GAMBLING GOD (Nááhwíilbiihí, Noqoilpi, The Great Gambler) Navajo (Dineh)

A god who loved to gamble. When Gambling God came onto the Earth, he found that the humans living here were prosperous, so he became determined to win their property. He challenged the people to games of chance, strength, and skill. Not knowing that Gambling God had the power to turn luck his way, the people accepted his challenge.

Soon the god had won not only their property but their women and children as well, and even some of the men. The other gods disapproved of this behavior, so they sent NILCH’I (WIND) to defeat him. Disguised, Nilch’i challenged
Gambling God to a contest for the property he had won. Nilch’i won the contest, set the human captives free, and returned their property. Nilch’i then used a bow to shoot Gambling God into the sky, all the way to the Moon.

Gambling God went to BEGOCHÍDÍ for help and was granted new animals and a new people to rule. Begochídí then sent Gambling God back down to Earth, where he lived and ruled in what is now Mexico.

SOURCE:

Native American Mythology A to Z – ( first edition ) – Written by Patricia Ann Lynch – Copyright © 2004 by Patricia Ann Lynch