# Iktomi — Old Indian Legends character guide > Iktomi in Old Indian Legends by Zitkála-Šá. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Poor Iktomi, wily Iktomi, Old Iktomi, The Iktomi, old father badger, old Iktomi, father Iktomi, Ikto **First appearance:** 0001-old-indian-legends ## Snapshot A vain spider fairy in beaded deerskins who snares ducks with a blanket of grass, preferring tricks to honest hunting and laughing when simpler folk get caught. ## Who they are Iktomi lives alone in a cone-shaped wigwam, dressed finer than any Dakota brave yet friendless, since his conceit and heartless laughter drive away everyone who admires his fringed leggins. Hungry and scheming, he bundles dry grass into his blanket and lures a dancing flock of wild ducks with the promise of a song and a story. His mischief sets the whole tale in motion, and his vanity is the flaw every listener waits to see punished. ## Relationships ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/grandfather) _social_ Grandfather interacts with Iktomi as an elder in the community, often with caution or mild disapproval. ### [Han](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/han) _rivalry_ Han and Iktomi are often in opposition, with Han challenging or being challenged by Iktomi’s tricks. ### [Inyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/inyan) _rivalry_ Iktomi and Inyan clash as adversaries, often in contests of will or trickery. ### [The Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/the_stranger) _psychological_ Iktomi attempts to deceive or manipulate the Stranger, but is sometimes outwitted in return. ### [Dakota](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/dakota) _social_ Dakota and Iktomi have an acquaintance-level relationship, with occasional tension due to Iktomi’s mischief. ### [The Dakotas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/the_dakotas) _rivalry_ Iktomi often antagonizes or tricks the Dakotas, leading to a pattern of conflict and mistrust. ### [The Fish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/the_fish) _psychological_ Iktomi tries to exploit or trick the Fish, treating it as a target for his schemes. ### [Iya](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/iya) _rivalry_ Iktomi and Iya are adversaries, with Iktomi often trying to outsmart the monstrous Iya. ### [Grandfather](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/grandfather) _social_ Grandfather interacts with Iktomi as an elder in the community, often with caution or mild disapproval. ### [Inyan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/inyan) _rivalry_ Iktomi and Inyan clash as adversaries, often in contests of will or trickery. ### [The Dakotas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/the_dakotas) _rivalry_ Iktomi often antagonizes or tricks the Dakotas, leading to a pattern of conflict and mistrust. ### [Han](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/han) _rivalry_ Han and Iktomi are often in opposition, with Han challenging or being challenged by Iktomi’s tricks. ## In the story ### [Old Indian Legends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/old-indian-legends) Central trickster figure whose schemes and transformations drive the narratives. ### [Iktomi and the Ducks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-and-the-ducks) The wily spider fairy who tricks the ducks and loses his feast to wolves. ### [Iktomi's Blanket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-s-blanket) Iktomi prays to Inyan for food, offers his blanket, then selfishly takes it back, losing the deer. ### [Iktomi and the Muskrat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-and-the-muskrat) Iktomi is selfish and greedy, refusing to share his food with the visiting muskrat. He devises a trick to avoid sharing, but his plan backfires when the muskrat outsmarts him by swimming across the lake. ### [Iktomi and the Coyote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-and-the-coyote) Iktomi attempts to trick a sleeping coyote, but is himself outwitted and burned. ### [Iktomi and the Fawn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-and-the-fawn) Desperate to change his appearance, Iktomi repeatedly seeks transformation but fails to keep conditions, ultimately tricking a fawn into burying him in a fiery pit. ### [The Tree-Bound](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/the-tree-bound) Tricks the avenger into climbing a tree, then uses a charm to bind him to the bark and steals his magic arrow and buckskins. ### [Shooting of the Red Eagle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/shooting-of-the-red-eagle) Impersonates the avenger, fails to shoot the red eagle, and is bound and disgraced on a mock-pillared grave. ### [Iktomi and the Turtle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/iktomi-and-the-turtle) Tricks Patkaša into a jumping contest, wins the deer, then drowns when he tries to retrieve the meat from the creek. ### [The Warlike Seven](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/chapters/the-warlike-seven) Appears as a witty old figure who translates the Fish's mumbled war declaration, and later is swallowed by Iya but escapes by stabbing him from inside. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters/iktomi - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/old_indian_legends_se/characters