to entertain and instruct, and they are as apt to do so for today’s audiences as for yesterday’s, reflecting both the outlook of their originators and the nature of the environment in which they lived.

A set of four books containing 24 examples of the Tanaina art of storytelling. Transcriptions in the Tanaina practical orthography are given with an interlinear, word-by-word literal translation and also a free English translation following each story.

Forty-one Alaskan Indian tales, transcribed in 1935 from the narrators' own words, are included in this collection beautifully illustrated with wood engravings by Alaska artist Dale DeArmond. The exploits of the roguish Crow and the intrepid Man Who Traveled Among All the Animals and People range from serious myths to slyly humorous misadventures.

33 tales in free English translation collected by author among Ingalik Indians of the lower Yukon River region.