Though April Fool’s Day is known for wild pranks, Tricksters were an important part of indigenous culture year round!
Though they get a bad reputation because of being Tricksters, they’re generally not considered bad or dark spirits. Rather creatures that often bring lessons that sting a bit, and let’s face it…nobody is excited about getting any kind of lesson that stings!
There’s plenty of stories and all the tribes vary. Though Coyote is often a Trickster in south western tribes, He is seen as very noble and the bringer of fire to humans in the west. Spider can be seen as a wise grandmother, but to the Lakota people, Spider is a very old Trickster. What stories can you find about Tricksters today?