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Native American Legends: Piai (Pia)
Name: Piai
Tribal affiliation: Carib
Alternate spellings: Pia, Piai'ima
Pronunciation: pee-eye
Type: Creator god,
medicine spirit,
mythical twin
In some Carib traditions, Piai is the twin brother of the god
Makunaima.
They are said to be sons of the Sun. Piai is the father of medicine, and his name has come to mean
"medicine man" in many Cariban languages.
The Sun, the Frog, and the Fire-Sticks:
A Guyanese Carib legend about Pia and his twin brother Makunaima.
Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Rain Forest Literatures: Amazonian Texts and Latin American Culture:
An interesting compilation of traditional Arawak, Carib, and Guarani stories.
Guyana Legends: Folk Tales of the Indigenous Amerindians:
Good collection of Cariban and Arawakan mythology from Guyana.
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Additional Resources
Carib story
Carib language
Carib people
Languages of Suriname
Caribbean languages
Cariban language family
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