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Native American Legends: Isily (Isil)
Name: Isily
Tribal affiliation: Cahuilla,
Cupeno
Alternate spellings: Isilly, Is-El, Isil
Pronunciation:ee-seel-yih
Also known as: Coyote
Type: Animal spirits,
tricksters,
coyotes
Related figures in other tribes: Coyote (Southwestern)
The coyote deity Isily is the trickster figure of the Cahuilla tribe. He is clever but reckless, and is constantly
getting himself
and the people around him into trouble with his irresponsible and socially inappropriate behavior.
Isily 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 reckless and immoral people.
Cahuilla Creation Myth:
The story of the creation and education of humans, featuring Isily as trickster.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Our organization earns a commission from any book bought through these links
The Heart Is Fire: The World of the Cahuilla Indians of Southern California:
Book of oral history and traditional stories told by five Cahuilla elders.
Sponsored Links
Additional Resources
Cahuilla myths
Cahuilla language
Cahuilla tribe
Cupeno tribe
Southern California Indians
Southwest Native Americans
Uto-Aztecan language family
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