Native American Legends
Wolf tricks the Trickster
A Shoshone Legend
The Shoshoni people saw the Wolf as a creator God and they respected
him greatly. Long ago, Wolf, and many other animals, walked and
talked like man.
Coyote could talk, too, but the Shoshoni people kept far away from
him because he was a Trickster, somebody who is always up to no
good and out to double-cross you.
Coyote resented Wolf because he was respected by the Shoshoni.
Being a devious Trickster, Coyote decided it was time to teach Wolf
a lesson. He would make the Shoshoni people dislike Wolf, and he
had the perfect plan. Or so he thought.
One day, Wolf and Coyote were discussing the people of the land.
Wolf claimed that if somebody were to die, he could bring them back
to life by shooting an arrow under them. Coyote had heard this boast
before and decided to put his plan into action.
Wearing his most innocent smile he told Wolf that if he brought
everyone back to life, there would soon be no room left on Earth.
Once people die, said Coyote, they should remain dead.
If Wolf takes my advice, thought Coyote, then the Shoshoni people
would hate Wolf, once and for all.
Wolf was getting tired of Coyote constantly questioning his wisdom
and knew he was up to no good, but he didn't say anything. He just
nodded wisely and decided it was time to teach Coyote a lesson.
A few days after their conversation, Coyote came running to Wolf.
Coyote's fur was ruffled and his eyes were wide with panic.
Wolf already knew what was wrong: Coyote's son had been bitten
by Rattlesnake and no animal can survive the snake's powerful venom.
Coyote pleaded with Wolf to bring his son back to life by shooting
an arrow under him, as he claimed he could do.
Wolf reminded Coyote of his own remark that people should remain
dead. He was no longer going to bring people back to life, as Coyote
had suggested.
The Shoshoni people say that was the day Death came to the land
and that, as a punishment for his mischievous ways, Coyote's son
was the first to die.
No one else was ever raised from the dead by Wolf again, and the
people came to know sadness when someone dies. Despite Coyote's
efforts, however, the Shoshoni didn't hate Wolf. Instead, they admired
his strength, wisdom and power, and they still do today.
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B