Indigenous American
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Indigenous American
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This is our collection of Kickapoo folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Native American folktales 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 Kickapoo tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Meskwaki and Shawnee are very similar.
Wiza'ka'a (also spelled Wisaka
and other ways.)
Wiza'ka'a is the benevolent culture hero of the Kickapoo tribe (sometimes referred to as a "transformer" by folklorists.)
His name is pronounced similar to wee-zah-kah-ah. Wiza'ka'a is the same character as the Cree
Whiskey-Jack and shares some similarities with other
Algonquian heroes such as the Wabanaki
Gluskap and Anishinabe
Wenebojo; many of the same stories
are told in different Algonquian tribes with only the identity of the protagonist differing.
Kehcimaneto
(also spelled Kechi Manito and several other ways.)
This means "Great Spirit" in the Kickapoo language, and is the Kickapoo name for the Creator (God.) Kehcimaneto
is a divine spirit with no human form or attributes (including gender) and is never personified in Kickapoo folklore. The name is pronounced
similar to keh-chee-muh-neh-toh.
Thunder Beings (Nenemehkia):
Powerful storm spirits that live in the sky and cause thunder and lightning. Although they are associated with birds, particularly in
artwork, Kickapoo Thunder Beings are described as having the form of human elders in most legends. They are considered benevolent
spirits who bring the rain and protect people from monsters.
Great Serpents (Manetoa):
Giant water serpents of Kickapoo mythology, which lurk in rivers and lakes, hypnotize people with their gaze, and drown them.
The Thunder Beings are the sworn enemies of the Great Serpents, and can be called upon to protect people from them.
Paissa (also spelled Piesiihia):
Magical little people of the forest, similar to European gnomes or fairies.
In most Kickapoo tales, the Little People are portrayed as mischievous but generally benign nature spirits, who may play
tricks on people but are not dangerous.
Wiza'ka'a and the Buzzard:Kickapoo Tales:The First Fire:
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