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Which gifts for humans were attributed to Coyote in traditional stories?
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Mythologies of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
Haida argillite carving, c. 1890, depicting a folktale in which the Bear Mother endures a cesarean birth; in the National Museum of the American Indian, George Gustav Haye Center, Smithsonian Institution, New York City.
In the mythologies of various Indigenous peoples of the Americas—particularly those of the Plains, California, and the Southwest—Coyote is celebrated as a complex trickster and creator figure.
Traditional stories attribute several vital gifts and contributions to Coyote that benefited humanity:
- Fire: Coyote is credited with securing fire for human use.1
- Daylight: He is recognized as the being who brought daylight to the world.1
- Human Arts: Coyote is regarded as the originator of various human arts and skills.1
While Coyote is often portrayed as a demiurge who makes fateful decisions for the benefit of humans, these tales frequently highlight his dual nature; his actions often involve transgressing social boundaries, which can lead to chaos that must be resolved by the end of the narrative.1