English

rabbit (cottontail)

Arapaho

nóóku

Technical Information

Nuttall’s Cottontail (Sylvilagus nuttallii) and the Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii) are the two species in the Northern Arapaho area.

 

Rabbits and the Arapaho

The above term is sometimes used for rabbits generally, but more often for cottontails specifically. F. V. Hayden’s 1863 report gives nowootooku, meaning ‘left/impure rabbit’ for cottontails.

Rabbits were an occasional food item in both pre- and post-reservation times.

Rabbits are associated with the Rabbit Lodge (nookhoowu’), an important part of the Sun Dance ceremony. They are seen as peaceful, pure and innocent, and these qualities are appealed to during the Rabbit Lodge ceremonies. When Rabbit gave itself to humankind at the time when the Sacred Flat Pipe was obtained, it said “I am innocent, gentle in many ways, soft in my words, happy in company and elsewhere, and in every possible way intend to give kind and sympathizing advice. Furthermore, my entire body is clean and soft, yet strong” (Dorsey, p. 207).

Necklaces of rabbit’s feet were worn as charms - they prevented Ghost Dancers from becoming tired, and were used to make horses run faster (Kroeber, The Arapaho, p. 339).

A Mountain Cottontail sunning itself.