How did Coyote stories teach social values in Plateau cultures?

In Plateau Indian cultures, Coyote serves as a central figure in oral traditions, functioning as a creator, culture hero, and trickster. These stories were essential for teaching social values by illustrating the consequences of behavior that deviated from community standards.12

Through his exploits, Coyote often displayed common human foibles, such as greed, incompetence, or the transgression of social boundaries. By portraying these negative traits and the resulting social or physical chaos, the tales provided a clear moral framework for the audience. The resolution of these stories typically reinforced the importance of adhering to established social mores, helping listeners understand the expectations of their society through the negative example of the trickster.21