Otter Tales: Stories of the Land Otter Man and Other Spirit Stories based on the Folklore of the Tlingit of Southeastern Alaska

Land Otter Man, aka, The Kushtaka Kushtaka or Kooshdakhaa is a Tlingit word meaning “land otter man.” The Kushtaka is on one hand the nemeses of the Tlingit people, yet necessary to their Shamans who play a critical role in the survival of the Tlingits. The Tlingit people are as mysterious in their beliefs as the Kushtaka, making for strange bedfellows. “Otter Tales- Stories of the Land Otter Man and Other Spirit Stories based on the Folklore of the Tlingit of Southeastern Alaska” is an excerpt from the book, “In Search of the Kushtaka” by Dennis Waller. The purpose of these 10 stories is to serve as an introduction into the myths and legends of the Tlingit People.