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of their family and friends as they transform their subject into a fellow Kóoshdaa káa, thus allowing them to survive in the cold. Naturally, this is counted a mixed blessing. However, Kóoshdaa káa legends are not always pleasant. In some legends it is said the Kóoshdaa káa will imitate the cries of
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and potentially other forms. In some accounts, a Kóoshdaa káa is able to assume the form of any species of otter; in others, only one. Accounts of their behaviour seem to conflict with one another. In some stories, Kóoshdaa káa are cruel creatures who take delight in tricking poor
Tlingit sailors to
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their deaths. In others, they are friendly and helpful, frequently saving the lost from death by freezing. In many stories, the Kóoshdaa káa save the lost individual by distracting them with curiously otter-like
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The short story "Kushtuka" by
Mathilda Zeller, features the eponymous creature as a shapeshifter who assumes the image of the protagonist. The story is featured in the collection "
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Since the Kóoshdaa káa mainly preys on small children, it has been thought by some that it was used by
Tlingit mothers to keep their children from wandering close to the
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Feel free to improve the article, but do not remove this notice before the discussion is closed. For more information, see the
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It is also said that the Kóoshda káa emit a high pitched, three part whistle in the pattern of low-high-low.
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Legends have it Kóoshdaa káa can be warded off through copper, urine, dogs, and in some stories, fire.
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The Kóoshdaa káa is the main antagonist in the Bill
Schweigert novel
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McCaffrey, Anne; Scarborough, Elizabeth Ann (26 December 2006).
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Legendary creatures of the indigenous peoples of North
America
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793:"Missing in Alaska (TV Series 2015– ) - Episode list - IMDb"
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Never whistle at night: an
Indigenous dark fiction anthology
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Shamans and
Kushtakas: North Coast Tales of the Supernatural
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Never
Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
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Shamans and
Kushtakas: North Coast Tales of the Supernatural
813:"Alaska Monsters (TV Series 2014– ) - Episode list - IMDb"
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peoples of the
Pacific Northwest Coast of North America.
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in the legend 'War with the Land Otter Men', as well as
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a baby or the screams of a woman to lure victims to the
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They are similar to the 'Watsa of the Tsimshian people,
102:%5B%5BWikipedia%3AArticles+for+deletion%2FKushtaka%5D%5D
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It is also the subject of the Alaskan-set horror novel
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describes a miner's encounter with the Kóoshdaa káa at
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The Kóoshdaa káa is investigated in the 2014 series
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by David Pierdomenico. Kóoshdaa káas also appear in
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in the short story "The Strangest Story Ever Told."
185:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
37:An editor has nominated this article for deletion.
767:Hawk, Shane; Van Alst, Theodore C., eds. (2023).
463:Native Alaskans of South Central Alaska, and the
692:. Random House Publishing Group. pp. 129–.
478:capable of assuming human form, the form of an
609:in episode 10 "Shapeshifters from the River".
601:The Kóoshdaa káa is investigated in the 2015
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689:Maelstrom: Book Two of The Twins of Petaybee
713:Schweigart, Bill (17 November 2015). "25".
148:Learn how and when to remove these messages
771:(1st ed.). New York: Vintage Books.
412:Learn how and when to remove this message
394:Learn how and when to remove this message
245:Learn how and when to remove this message
659:Pierdomenico, David (15 February 2015).
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519:Legends in Wood: Stories of the Totems
439:shape-shifting creatures found in the
330:Please improve this article by adding
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183:adding citations to reliable sources
582:They are also depicted in the book
40:You are welcome to participate in
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719:. Random House Publishing Group.
129:This article has multiple issues.
27:Shapeshifters in Tlingit folklore
529:with the 'Kooshdakhaa Den'; and
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635:The Strangest Story Ever Told
616:in episode 3 "The Otterman".
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332:secondary or tertiary sources
566:The Twins of Petaybee series
740:Beck, Mary Giraudo (2003).
560:(2015). The second book of
274:to comply with Knowledge's
48:whether or not to retain it
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287:may contain suggestions.
272:may need to be rewritten
632:Colp, Harry D. (1953).
513:Kóoshdaa káa appear in
43:the deletion discussion
746:. Graphic Arts Books.
586:by Mary Giraudo Beck.
435:"land otter man") are
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716:The Beast of Barcroft
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577:The Beast of Barcroft
638:. Exposition Press.
535:Raven Stole the Moon
527:Transformation Masks
509:In modern literature
179:improve this article
46:, which will decide
564:'s science-fiction
471:in Western Alaska.
665:. Dap Publishing.
523:Pamela Rae Huteson
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853:Legendary mammals
843:Tlingit mythology
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570:Maelstrom
556:'s novel
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579:(2015).
550:Kushtaka
461:Dena'ina
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