Old Indian Legends

by Zitkala-Sa

"Old Indian Legends" by Zitkala-Sa is a collection of Sioux stories published in 1901. Concerned about assimilation's impact on tribal children, the Yankton Dakota writer sought to preserve her people's traditional tales. The collection features fourteen legends, including five stories about Iktomi, an unlucky trickster spider fairy whose schemes repeatedly backfire. Through encounters with ducks, muskrats, coyotes, and other creatures, Iktomi's cunning plans consistently unravel, offering timeless lessons about greed, impatience, and the consequences of breaking promises.