Name: Chirich Tribal affiliation:Arikara Alternate spellings: Scirihts Pronunciation:schee-reetch Also known as: Coyote Type:Animal spirit, trickster, coyote Related figures in other tribes:Coyote (Plains)
The coyote deity Chirich is the trickster figure of Arikara mythology. He is clever but
reckless, and is forever getting himself and the people around him into trouble, particularly through
socially inappropriate behavior like greediness, boastfulness, lying, and chasing women. Like modern
cartoon characters, Chirich frequently dies during the course of his adventures and returns randomly
to life-- it is impossible to truly get rid of that trickster for good. Chirich stories are often humorous
in nature, but they can also be cautionary tales about the consequences of bad behavior and the dangers
of interacting with irresponsible people.
American Indian culture
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