The book Old Indian Legends, written by Yankton Dakota author Zitkala-Sa, is a compilation of Sioux folktales. She wished to keep alive the folktales of her people. This book is made up of 14 legends, according to the University of Virginia Library Electronic Text Center. In her book, Zitkala-Sa argues that stories have a significant role in both American society and American Indian culture. She hoped that through sharing these tales, Americans would be inspired to learn more about American Indians and be reminded of "the wonderful brotherhood of mankind. "An unlucky trickster character named Iktomi, a spider fairy, appears in the first five legends. Iktomi and the ducks Iktomi befriends a flock of dancing ducks and plays music to deceive them into dancing in such a way that their necks.