Hopi Animal Stories

by Malotki, Ekkehart

• ISBN13: 9780803282711
• ISBN10: 0803282710
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

The fascinating world of the Hopis is brought to light in this original and informative collection of thirty animal tales featuring Field Mouse, Coyote the Trickster, Cicada and his flute, Medicine Man Badger, the Chipmunk Girls and the Antelope Kids, and many other manifestations of serpents, insects, and birds. These ancient folk tales are traditionally told in midwinter, when the nights are long and cold and all the crops are in. Highly entertaining, the narratives reveal attitudes toward important aspects of Hopi culture, such as courtship and relations between the sexes, friendship, courage, industry, healing, and the treatment of children.Ekkehart Malotki, who compiled the original tales in the Hopi vernacular, has meticulously edited and translated the tales in this special English language edition. An introduction by the distinguished folklorist Barre Toelken examines the cultural relevance of Hopi oral literature and places the tales within a wider, comparative context.Ekkehart Malotki is a professor of languages at Northern Arizona University. His books include Kokopelli: The Making of an Icon (Nebraska 2000).

Author Biography

Ekkehart Malotki is a professor of languages at Northern Arizona University. His books include Kokopelli: The Making of an Icon (Nebraska 2000).

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction: Folklore and the Hopi Animal Stories	xiii
The Stories
The Man and the Ants	3	(4)
How Field Mouse Helped the People of Mishongnovi	7	(12)
Medicine Man Badger	19	(8)
How the Coyotes Celebrated the Bean Dance	27	(8)
The Firefly	35	(4)
The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Medicine Man	39	(6)
The Mistreated Cats	45	(5)
Coyote and Bee	50	(6)
The Chipmunk Girls Who Ground Pinyon Nuts	56	(4)
The Flood at Wuukopaqlo	60	(5)
Crow and Hawk	65	(6)
Coyote and the Ducks	71	(3)
How the Ants Initiated Their Children into the Kachina Society	74	(4)
How the Hopis Got Fire	78	(4)
How Coyote Became Infatuated with Girls	82	(9)
The Cicadas and the Serpents	91	(7)
The House Mice and the Boy from Huk'ovi	98	(6)
Coyote and the Lice	104	(5)
The Deer Mice	109	(11)
How Mockingbird Took a Wife	120	(6)
The Owl That Made Off with a Little Child	126	(5)
How Coyote and Hummingbird Satirized Bat in a Song	131	(10)
How Weasel Befriended the Moon	141	(6)
Sand Cricket	147	(10)
Why the Pocket Mice Staged a Dance	157	(12)
Coyote and Badger as Food Robbers	169	(6)
The Crying Cicada	175	(5)
The Gambling Boy Who Married a Bear Girl	180	(15)
The Antelope Kids	195	(14)
Wren and Bullsnake	209	(4)
Appendix I: Glossary	213