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Native American Tricksters of Myth and Legend

Native American Tricksters from Various Tribes

Ableegumooch (Mi'kmaq)
Azeban (Abenaki)
Chahnameed (Mohegan)
Coyote (many tribes)
Crazy Jack (Lenape)
Glooscap (Wabanaki)
Iktomi (Sioux)
Keeoony (Mi'kmaq)
Kuekuatsheu (Innu)
Michabou (Algonquin)
Napi (Blackfoot)
Nihancan (Arapaho)
Nihant (Gros Ventre)
Raven (Northwest Coast tribes)
Sitconski (Assiniboine)
Skeleton Man (Hopi)
Tshakapesh (Innu)
Waynaboozhoo (Ojibway)
Whiskey-Jack (Cree)
Wihio (Cheyenne)
Wisaka (Sauk-Fox-Kickapoo)

Native American Trickster Stories

*Azban the Raccoon:
    An Abenaki Indian trickster animal loses a shouting match with a waterfall.
*Raccoon Learns A Lesson: * The Deceived Blind Men * Wisakatchekwa and the Blind Men:
    Algonquian folktales in which trickster figures play pranks on blind men.
The Lazy Rabbit * Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting * How Rabbit Got His Split Lip * Rabbit and Otter:
    Examples of "bungling host" stories from various tribes, in which trickster characters unsuccessfully try to mimic the
    food collection methods of other animals.
*Manabozho and the Theft of Fire:
    Native American legends about tricksters stealing fire from beings that refused to share it with the people.
Rabbit Calls a Truce * Run, Rabbit, Run * Rabbit and Otter:
    Stories in which the trickster characters evade pursuers by changing shape and fooling them.
*Wenebojo and the Dancing Geese * Manabozho and the Hell-Diver * The Shut-Eye Dance:
    Stories about Native American tricksters convincing gullible prey animals to shut their eyes.
Wisakatchekwa and the Birds:
    Native American stories about trickster heroes being carried off by an unwisely lassoed flock of birds.
How The Deer Got His Horns:
    Cherokee legend about Deer winning antlers from the trickster Rabbit.
How the Bear Lost His Tail:
    Ojibwe legend about Otter tricking Bear into losing his tail.
*Wiza'ka'a and the Buzzard * The Trickster's Great Fall and his Revenge * How Wisakatchakwa Got Into Some Trouble:
    Algonquian legends about the trickster Wisaka falling from the sky.
*The Adventures of Raccoon:
    A series of Potawatomi trickster tales about Raccoon.
*Chahnameed Squeezes the Stone * Chahnameed the Glutton Wins the Eating Match:
    Two Mohegan folktales about the gluttonous trickster Chahnameed playing tricks on people.
When Tcikabis Trapped The Sun * Snaring the Sun:
    Northeastern and Southeastern Woodland stories in which the trickster traps the sun in a snare.
*Trickster Kills The Children:
    Plains Indian legends about antisocial trickster figures killing careless or poorly protected children.

Recommended Books about Tricksters in Native American Mythology

American Indian Trickster Tales:
    Compilation of more than a hundred Native American trickster stories from all corners of the United States.
    Use discretion sharing these with kids as some of the stories contain adult humor.
Trickster: Native American Tales:
    Excellent collection of animal trickster stories told by Native American storytellers from various tribes.
    This collection is suitable for all ages.
Trickster and the Fainting Birds:
    Wonderful retelling of seven Cree and Ojibway Indian trickster tales.
Rabbit Goes Duck Hunting * How Rabbit Lost His Tail * Rabbit and the Wolves * Rabbit and the Well:
    A series of Cherokee Indian legends about the trickster Rabbit getting into and out of trouble.
Raccoon's Last Race:
    Picture book featuring an Abenaki Indian legend in which Azban the Trickster learns a lesson.
*Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest * Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest * Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon:
    Children's books illustrating Native American trickster tales of North and South America.
The Trickster: A Study in American Indian Mythology:
    Anthropology book about trickster figures in Native American mythology.



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