Teihiihan & Nihancan and the Dwarf's Arrow

Before the almost complete decimation of their culture as European settlers moved west in the 1800/1900’s, the Denver area was home to the Arapaho, Cheyenne and Ute tribes.

Teihiihan (Cannibal Dwarves)

This information comes directly from http://www.native-languages.org/arapaho-legends.htm

Although benign races of small magical creatures exist in many Native American tribes, the Little People of the Arapahos and neighboring tribes-- also known as Cannibal Dwarves or Enemy Dwarves-- are dangerous man-eaters and particular enemies of the Arapaho tribe. Their Arapaho name, Hecesiiteihii, literally means "little people." ("Teihiihan" comes from the Arapaho word for "strong"-- Arapaho dwarves are said to have superhuman strength.) In some texts they are referred to as "Nimerigar" instead, which is a name borrowed from the neighboring Shoshone tribe (who had similar legends about ferocious little people.) Descriptions of the cannibal dwarves vary somewhat from community to community, but they are usually said to be the size of children, dark-skinned, and extremely aggressive. Some storytellers say that they had the power to turn themselves invisible, while others say they were hard to spot simply because they moved with incredible speed. Some suggest that the dwarves' warlike temperament comes because they must be killed in battle to reach the dwarf afterworld. Others believe that they were gluttons who habitually killed more than they could eat just because they could. According to most versions of the story, the race of cannibal dwarves was destroyed in an ancient war with the Arapahos and other allied Native American tribes.

Name: Cannibal Dwarves
Tribal affiliation: Arapaho, Gros Ventre, Cheyenne
Native Names: Hecesiiteihii (Arapaho), Vo'estanehesono (Cheyenne)
Alternate spellings: Hantceciitehi, Hachasitehi, Cesiiteihii, Hajase-daheauau, Hantcaciihi Teihiihan, Hacacihi
Pronunciation: In Arapaho, heah-chass-ee-tay-hee (the first syllable rhymes with "yeah.") In Cheyenne, similar to voh-stah-neh-heh-soh-noh.

Related figures in other tribes: Nimerigar (Shoshone), Awwakkule (Crow), Puckwudgie (Wampanoag)

Nihancan and the Dwarf's Arrow

Nihancan the spider was out traveling in search of some mischief he could do to please himself. Along a creek he found a patch of sweet berries, and while he was eating them he heard the sound of someone cutting wood. The sound seemed to come from a grove of cotton woods across the creek. "I must go over there," Nihancan said to himself "I have heard that dwarves who make wonderful arrows live in that place. It is time that I played a trick on them."

He crossed a stream, and among the cotton woods he found a dwarf making an arrow out of an immense tree that had been cut down."Well, little brother," said Nihancan, "what are you making?"

"You have eyes to see," replied the dwarf, who continued shapingthe tree into an arrow as long as ten men and as thick as a man's body.

"I have heard about your ability to shoot very large arrows,"Nihancan said. "But surely you do not expect me to believe that so small a person as you can lift so large a tree. Let me see you shoot it. I will stand over there against that hillside and you can shoot at me."

"I do not want to do that, Nihancan," the dwarf answered, "for I might kill you."

At that, Nihancan laughed and began taunting the dwarf, who remained silent until Nihancan said scornfully: "Just as I thought, you are unable to lift the arrow, and so cannot shoot at me. I shall go on my way.

Then the dwarf said: "I will shoot." Nihancan went toward the hillside and asked in a mocking voice: "Shall I stand here?"

"No, farther away," said the dwarf. "You might get hurt there."

Nihancan went on, and asked again: "Shall I stand here?" But the dwarf continued to tell him to go farther off. At last Nihancan called out: "I will not go any farther. I am as far as your voice reaches." He was now on the hillside, and as he turned to look back he was astonished to see the dwarf pick up the huge tree with one hand.

At once he became frightened and shouted: "Don't shoot at me, little brother. I know you are able to do it. I was only pretending not to believe you."

"Oh, you trickster spider," retorted the dwarf, "I know you are only pretending now. I am going to shoot."

"Please do not shoot!" cried Nihancan, but the dwarf answered him: "I must shoot now. When once I have taken up my bow and arrows I must shoot, or I will lose my power."

Then the dwarf lifted his great arrow and aimed and shot. As Nihancan saw the huge tree coming toward him through the air, he began to yell and run first one way and then another. He did not know where to go, for whichever way he went the arrow turned and headed in the same direction. It continued to come nearer and nearer, its point facing directly toward him. Then he threw himself on the soft ground. The tree struck him and forced him deep into the earth, so that only his head was left outside. He struggled to escape, but the arrow wedged him in.

In a short time the dwarf came up to Nihancan, and after scolding him for doubting his strength, he helped him out and gave him some medicine for his bruises. After that Nihancan went on his way, and he never came back to that place again to play tricks on the dwarves.

https://www.native-languages.org/

Image: Mabel Powers