Quikinna'qu or Kutkinnaku is a chief deity of the
Koryak mythology, part of the wider
Siberian mythology
A large minority of people in North Asia, particularly in Siberia, follow the religio-cultural practices of shamanism. Some researchers regard Siberia as the heartland of shamanism.Hoppál 2005:13
The people of Siberia comprise a variety of et ...
. Quikinna'qu is depicted as a
shapeshifting
In mythology, folklore and speculative fiction, shape-shifting is the ability to physically transform oneself through an inherently superhuman ability, divine intervention, demonic manipulation, Magic (paranormal), sorcery, Incantation, ...
god or spirit that taught humans to hunt, fish and make fire.
Name
Quikinna'qu and Kutkinnaku are terms of the
Koryak language
Koryak () is a Chukotko-Kamchatkan language spoken by about 1,700 people as of 2010 in the easternmost extremity of Siberia, mainly in Koryak Okrug. It is mostly spoken by Koryaks. Its close relative, the Chukchi language, is spoken by about th ...
, which mean ''big raven''. Quikinna'qu is also known by the names ''Acicenaqu'' which means ''big grandfather'' and ''Tenantomwan'', which means ''creator''.
The name ''Tenantomwan'' is a misnomer, because Quikinna'qu isn't a
creator deity
A creator deity or creator god (often called the Creator) is a deity responsible for the creation of the Earth, world, and universe in human religion and mythology. In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator. A number of monolatris ...
.
Sources
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Siberian deities