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This is our index of Arapaho folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have organized our American Indian legends section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Arapaho tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Gros Ventre and Cheyenne are very similar to Arapaho Indian legends.
Nihancan (also spelled Niatha, Nih'oo3oo, and several other ways):
Nihancan is the spider trickster of the Arapaho tribe. In modern Arapaho the pronunciation of this name is
Nih-aw-thaw, but speakers of some Arapaho dialects in the past may have pronounced the "th" sound as an "s" instead, a common substitution in Plains
languages. Nihancan is an interesting figure-- in some tales he plays the typical trickster/transformer role common to Algonquian tribes, making more or
less benign mischief and shaping the world for the Arapahos as he goes. But in other tales, Nihancan is depicted as a more violent, anti-social trickster type
similar to Siouan spider spirits like
Iktomi. In any case, the literal meaning of the character's Arapaho name is "Spider." It is given as "White Man" in
many older translations, but this is a misleading translation-- the Arapahos named white people after the trickster character, not vice versa! He is also
sometimes referred to as Crazy Man, Trickster, or Fool.
Hichaba Nihancan
(also spelled Hixcéébe Nixóó3o, Chebbeniathan, and other ways):
This means "Spider Above" or "Spider of Heaven" in the Arapaho language,
and is the Arapaho name for the Creator (God,) as distinguished from the earthly Nihancan (see above.) Sometimes the name is translated in English as
"Man Above," since the literal form of a spider is not ascribed to Hichaba Nihancan. Some people believe that Nihancan and Hichaba Nihancan were originally
the same mythological entity, and split into two figures after trickster legends were borrowed from the Crow and Sioux.
By-The-Door
and Spring-Boy:
These mythical twins whose mother was killed by a monster are common to the folklore of many Midwestern and Plains tribes.
They are generally portrayed as heroic monster-slayers in Arapaho legends.
The Thunderbird (Boh'ooo, Baha, or Boh'ooonii'eihii.)
A huge bird of prey, common to the mythology of most Plains Indian tribes,who is responsible for creating thunderstorms.
To the Arapahos, Thunderbird is a symbol of summer and was diametrically opposed to White Owl, who represents winter. The name is pronounced similar to ba-h-aw.
Whirlwind Woman:
Powerful storm spirit of Arapaho mythology.
Splinter Foot Girl (or Foot-Stuck-Child):
An Arapaho heroine with magical powers, born from the swollen leg of a male hunter. She and her family of hunters turned into stars,
usually the stars of the Pleiades.
Hecesiiteihii (Little People) (also spelled Hantceciitehi and other ways:)
Although benign races of small magical creatures exist in many Native American tribes, the Little People
of the Arapahos (also known as Cannibal Dwarves) are dangerous man-eaters and particular enemies
of the Arapaho tribe. Their name is pronounced similar to heah-chass-ee-tay-hee (the first syllable rhymes
with "yeah.") Sometimes their name is given as "Nimerigar" in anthropology texts instead, although
our Arapaho volunteers do not recognize this name.
Hiincebiit (also spelled Hiintcabiit):
A great horned water serpent. Although they are powerful and dangerous, in Arapaho legends,
horned serpents often do not harm people who pay them the proper respect, and sometimes even
reward people who give them offerings with good luck in hunting or war. The name is pronounced similar to heen-chabb-eet.
Found-In-The-Grass:
A rags-to-riches hero of Arapaho folklore. In some variants of the myth he is an orphan, while in others, he is an older version of
the magical twin Spring-Boy.
The Sun Dance Wheel 
Arapaho Story of Creation: The Girl Who Climbed to the Sky The Star Husband:How Medicine Man Resurrected Buffalo:The Lame Warrior:Nihancan and the Dwarf's Arrow:Splinter Foot Girl:Trickster Kills The Children:Arapaho Historical Traditions:Arapaho Stories, Songs, and Prayers:Traditions of the Arapaho:Algonquian Spirit:Full Moon Stories:The Ghost and Lone Warrior:Indian Legends from the Northern Rockies:American Indian Trickster Tales:
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