Legendary Native American Figures: True Tiger (Real Lynx)
Name: True Tiger Tribal affiliation:Miami, Illini Native names: Lenapizha, Lenapizka, Lenipinzha, Lenipinshia, Lenapinchiwa, Irenipinchiwa, Lenapízha, Lenapizka, Lenapi'zha, Lanapizhia,
Aramipichia, Aramipinchiwa, Araamipinshia, Arimipichia, Michipinchiwa, Waapipinshia, Wapipinzha Pronunciation: Varies by dialect: usually leh-nuh-pih-zha or leh-nuh-pinch-ih-wuh Also known as: Real Lynx, Underneath Lynx Type:Monster, water spirit, lynx Related figures in other tribes:Underwater panthers (Anishinabe)
True Tiger is a powerful mythological water monster of the Miami and Illinois tribes,
something like a cross between a giant lynx and a dragon. Its English name is
a bit of a misnomer, since tigers are not native to North America; the true translation of the Miami-Illinois name is actually
"Real Lynx," although the monster is more tiger-like in size. "Aramipinchiwa" means "Underneath Lynx" (a reference to the monster's
home beneath the water,) "Wapipinzha" means "White Lynx," and "Michipinchiwa" means "Big Lynx."
According to legend, True Tigers live at the bottom of lakes and cause people to drown.
A True Tiger is usually described as having the body of an oversized lynx with pale fur, antlers, armored scales,
and sharp spines running down its back. The Miami associated True Tigers with shooting stars.
True Tiger Stories
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
Algonquian Spirit:
Excellent anthology of stories, songs, and oral history from the Miami and other Algonquian tribes.
Native Indian cultures
Algonquian Spirit:
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