Hupa traditional narratives

Hupa traditional narratives include myths, legends, tales, and oral histories preserved of the Na:tinixwe people, known colloquially as the Hupa tribe and the Chilula and Whilkut triblets of the Trinity River basin in northwestern California. Today, may tribal members reside on the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Reservation in Humboldt County, California. The population on the reservation was recorded to be 2,287 in the 2023 census with the main town being Hoopa, California.

The oral literature of the Hupa is markedly similar to that of their linguistically unrelated neighbors, the Karuk and Yurok. It differs from the traditional narratives of most California groups, but shows stronger links with the Northwest Coast region of North America.

Tradtionally, Hupa myths explore the time before people, when the Kīxûnai (spritual beings that still influence the world from beyond) existed. In addition, traditional narratives of legends have also been told which may include a religious character during human existence. All of the traditional narratives collected have been translated to English from the Hupa language.