The Coyote in Native American Lore is considered to be one of the cleverest animals in the world.  In some tribes he is known as the trickster.  In others he is known as being responsible for the many tribes of man.  In the legend of the Coyote and the Earth Monster he is portrayed as saving all of the animals.

There are at least two versions of the legend.  In one version, long before there were people, there was an earth monster that was eating all of the animals in the land.  The Coyote soon realized that his friends were missing and he became lonely.  He tied himself to the top of tallest mountain and dared the monster to eat him.  The monster tried but failed.  Seeing that Coyote was cleverer than he, the monster invited him to share his company.  Coyote agreed but first he wanted to see his friends in the monsters stomach.  The earth monster thought this was a good idea but when he swallowed him, Coyote cut out the monsters heart and freed the other animals.

In another version of the story Coyote came across Mouse who told him about a great monster that was eating everyone.  This made Coyote made and he dug up a tree in order to jam it into the monsters mouth so he could not eat anyone anymore.  As he walked with the tree on his back, he came across an old woman who was hungry.  He told her that she should be careful because of the monster.  She replied that he was too late and he was in the monsters stomach.  Coyote looked around and saw more animals that were hungry.  He called them together and said that there was plenty of food around for them to eat.  They could eat their way out of the monster.

In both stories, when the monster was defeated, Coyote took the parts of the monster and cast them to the four corners of the world.  This created new animals and people.  Coyote is heralded by many tribes in these stories about creation. Cultures around the world have a story about the origins of man.  Some stem from stories like the Coyote and his influence.  Others have other animals, beings or circumstances that explain the beginnings of man.  In every instance it goes back to one or a few that are responsible for the creation of mankind.

Though what the Earth Monster represents vary with the storyteller and the lesson to be learned, the story has been told for generations passing down from one to another.  Locations change and some parts of the stories are different but they all contain the monster and Coyote.  Legends, lore and Myth have beginnings that are often lost over time but their stories stay with us indefinitely.