As to the coyote in folklore, it's interesting that almost the same role in Alaska is filled by Raven.

The Raven is the one who found and released Man, who tricked the sun's caregiver into letting him play with the sun and then threw the sun into the sky, so that we now have daylight... lots more.

What I like most about the raven is that s/he/it so obviously enjoys life.

Ebbie