Napi the Trickster
Napi, also known as Old Man, is a central figure in Blackfoot mythology who embodies the complex nature of a trickster-creator. As a supernatural being with significant cultural importance to the Blackfoot Nation (one of the most powerful North American Plains tribes), Napi appears throughout their oral traditions in stories that have been passed down for centuries[1][2].
Origin and Nature of Napi
Napi is a multifaceted character who represents the human condition in all its complexity. He is simultaneously powerful and foolish, a creator and a troublemaker[1]. The Blackfoot trickster is described as a shape-shifter who, despite his divine abilities, displays very human flaws[1]. As Carl Brave Rock explains, "Napi is crazy – it represents our human side. It represents everything that we should not be and it represents the beauty of the tricksters"[1].
In some Blackfoot legends, Napi is portrayed as the first man made by the Creator (similar to Adam in Judeo-Christian tradition), often accompanied by his wife, Old Woman (Kipitaki or Kipitaakii)[2]. Some stories associate Napi and Kipitaki with coyotes, sometimes referring to them as Old Man Coyote and Old Lady Coyote[2].
Napi's Role as Creator
According to Blackfoot tradition, Napi is credited with creating the world and everything in it[3][4]. One creation story tells how Napi was on a raft with four water creatures—beaver (mí'sohpsski), otter (kssiskstaki), duck (áímmóniisi), and muskrat (sa'ái)—when there was nothing but water[1]. Napi asked these animals to dive down and find earth. After the beaver, otter, and duck failed, the muskrat finally succeeded in bringing back a small piece of dirt[1]. With this tiny bit of earth, Napi created "everything around us, the prairies, the rivers the cliffs, the coulees…everything around us"[1].
Napi as a Teacher
Despite his foolishness, Napi serves an important pedagogical purpose in Blackfoot culture. His misadventures and mistakes teach valuable lessons about how not to behave[1][5]. As Jason Eaglespeaker notes in his graphic novel "NAPI The Trixster," "it's through NAPI's mistakes that we learn some of life's most valuable lessons"[5].
For generations, Blackfoot people have used Napi stories to impart wisdom about values such as respect, humility, honesty, bravery, love, and wisdom[5]. These teachings have helped the Blackfoot people "survive and thrive in a world of adversity"[5].
Famous Napi Stories
One of the most well-known Napi tales is "The Legend of Napi and the Rock," which explains the origin of the Okotoks Erratic (a large rock formation near Okotoks, Alberta)[6]. In this story, Napi gives his buffalo robe to a rock on a hot day, but when the weather turns cold, he takes it back despite the rock's objection[6]. The rock then chases Napi across the landscape until some swallows help him by breaking the rock in two, which is why the Okotoks Erratic appears split today[6].:
Another story tells of how Napi tried to fly with geese but looked down when instructed not to and fell to the earth[4]. There are also tales of Napi being outwitted by a lame fox, showcasing how even the trickster can be tricked[4].
Cultural Significance
Napi stories form a crucial part of Blackfoot oral tradition and cultural identity. These stories have been shared around campfires for thousands of years, providing entertainment while simultaneously teaching important cultural values and life lessons[4].
Hugh Dempsey, a historian and ally of the Blackfoot Nation, has compiled many Napi stories in his book "Napi: The Trickster," preserving these traditional tales with permission from Blackfoot Elders[4]. These stories offer "complex insight into an ancient and still-thriving culture through the figure of a flawed yet powerful creature—a mirror of humankind itself"[4].
The enduring appeal of Napi stories lies in their ability to blend humor with wisdom, making them effective vehicles for transmitting cultural knowledge across generations. As Stan Knowlton, a Blackfoot elder, was told by his elders: stories are like grass—they may appear different on the surface, but their meaning is rooted in the same soil[6].
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- https://www.buildingbrains.ca/blog/the-story-of-napi
- https://mysteriesofcanada.com/first-nations/blackfoot-legends-napi/
- https://www.strongnations.com/store/7327/napi-the-trickster
- https://werklund.ucalgary.ca/about/indigenous-education/books-to-build-on/napi-trickster
- https://www.eaglespeaker.com/store/p/napi-the-trixster
- https://wcln.ca/_LOR/course_files/en07/unit2/The_Legend_of_Napi_and_the_Rock.pdf
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