Indigenous people know horror. They’ve lived it.
Historically Indigenous people have long endured the brutal impacts of colonization—including oppression, trauma, and loss.
Despite these horrors, Indigenous peoples are still here. Their many unique and diverse cultures have been suppressed and dominated by Western society, but their ways, wisdom, and indomitable spirit are not lost.
It’s this relationship with the horrors of life that make their fictional stories so powerful. They’re steeped in truth, blending the real with the imaginary in a way that crawls under your skin and forces you to bear witness.
Bear witness not only to the horrors they've endured, but also to the stories, cultures, and folkloric wisdom that have been passed from generation to generation.
If you’re new to Indigenous horror, we’ve gathered some powerful anthologies to get you started.
From some of the more well-known voices to many brand-new authors, these seven collections will reshape how you see horror and terrify you long into the night.
Tribal Screams
From the mind of Bram Stoker Award-winning author Owl Goingback comes a collection of dark fantasy and horror stories.
These pieces have never been found in one place before, and include a Nebula Award-nominated story along with the first four chapters of his novel, Coyote Rage.
anging from classic ghost stories to Native folklore, once you hear the tribal screams, you’ll never get them out of your head.
Zegaajimo: Indigenous Horror Fiction
What scares you? That’s what these eleven writers from across Turtle Island want to know. They’ve crafted a collection that dives into the terrifying, the macabre, the stuff of visceral nightmares.
These aren’t stories just of monsters—they whisper a warning that what you know might be just as dangerous as what you don’t.
From the familiar to the unthinkable, the supernatural to the norm, get ready to have the things you’ve never dared imagine come to life.
Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
Native Hawaiians believe whistling at night summons the Hukai’po, ancient warrior spirits. Native Mexicans say it calls Lechuza, an owl who is really a transformed witch.
And they aren’t the only Indigenous people with those beliefs. Though the details may vary, many believe whistling at night calls forth evil spirits, and once summoned, they’ll follow you home.
In this spine-tingling anthology, over two dozen Indigenous authors introduce you to the ghosts, curses, hauntings, and monsters that might just heed that call.
Taaqtumi: An Anthology of Arctic Horror Stories
In the dark. That’s what Taaqtumi means in Inkuntitut. But erase everything you think you know about darkness because this collection of writers is going to show you exactly how dangerous the dark can be.
In the North, the darkness can last entire seasons. And monsters aren’t the only things to be afraid of.
From zombies to white men, this anthology will introduce you to Arctic horror brought to life by powerful northern Indigenous voices.
Midnight Storm Moonless Sky: Indigenous Horror Stories
In his debut short story collection, Blackfoot Alexander Soop wants to scare you. Tapping into the vast horrors woven into various First Nation legends, he creates a tapestry of dark fantasy and paranormal enchantment.
Soop seamlessly weaves the horror of reality into the realm of the speculative, where hauntings and ghosts bleed into the sorrow of injustice and racism.
The stories are shocking in their depth, relentless in their secrets, and filled with buried truths that won’t leave you for a long, long
When the Chenoo Howls: Native American Tales of Terror
Joseph Bruchac still lives in the house his grandparents raised him where he works to keep his Abenaki ancestry alive.
Drawing on the stories from various Northeast Woodland Native American nations, each author introduces readers to the monsters that scared their ancestors. That doesn’t mean these stories exist in the past.
They move from the ancient to the present, drawing on the rich history and tradition of each tribe, highlighting how horror traverses time to terrify us today.
After the People Lights Have Gone Off
Stephen Graham Jones is one of the most well-known voices of Indigenous horror. From his mind sprouts fifteen stories guaranteed to tap into what scares you.
This collection includes two original stories, several that are out of print, and a few that have gotten best-of-the-year nods. Jones is a master storyteller—and when you crack the spine you’ll find out why.
