{"id":24039,"date":"2022-10-17T07:58:11","date_gmt":"2022-10-17T07:58:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/?page_id=24039"},"modified":"2022-10-17T08:01:10","modified_gmt":"2022-10-17T08:01:10","slug":"iktomi-and-the-turtle","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/sioux-mythology-lakota-dakota-nakota\/iktomi-and-the-turtle\/","title":{"rendered":"Iktomi and the Turtle"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/sioux-mythology-lakota-dakota-nakota\/\" role=\"button\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSioux mythology<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpeople.us\/FP-Html-Legends\/IktomiandtheTurtle-Lakota.html\" role=\"button\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWiki<br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The Lakota<\/strong> or Titunwans (&quot;people of the prairie&quot;) or Tetons in English (traditional Dakota\/Wyoming territory) was originally one of the seven council fires. Here is their tale: Iktomi and the Turtle.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/cropped-AlphaOmega-e1602613368367.png\" alt=\"Iktomi and the Turtle\" width=\"25\" height=\"25\" title=\"\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/sioux-mythology-lakota-dakota-nakota\/iktomi-and-the-turtle\/#Iktomi-and-the-Turtle\" >Iktomi and the Turtle<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Iktomi-and-the-Turtle\"><\/span>Iktomi and the Turtle<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The huntsman Patkasha (turtle) stood bent over a newly slain deer.<br \/>\nThe red-tipped arrow he drew from the wounded deer was unlike the<br \/>\narrows in his own quiver. Another&rsquo;s stray shot had killed the deer.<\/p>\n<p>Patkasha had hunted all the morning without so much as spying an<br \/>\nordinary blackbird. At last returning homeward, tired and heavy-hearted<br \/>\nthat he had no meat for the hungry mouths in his wigwam, he walked<br \/>\nslowly with downcast eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Kind ghosts pitied the unhappy hunter and led him to the newly<br \/>\nslain deer, that his children should not cry for food. When Patkasha<br \/>\nstumbled upon the deer in his path, he exclaimed: &quot;Good spirits<br \/>\nhave pushed me hither! &quot;Thus he leaned long over the gift of the friendly ghosts.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Hau, my friend!&quot; said a voice behind his ear, and a<br \/>\nhand fell on his shoulder. It was not a spirit this time. It was old Iktomi.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Hau, Iktomi!&quot; answered Patkasha, still stooping over<br \/>\nthe deer.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;My friend, you are a skilled hunter,&quot; began Iktomi,<br \/>\nsmiling a thin smile which spread from one ear to the other.<\/p>\n<p>Suddenly raising up his head Patkasha&rsquo;s black eyes twinkled as<br \/>\nhe asked: &quot;Oh, you really say so?&quot;<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Yes, my friend, you are a skillful fellow. Now let us have<br \/>\na little contest. Let us see who can jump over the deer without<br \/>\ntouching a hair on his hide,&quot; suggested Iktomi.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Oh, I fear I cannot do it!&quot; cried Patkasha, rubbing<br \/>\nhis funny, thick palms together.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Have no coward&rsquo;s doubt, Patkasha. I say you are a skillful<br \/>\nfellow who finds nothing hard to do.&quot; With these words Iktomi<br \/>\nled Patkasha a short distance away. In little puffs Patkasha laughed<br \/>\nuneasily. &quot;Now, you may jump first,&quot; said Iktomi.<\/p>\n<p>Patkasha, with doubled fists, swung his fat arms to and fro, all<br \/>\nthe while biting hard his under lip.<\/p>\n<p>Just before the run and leap Iktomi put in: &quot;Let the winner<br \/>\nhave the deer to eat! &quot;It was too late now to say no. Patkasha<br \/>\nwas more afraid of being called a coward than of losing the deer.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Ho-wo,&quot; he replied, still working his short arms. At<br \/>\nlength he started off on the run. So quick and small were his steps<br \/>\nthat he seemed to be kicking the ground only. Then the leap!<\/p>\n<p>But Patkasha tripped upon a stick and fell hard against the side of the deer.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;He-he-he!&quot; exclaimed Iktomi, pretending disappointment<br \/>\nthat his friend had fallen. Lifting him to his feet, he said: &quot;Now<br \/>\nit is my turn to try the high jump!&quot; Hardly was the last word<br \/>\nspoken than Iktomi gave a leap high above the deer. &quot;The game<br \/>\nis mine!&quot; laughed he, patting the sullen Patkasha on the back.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;My friend, watch the deer while I go to bring my children,&quot;<br \/>\nsaid Iktomi, darting lightly through the tall grass. Patkasha was<br \/>\nalways ready to believe the words of scheming people and to do the<br \/>\nlittle favors any one asked of him.<\/p>\n<p>However, on this occasion, he did not answer &quot;Yes, my friend.&quot;<br \/>\nHe realized that Iktomi&rsquo;s flattering tongue had made him foolish.<br \/>\nHe turned up his nose at Iktomi, now almost out of sight, as much<br \/>\nas to say: &quot;Oh, no, Iktomi; I do not hear your words!&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Soon there came a murmur of voices. The sound of laughter grew<br \/>\nlouder and louder. All of a sudden it became hushed. Old Iktomi<br \/>\nled his young Iktomi brood to the place where he had left the turtle,<br \/>\nbut it was vacant. Nowhere was there any sign of Patkasha or the deer.<\/p>\n<p>Then the babes did how!<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Be still!&quot; said father Iktomi to his children. &quot;I<br \/>\nknow where Patkasha lives. Follow me. I shall take you to the turtle&rsquo;s dwelling.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>He ran along a narrow footpath toward the <a href=\"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/creek-seminole-mythology\/\">creek<\/a> nearby. Close upon<br \/>\nhis heels came his children with tear-streaked faces.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;There!&quot; said Iktomi in a loud whisper as he gathered<br \/>\nhis little ones on the bank. &quot;There is Patkasha broiling venison!<br \/>\nThere is his tipi, and the savory fire is in his front yard! &quot;The<br \/>\nyoung Iktomi stretched their necks and rolled their round black<br \/>\neyes like newly hatched birds.<\/p>\n<p>They peered into the water. &quot;Now, I will cool Patkasha&rsquo;s fire.<br \/>\nI shall bring you the broiled venison. Watch closely. When you see<br \/>\nthe black coals rise to the surface of the water, clap your hands<br \/>\nand shout aloud, for soon after that sign I shall return to you<br \/>\nwith some tender meat.&quot;<\/p>\n<p>Thus saying Iktomi plunged into the creek.<\/p>\n<p>Splash! Splash!<\/p>\n<p>The water leaped upward into spray. Scarcely had it become leveled<br \/>\nand smooth than there bubbled up many black spots. The creek was<br \/>\nseething with the dancing of round black things.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;The cooled fire! The coals!&quot; laughed the brood of Iktomi.<br \/>\nClapping together their little hands, they chased one another along<br \/>\nthe edge of the creek. They shouted and hooted with great glee.<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Alas!&quot; said a gruff voice across the water. It was Patkasha.<br \/>\nIn a large willow tree leaning far over the water he sat upon a<br \/>\nlarge limb.<\/p>\n<p>On the very same branch was a bright burning fire over which Patkasha<br \/>\nbroiled the venison. By this time the water was calm again. No more<br \/>\ndanced those black spots on its surface, for they were the toes of old Iktomi.<\/p>\n<p>He was drowned. The Iktomi children hurried away from the creek,<br \/>\ncrying and calling for their water-dead father.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sioux Mythology Wiki The Lakotas or Titunwans (\u201cprairie people\u201d) or Tetons in English (traditional Dakota\/Wyoming territory) constituted \u2026 <\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3889,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24039","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24039"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24046,"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24039\/revisions\/24046"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3889"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mythslegendes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}