62: Pawnee Nation's Atira: Our Mother of Earth and Corn

In this episode, we explore the sacred story of Atira, the Earth goddess and life-giver in Pawnee tradition. Revered as the wife of the creator god Tirawa and mother of all living things, Atira embodies fertility, compassion, and the vital balance between sky and soil. Through this rich cosmological narrative, we uncover how the Pawnee people view the Earth not just as home, but as a living spirit deserving of reverence and reciprocity. Tune in as we delve into the symbolic meaning of Atira, her connection to corn and the stars, and how her story continues to guide Pawnee cultural and spiritual life.

Pawnee Seed Preservation
https://seedssoilculture.org/grants-arch/pawnee-seed-preservation/
Citations for this episode:
Auset, Brandi. The Goddess Guide: Exploring the Attributes and Correspondences of the Divine Feminine. Llewellyn Worldwide.
Daily Kos. (2019). Indians 101: A brief overview of traditional Pawnee spirituality.
Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Atira (goddess). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Pawnee mythology. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from Wikipedia. Wikipedia
Dorsey, G. A. (1906). The Pawnee Mythology (Part I). Carnegie Institution of Washington. Public domain. Digital version available via the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress
Douglas Parks & Lula Pratt, A Dictionary of Skiri Pawnee, University of Nebraska Press, 2008.
Monaghan, Patricia. Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines.