Unhcegila facts for kids
In the stories of the Lakota people, Unk Cekula (pronounced un-k-CHAY-gee-lah) is a giant, snake-like monster. People believed she caused many mysterious disappearances and deaths. Her male partner was called Unk Tehi.
What Unk Cekula Looked Like
At first, Unk Cekula was described as having no clear shape. She had fiery eyes and a mouth full of fangs, often hidden by smoke or clouds. Later, people described her as a huge creature with a long, scaly body. Her scales were like strong armor, very hard to break through. Her eyes glowed with fierce hunger, her claws were as tough as iron, and her voice sounded like loud thunder.
It was said that anyone who looked at her would become blind or go crazy.
Unk Cekula had a secret weakness: a special spot on her body. This seventh spot was on her torso, and behind it was her heart, which burned brightly. To defeat her, a special "medicine arrow" had to be shot directly at this spot.
Stories About Unk Cekula
Ancient Lakota tribes heard tales from other groups about a huge, evil spirit. This spirit was said to have come from the cold waters of the far Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Over time, Unk Cekula and her partner fought their way across the eastern coast into the Midwest. Many different tribes tried to scare these monsters away.
Eventually, Unk Cekula and Unk Tehi reached the Black Hills (Ȟe Sápa) and decided to make it their home. While there, they lived alongside the tribes, animals, and other spirit beings. However, the monsters began to plan to have offspring. The tribal clans and spirits living in the Black Hills learned of these plans. They started making their own plans to stop more monsters from becoming a danger.
Unk Cekula and Unk Tehi could survive by using nature's resources. But if there were more monsters, they would need to hunt many more animals and people to live. This made everyone act quickly to prevent chaos and fear.
Over many years, Unk Cekula caused trouble in the Black Hills. Many brave warriors from the Lakota tribe challenged her. It was discovered that she had children, and the tribes had to fight them when they started harming people.
In one myth, Unk Cekula fought and killed a giant bear. The bear's fallen body is said to have formed Bear Butte in the Black Hills.
One story tells how Unk Cekula was finally defeated after she ate the family of a great warrior. This warrior was from the bear clan. A spirit in the form of a weasel told him that if he let Unk Cekula swallow him, he could use his knife to cut his way out. This would also free other people she had eaten.
Another version of the story says that two twin brothers, one of whom was blind, killed Unk Cekula. They used special arrows given to them by a wise medicine woman.
Some accounts say the brothers' arrows did not kill Unk Cekula right away. Instead, they injured her so badly that she thrashed around, damaging the land. When she finally died, the Sun scorched her body and dried up the land. This is why the Badlands (Makȟóšiča) have dry rock formations and old bones.
In another myth, Unk Cekula came out of the first waters and caused a great flood. This destruction angered Wakinyan, a powerful thunder spirit. Wakinyan flapped his wings to create a huge storm, drying up the land and shooting lightning. This lightning killed Unk Cekula. Her heart was destroyed, and her bones were scattered across the land.
Unk Cekula in Books and Movies
Unk Cekula has appeared in modern stories and entertainment:
- A fictional version of the myth was featured in a Marvel Comics Presents comic book story about Wolverine.
- She appears in a story told in the 2003 film Dreamkeeper. In this movie, a character named Eagle Boy defeats her with weapons given by an old woman.
- Unk Cekula is mentioned in the urban fantasy novel Boundary Lines by Melissa F. Olson.
- She also appears briefly in the urban fantasy prequel Death Valley Magic by Linsey Hall.
- J.K. Rowling's Ilvermorny House, The Horned Serpents, refers to the Unktechi, who are sometimes seen as the children of Unchegila.
