Native Stories with E. Salvador Chapman was created to showcase Indigenous stories that have been shared with the world through a variety of sources: some written, some spoken, always meaningful.
Each week, I read a different Indigenous story from across Native land, always citing the original source and offering links, when available, for listeners who want to explore more from the authors and communities who originally published these works.
I offer thoughtful, measured reflections each episode, focused on meaning, context, and connection rather than critique or controversy.
This podcast is part of a larger mission: to honor Indigenous storytelling traditions, both traditional and contemporary, and to keep these stories alive in the hearts and imaginations of listeners and future storytellers.
This week's episode is all about the cunning of the Pennacook Merruwacomet and how he outsmarted an Indigenous hunting party hot on his trail. While a story by Europeans rather than Indigenous, it is still a great story of the early 1000-point IQ of Native Americans.
This story is taken from the book Tales of the Penacooks (https://amzn.to/43PBsQv) (misspelling in the title) by G. Waldo Browne edited by Edward Lodi.
Learn to Speak Pennacook:
Merruwacomet - mehr.rew.wah.coh.meht - Indigenous name of Joe English
Pascataquog - pahs.cah.tah.kqawg - Great Place for Deer
29 May 2026
Episode 17: The Princess of Massabesic
This week's episode is a tragic tale of sickness that ravaged New Hampshire and an unexpected hero who saves an Indigenous maiden, the last of her tribe. This story is tole through a Non-Native lens, but it's still a great story of love, sacrifice and the will to survive.
This story is taken from the book Tales of the Penacooks (https://amzn.to/43PBsQv) (misspelling in the title) by G. Waldo Browne edited by Edward Lodi.
Learn to Speak Pennacook:
Pennacook - pehn.nah.cook - The Falling Hill People
Merrimack - mehr.ree.mahk - Deep River
Massabesic - mahs.sah.beh.seek - Large Lake
wigwam - weeg.wahm - a house
maize - maheez - corn
Wavananna - wah.vah.nahn.nah - Messenger and runner of the Massabesic tribe
Wonalancet - waw.nah.lahn.seht - Son of Passaconaway
Bruinata - brew.ee.nah.tah - One of Three Brave warriors of the Massabesic tribe
Gunawa - gew.nah.wah - last Sachem of the Massabesic tribe
Winnewawa - ween.neh.wah.wah - Daughter of Gunawa
22 May 2026
Episode 16: Wolf Makes Pine Nut Trees
This week's episode shows two different kinds of magic that people can possess ... for whatever reason. It also shows the power that Big Brothers have over their younger siblings. Sometimes for good, and sometimes ... well ...
This story is taken from the book Legends of the Northern Paiute as told by Wilson Wewa (https://amzn.to/4ujCNdc) compiled and edited by James A. Gardner.
Unfortunately, this story has no Indigenous words to translate.
15 May 2026
Episode 15: The Creation of the Human People
This week's episode tells the story of how Humans came to the world. It is another story about how Coyote badgers his way into getting what he wants and the unexpected outcomes that occur when things go his way.
This story is taken from the book Legends of the Northern Paiute as told by Wilson Wewa (https://amzn.to/4ujCNdc) compiled and edited by James A. Gardner.
Learn Northern Paiute:
paosa - pah.oh.sah - a water bottle made out of willows and covered with pine pitch
8 May 2026
Episode 14: The Greedy Maiden
This week's episode tells the powerful story of responsibility when a young maiden gets asked to take on an important task. How she handles herself, and the consequences of her actions are lessons to share with everyone.
This story is taken from the book The Grandfathers Speak: Native American Folk Tales of the Lenapé People (https://amzn.to/48I8Njv) written by Hitakonanu'laxk, or Tree Beard.
Learn Lenapé:
Hitakonanu'laxk - hee.tah.koh.nah.NOO.lah.chk* - Tree beard
Wapsini - wahp.see.nee - White Man
Lenapé - lay.nah.peh - Delaware Indian people, meaning "common people"
Kishelamàkânk - kee.sheh.lah.muh.kawnk - The Creator
pawim - pah.weem - White Corn
wikwàm - week.wuhm - a house
*the "x" has no English equivalent; like "ch" in the Scottish word loch, gutteral
1 May 2026
Episode 13: When the Animals Left Lenapé Land
This week's episode tells the story of when all the animals left the hunting grounds of the Lenapé people and what was needed to have them return. Sometimes humbling oneself is the only way to create unity between differing parties.
This story is taken from the book The Grandfathers Speak: Native American Folk Tales of the Lenapé People (https://amzn.to/48I8Njv) written by Hitakonanu'laxk, or Tree Beard.
Learn Lenapé:
Hitakonanu'laxk - hee.tah.koh.nah.NOO.lah.chk* - Tree beard
Lenapé - lay.nah.peh - Delaware Indian people, meaning "common people"
Lenape'hokink - lay.nah.peh.ho.keenk - eastern homeland of the Lenapé
*the "x" has no English equivalent; like "ch" in the Scottish word loch, gutteral
24 Apr 2026
Episode 12: Why Should You Destroy Us, Who Have Provided You With Food?
This week we dive into one of the first recorded Native American speeches Chief Powhatan's (Wahunsonacook) speech to John Smith of the Virginia colony. John Smith, unlike the Disney depiction from Pocahontas, was not friendly towards the Powhatan natives. He raided and threatened them continuously. Powhatan responded to his actions with this powerful speech.
These words were first recorded in Samuel G. Drake's Biography and History of the Indians of North America, from Its First Discovery (https://amzn.to/4w5frtX), which was published in 1853. The excerpt read in this episode is from the book Great Speeches by Native Americans (https://amzn.to/4uxxqI4) edited by Bob Blaisdell for Dover publishing.
Learn Powhatan:
Wahusonacook - wah.hoo.sun.ah.cook
Opitchapan - uh.peht.chah.pahn
Opekankanough - uh.peh.kahn.kah.noh
Catataugh - kah.tah.tah.oh
17 Apr 2026
Episode 11: The Farewell Speech of Passaconaway (Pennacook)
Today is a different type of Native story. Instead of read a story that could be considered folk-lore, I am going to read from Passaconaway in the White Mountains (https://amzn.to/41J3z2V) by Charles Edward Beals. This is an account, one of the few accounts, of the Mighty Bashaba of New England, Passaconaway. His farewell speech is a wonderful oration few know about and fewer have ever heard.
10 Apr 2026
Episode 10: Enamtues - The Wishing Stone
There are many things that are important to Native Americans: Family, Community, Nature. And we have stories for all of them. One type of story that is important are those of the creation of territories. This episode, taken from Mourning Dove's book Coyote Stories (https://amzn.to/4e3l854), is about the creation of three important and sacred locations in the Pacific Northwest. If you have locations that are important to you, feel free to leave a comment on this episode over on my Patreon site (http://patreon.com/esalvadorchapman).
3 Apr 2026
Episode 9: How Turtle Got His Tail
This story you may recognize from another source. It sounds very similar. Throughout time similar stories have been found in various cultures. This story was taken from Coyote Stories (https://amzn.to/4e3l854) written by Mourning Dove, or Humishuma. If you like the story, make sure to leave a comment on my Patreon site (http://Patreon.com/esalvadorchapman).
27 Mar 2026
Episode 8: Origin of the Animals (Jicarilla-Apache)
Emergence is a big theme in many Native American cultures. Of course, it would enter into the history of how beings came into this world. We also talk a little about provenance, how and where these stories come from. This story is taken from the book Voices of the Winds Native American Legends (https://amzn.to/4lFDQRW) by Margot Edmonds and Ella E Clark.
20 Mar 2026
Episode 7: Origin of Fire (Jicarilla-Apache)
Things are starting to heat up as we listen to the Origin of Fire, a Jicarilla-Apache story. This tells the story of wily Fox as he brings fire to the people by out running the Fireflies. This story is taken from the book Voices of the Winds Native American Legends (https://amzn.to/4lFDQRW) by Margot Edmonds and Ella E Clark.
13 Mar 2026
Episode 6: The Sioux Who Wrestled with a Ghost (Sioux)
In our sixth episode we share a ghost story because it's Friday the 13th! Ooooh, scary! This story tells how a Young Sioux warrior was able to fight for his and his tribe's survival. And it has horses. Horses are always good to hear about. This story is taken from the book Dee Brown's Folktales of the Native American Retold for Our Times (https://amzn.to/4cikdNo).
6 Mar 2026
Episode 5: How the Buffalo Were Released on Earth (Apache - Commanche)
In our fifth episode we learn from the Apache and Commanche how Coyote, the trickster, released the Buffalo for all the people on the Earth. We also ask an important question about authority to tell a Native Story. This story is taken from the book Dee Brown's Folktales of the Native American Retold for Our Times (https://amzn.to/4cikdNo).
27 Feb 2026
Episode 4: Corn Mother (Penobscot)
For our fourth story we read "Corn Mother," A Penobscot creation story full of love and sacrifice. It tells of how First Man and First Mother created the people of the earth and what demands were met to keep us, the relations, alive and thriving. It can be found in American Indian Myths and Legends (https://amzn.to/4rzKviv)selected and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.
20 Feb 2026
Episode 3 - Rabbit Boy (White River Sioux)
For our third story we read "Rabbit Boy," recorded by Richard Erdoes told to him from Jenny Leading Cloud from the White River Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota in 1967. It is a wonderful creation story that includes Iktome, the spider trickster. It can be found in American Indian Myths and Legends (https://amzn.to/4rzKviv)selected and edited by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.
13 Feb 2026
Episode 2 - How Glooskap made the Elves and Fairies, and then Man of an Ash Tree, and last of all, Beasts, and of his coming at the Last Day (Algonquin)
Our second story tells is another Glooskap story, continuing from our first episode. This is the creation story of man as told to Charles G. Leland and recorded in his book Algonquin Legends of New England (https://amzn.to/4btvGt2). Plus, there is some Beaver anger here which has yet to be fully understood.
30 Jan 2026
Episode 1: Welcome and Glooskap and Malsumsis (Algonquin)
Welcome to the Podcast! Here we introduce what we'll be putting into the pod-verse and start with our first story.
Of Glooskap's Birth and Of His Brother Malsumsis the Wolf is a story about how twin brothers enter the world, the machinations of man and consequences of one's actions.
This story is taken from Charles G. Leland's Algonquin Legends of New England (https://amzn.to/4btvGt2).
Contact Native Stories by E. Salvador Chapman
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Native Stories by E. Salvador Chapman?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
