Native America Calling: The Pleiades star cluster ushers in winter story season

Indianz.Com > News > Native America Calling: The Pleiades star cluster ushers in winter story season

Native America Calling

Listen to Native America Calling every weekday at 1pm Eastern.

Alternate Links: Native Voice One | NAC

Native America Calling: The Pleiades star cluster ushers in winter story season

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

nativeamericacalling.com nativeamericacalling nativeamericacalling

The Pleiades star cluster ushers in winter story season

Anishinaabe call the cluster of seven stars in the winter sky Bugonagiizhig, or “Hole in the Sky”. Navajos say it is Dilyéhé, or “Sparkling.”

And Senecas say it is the Seven Dancers. On conventional Western star maps, the cluster is known as the Pleiades, a name that refers to Greek mythology.

Prominent during winter months, these stars bookmark the winter season and are important symbols for many tribes’ origin stories. Tune into Native America Calling hear about those stories and the teachings connected to the Pleiades.

The Pleiades, an open cluster consisting of approximately 3,000 stars at a distance of 400 light-years (120 parsecs) from Earth in the constellation of Taurus. Image: NASA, ESA, AURA/Caltech, Palomar Observatory

Guests on Native America Calling

Wilfred Buck (Opaskwayak Cree Nation), knowledge keeper in Canada

Michael Waasegiizhig Price (Wikwemikong First Nation), Anishinaabe culture and language keeper in Canada

Cal Nez (Navajo), fine arts artist and graphic designer, Navajo spiritualist

Jamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca), managing curator for the Rock Foundation collections at the Rochester Museum and Science Center