The Matoka Tribe are a group of Native Americans that reside in Earthrealm.
Ikran's theme song: Return to Innocence (Enigma)
Notable Members[]
- Nightwolf (born as Grey Cloud)
Trivia[]
- The Matoka are most likely inspired by the Lakota people, a Native American tribe that exists in real life.
- In an interaction with The Terminator, the latter claims that on his Earth, the tribe was "destroyed and forgotten".
- The Matoka's "Great Spirit" is based after the Sioux's concept of Wakan Tanka, which was the term for the sacred or the divine. It's usually translated as: "The Great Spirit".
Ikran's MK Khronology[]
The Matokans were once Nightwolf's own family and people for many years. That was until sometime in the early 90s when the shaman decided to pursue higher education when he received ridicule from the tribe, as they'd been too touchy sticking with their roots; they only worshipped the Great Spirit and not Raiden nor the other protectors of Earth. Nightwolf then moved away from his sacred land within the East Coast and even trained Shujinko on removing his taint in his soul, even finding and raising Kiba as a pup.
Despite his sudden "desertion," the Matokans' ancestors were still proven useful, especially when Earthrealm was under attack by Shao Kahn and his fatal extermination squads! He even briefly visited the tribe's land as he protected it from the invasions, as Raiden took Lao and Aiko there as a rendezvous point for all the heroes; unfortunately, it was only the main trio where the tribesmen were a bit picky, Still, Nightwolf and Kiba went to their old teepee as he granted the duo their Animalities as a cheetah and Ankylosaurus respectively. His ancestors' spirits got him far whether it'd be his soul weapons or deflection of projectiles, or even empowering Liu Kang at times against the Emperor, even protecting his heart from Shinnok during his invasion! Or, if the shaman needed to protect his and his allies' souls from the Deadly Alliance, Onaga and Blaze!
It wasn't until March 1996 that Nightwolf received a spiritual message, possibly from his ancestors, that the Matoka's last born shall be given her tribe's name. The shaman decided to go back to his former home, as did Raiden, even the Champions Liu and Lao out of sheer curiosity!
After the war of Shinnok, Nightwolf had come to the theory that the Great Spirit may have been Raiden as prominent protector, though it was soon theorized it could be the One Being, till he was vanquished; so, it would've been the Thunder God all along.
Still, the Matoka hadn't brought up nor visited ever again for the next few years. That was until Nightwolf received a spiritual message concerning their last born to have his own tribal name. Raiden, out of curiosity, actually visited the sacred land and then passed on the news. Since they were accepting modern taste upon the kid's father being a documentarist, they'd actually welcome them. Nightwolf and Raiden decided to help out his old tribe and also rekindle their family dynamic; Liu Kang and Kung Lao joined in out of curiosity and intrigue! Aiko decided to stay for the 5-day preparations as she was too sensitive to the aboriginal customs, as mentioned by Raiden when Lao and Aiko first visited.
Matokan camp based on the Crow camp of Montanna
While there, the youngest one, aka the Fortunate One mentioned by Fujin, became fascinated as he watched a spar between the two Chinese warriors. He wished to be a warrior much like them when he grows up. It wasn't long until the hot dance summons started, and the quartet were mingled with the tribe at an open plain. They each became deeply engrossed as they came to the camp. Nightwolf and Kiba awaited the father prepping him applying him paint and the patterns' significance and his wardrobe. After his emergence the tribe chanted and began the ceremony; as if in a trance, Kung Lao and soon Liu Kang became deeply enthralled. That was until Aiko's heart gems ignited and sparkled in their possession, knocking them out of their trance. Lao recollected his thoughts that it was the last day and yearned to see Aiko, but not until Raiden reminded him to see the adoption thru; it'd still be hard to say farewell to them, as the boy became interested in the Shaolin. Raiden promised the Matoka shall be one of their closest allies from now on.