Lakota mythology Lakota mythology is the body of sacred stories that belong to the Lakota people, also known as the Teton Sioux. Overview The Lakota believe that everything has a spirit; including trees, rocks, rivers, and almost every natural being. This ther ...

, Iya is a storm-monster,Walker (137-138) brother of

Iktomi In Lakota mythology, Iktómi is a spider- trickster spirit, and a culture hero for the Lakota people. Alternate names for Iktómi include Ikto, Ictinike, Inktomi, Unktome, and Unktomi. These names are due to the differences in languages betwe ...

the spider. He eats humans, animals and consumes villages to satisfy his otherwise endless appetite. He is in fact considered a demon in various traditions. The tornado, the snowstorm, the hurricane or the thunderstorm would all be considered manifestations of this deity. He travels with his storms in a

tipi A tipi or tepee ( ) is a conical lodge tent that is distinguished from other conical tents by the smoke flaps at the top of the structure, and historically made of animal hides or pelts or, in more recent generations, of canvas stretched on ...

painted with magical symbols, and when he appears, he is often faceless and formless. His home is said to be under the waters, where he resides with his mother,

Unk Anthony Leonard Platt (November 28, 1981 – January 24, 2025), better known by his stage name Unk, was an American rapper, DJ, and hype man. He is best known for his 2006 snap music, snap hit "Walk It Out (Unk song), Walk It Out". Life and ca ...

. He is considered to be the chief of the North, symbolically encompassing the spheres of

winter Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Dif ...

, famine and disease. He is the guardian of the

Aurora Borealis An aurora ( aurorae or auroras), also commonly known as the northern lights (aurora borealis) or southern lights (aurora australis), is a natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly observed in high-latitude regions (around the Arc ...

and holds to a rivalry against both the chief of the South, Okaga, as well as the thunderbirds, though this is vastly exaggerated in tales told to outsiders. He is the younger brother of Iktomi, and the pair comprises the two progeny of

Inyan In Lakota mythology Lakota mythology is the body of sacred stories that belong to the Lakota people, also known as the Teton Sioux. Overview The Lakota believe that everything has a spirit; including trees, rocks, rivers, and almost every natu ...

, the creator, who is the head of the Lakota pantheon.

Notes

References

* Lakota mythology Sky and weather gods {{NorthAm-myth-stub