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Native American Legends: Canotila (Canoti, Wood Elves)
Name: Canotila
Tribal affiliation: Dakota and Lakota tribes
Alternate spellings: Canoti, Can Oti, Canotina, Chan-o-te-na, Can'otial, C'an Do't'idah, Can Hotidan, Chanhotina,
Can-o-tila, Cano'ti'na, Hohno'gicidan , Chahoterdah , Oh-no-ge-cha, Oglugechana, Ungnagicaca
Pronunciation: varies by dialect. Canotila is pronounced chawn-oh-tee-lah.
Also known as: Tree Dwellers, Woods Elves
Type: Magical little people,
tree spirits
Related figures in other tribes: Wild People (Osage),
Pukwudgies (Ojibway),
Gahongas (Iroquois)
The Canotila are forest spirits of Sioux folklore, usually appearing as sprites or dwarves. "Canoti" literally
means "tree dweller," and "canotila" means "little tree dweller." They were considered messengers from
the spirit world and often appeared to Sioux people in dreams.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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The Sons of the Wind:
Good collection of Sioux legends told by a Lakota author.
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Additional Resources
Lakota legends
Sioux language
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South Dakota Native American
The Plains Indian
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