Coyote, Iktoma, and The Rock: A Sioux Trickster Myth
mythicaL charact rs Coyote Iktome A trickster able to come back to life The spider trickster who can take any form Iya A destructive and powerful spirit in the form of a rock RanCheR A man traveling home
iNtroductioN This legend comes from the Sioux people The Sioux originally lived in the present-day US states of Montana North Dakota and South Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan The Sioux are made up of the Dakota Lakota and Nakota people throughout these areas Sioux legends are an important way for customs and histories to be passed down The legends reflect the Sioux’s respect for animals and the outdoors Animals play an important role because of the Sioux belief that all living creatures have a spirit Coyote Iktome and the Rock comes from a retelling by Lakota elder Jenny Leading Cloud at the Rosebud Indian Reservation near White River South Dakota in 1967 The legend teaches people to be generous and advises that once something is given it should never be taken back 4
Long ago Coyote had a good friend called Iktome One day the two friends were out for a walk when they came across a rock This was not an ordinary rock The rock was called Iya It was very special 5
