Spiders were important creatures in Native American mythology. They frequently appeared in the myths of several Native American tribes, including the Navajo, the Hopi, and the Lenape.
Depending on the tribe, the spider could be a trickster character, but most often they were seen as benevolent creatures associated with intelligence. Native Americans used weaving in their daily lives, and, because spiders are great weavers themselves, the Native Americans shared a special connection to them.
In the Osage tribe, they had a particular story called "The Spider and the People." In this story, the chief goes out to find a symbol for his people. He is following some tracks when he stumbles right into a gigantic spider web.
The spider questions him about what he is doing, and the chief explains he is looking for a symbol for his people. The spider says she could be a symbol for his people, but the chief initially dismisses this idea. He does not believe a spider would be a good symbol for his people because spiders are so small and, in his mind, inconsequential.
The spider corrects him. She explains that although she is strong, she is patient. She does not need to go out and catch her food -- she is patient and the food comes to her. She explains that patience is a good thing for people to have, and therefore she would be a good symbol for his people.
The chief considers the spider's words and realizes the spider is correct. The chief was rushing along and ran right into the web. The spider, who was patient, caught a chief without even needing to move. Therefore, the chief agreed, and the spider became a symbol for his people.
