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Native American Legends: Nimerigar (Nunumbi)

Name: Nimerigar
Tribal affiliation: Shoshone, Paiute
Alternate spellings: Nim-me-rig-ar, Nomorika, Numurika, Numudeka, Neme-reka, Newe-dekka, Numu-tuhka, Nemetakah, Nimidica, Nuwa'deca
Also known as: Nunumbi, Ninipi, Ninimbe, Ninimpi, Ninumbi, Ninumbee, Nu'numbi, Nunnupi, Ninimbeb, Ninnumbee, Ninambea, Ninnimbe, Ninambitz
Pronunciation: varies widely by dialect; usually similar to nuh-muh-duh-kah. "Nunumbi" is pronounced nuh-num-bee.
Type: Little people, antagonists (in Wampanoag lore)
Related figures in other tribes: Cannibal dwarfs (Arapaho), Nirumbee (Crow), Pukwudgies (Wampanoag)

 Although benign races of small magical creatures exist in many Native American tribes, the Little People of the Shoshone and Paiute tribes are dangerous man-eaters and enemies of humankind. "Nimerigar" is a corruption of the Shoshone and Paiute words meaning "people-eaters", and "Nunumbi" (and its many variants) means "little person."

Nimerigar Stories

Nimerigars:
    Brief article about the Nimerigar.

Recommended Books of Related Native American Legends
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Pachee Goyo: History and Legends from the Shoshone:
    Collection of Shoshone legends and oral history.
Indian Legends from the Northern Rockies:
    Anthology of folklore from the Shoshone and other Great Basin tribes.
The Deetkatoo:
    Traditional tales about little people from 14 different Native American tribes.

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Additional Resources

 Shoshone mythology
 Shoshone Indian tribe
 Paiute Indian tribe
 Idaho tribes
 Great Basin Indians
 Uto-Aztecan



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