Anishnabe (Anishinabe) Legends

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

It was spring when the young Anishnibe Warrior came to Community. There was something different about him that many did not understand. With his well spoken ways and the confidence in which he held was something foreign to these people that were of the "Traditional Circle". After several months of being in the community many were afraid to speak with him or considered there to be something wrong with him yet no one could find fault with the way he did things not even the work that he did. This Young man knew very little of the ways of the Circle and so he thought that he would go and learn there ways. Much talk and teachings came from this and he learned very well what was expected of him as a Warrior in the Traditional circle.

After many months of teachings he came back to the Elders to question them concerning the state of community and why it was that so many things were denied the others in the circle. He saw old people, disabled people, mothers that were relying on the Gov. to care for there families as there men were sleeping in someone else's bed, and many more things that bothered him. He was told that he was meddling in the affairs of the community and that this was not an acceptable to the community. It did not seem right to him that only the people that could pick the sacred medicines were allowed to have them and it did not seem right to him that the Elders did not have Eagle Feathers for being elders, yet those that could dance and were young and strong did. He again was told that it was how it had become to be in this community and unless he could think of a better way then that was the way of things.

This Young Warrior did not like it at all and became very irritable over this as it seemed that the ways of the dominant culture were creeping in and that no one understood that the teachings of community are for all and not just the few who can fend for themselves. So he went to his place to ask the Grandmothers and the grandfathers for help in this matter. He knew this was a life or death situation for the community so he placed his gifts down first and then entered lodge, this was a fasting lodge a lodge of need, not like the teaching lodge or the prayer lodge, but one of a different type constructed differently than the others. So he prayed and fasted for many days and so it was that the Grandmother from the Northeast came to him and spoke not a word to him but drew a circle in the center of the lodge and put 4 points on it and told him to go and travel the four directions and you will have your answer that you seek.

The young warrior thanked her for the sacred teaching and left the lodge and offered many more gifts to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. He left the lodge and traveled east first. In the East along a small brook in a clearing sat the Crane and he watched the Crane for a time. When the Crane left he offered again his gifts to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers. When he approached the spot where the Crane was he could smell a very familiar pungent aroma and found that there was a 10 acre field of sweetgrass there nested in the heart of his trap line. He began to pick and harvest the sweetgrass and harvested with care not to pull the roots but to allow it to regrow again next year. He filled up his sled 4 foot high with sweetgrass braids.

He returned back to the people that he saw were in need and passed out all of the sweetgrass to the community. He held nothing back not one blade but gave it all away. He then went to the South and found wild tobacco growing and did the same with the tobacco ties giving it all away saving not one piece for himself to keep He then went to the West and found Sage and did the same and passed it all out to the community saving not one piece for himself. Then he went North and came upon the great Cedar Grandfather and did the same and passed them out once again to community for those that were in need and saved not one piece for himself.

When the Elders questioned why he had done it he said "because everyone is equal and everyone deserves to have what everyone else has. I have nothing but know where to get it because I walked the path of the Grandmothers and Grandfathers and you may believe that if there is need again in this community that I will come again and do the same, you that make yourself great at the woes of others are not great and your Sacred Lodge is an abomination to the Grandmothers and Grandfathers, put your own house in order and then help others to do the same when all houses in community are in order then there will be peace in the lodge and many good prayers will be sent out. I will give one more gift to show this as it was told of me to give". So he again left and went many days to the west to seek the great gifts of the Grandmothers and the Grandfathers. He found a valley with Eagle Feathers in it and again he offered his gifts to the Grandfathers and Grandmothers and came to community and gave the Golden Eagle Feather to community for healing. He gave all of them away saving not one for himself, he gave one to every person the was in need and could not get them for themselves. This last act of defiance against the Elders outraged them to the point of openly speaking out against his gifts.

Then the community powwow came and by chance a young dancer the son of an Elder lost his Eagle Feather in the Circle of dancers, and the cry went out for Veterans to come to return the Spirit of the Eagle to the People with honor. In full Regalia as he was told to wear he stepped forword and took his place in the East with the other Vets. When it came time to be questioned as to who would pick up the feather and give it away again it was found that he was the only Veteran that was also wounded in battle so the honor was his and his alone. When he did pick up the feather, he asked a question of the Elders who was it that he was required to give the Eagle feather to ?

He went to a young girl that was in a wheelchair and gave her the Eagle Feather to keep. I came for community, the one that dances has many she had none, care for what you have or the Grandfathers and Grandmothers will lessen your burden.

This is a true story of the people.

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

How the Fly saved the River

Many, many years ago when the world was new, there was a beautiful river. Fish in great numbers lived in this river, and its water was so pure and sweet that all the animals came there to drink.

A giant moose heard about the river and he too came there to drink. But he was so big, and he drank so much, that soon the water began to sink lower and lower.

The beavers were worried. The water around their lodges was disappearing. Soon their homes would be destroyed.

The muskrats were worried, too. What would they do if the water vanished? How could they live?

The fish were very worried. The other animals could live on land if the water dried up, but they couldn't.

All the animals tried to think of a way to drive the moose from the river, but he was so big that they were too afraid to try. Even the bear was afraid of him.

At last the fly said he would try to drive the moose away. All the animals laughed and jeered. How could a tiny fly frighten a giant moose? The fly said nothing, but that day, as soon as the moose appeared, he went into action.

He landed on the moose's foreleg and bit sharply. The moose stamped his foot harder, and each time he stamped, the ground sank and the water rushed in to fill it up. Then the fly jumped about all over the moose, biting and biting and biting until the moose was in a frenzy. He dashed madly about the banks of the river, shaking his head, stamping his feet, snorting and blowing, but he couldn't get rid of that pesky fly. At last the moose fled from the river, and didn't come back.

The fly was very proud of his achievement, and boasted to the other animals.

"Even the small can fight the strong if they use their brains to think."

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

The Man and the Ravens

There once was a man that enjoyed watching the black Raven's fly around, play, squawk, and chatter. He enjoyed them so much he would climb trees just to be closer to them. For many months the Ravens ignored the man, but after a while, one of the Ravens flew from a nearby tree and landed directly next to the man.

In utter amazement, the bird spoke to the man and asked, "You have been watching us for a long time. You have tried to get close to us. Why do you do this?"

The man replied, "I mean no harm. I have become enchanted with you and all your relatives. I enjoy the play, the squawking, and I wish I could learn your language so I could understand more about you."

Then the Raven responded, "We are honored that you want to know us, as long as you do not cause harm, we will teach you our language."

For many months the Ravens taught the man all about the language and how the Ravens lived from day to day. The man became so educated that he knew everything there was to know about the Ravens. Many of the Ravens saw the man and accepted him as a friend.

One day, an older Raven was flying far over the man, dropped a walnut perfectly on the man's head. It was done on purpose and all the Ravens almost fell off their branches laughing so hard the way they do. One Raven was flying and was laughing so hard he had to crash land right in front of the man.

The man was feeling bad and was hurt by being made fun of, so he asked the Raven in front of him, "Why are you all picking on me."

The Raven stopped laughing and became very serious. "We thought you understood us, but apparently you don't. If you did you would know that we are not mocking you... well maybe a bit, but it is done in our way of having fun. We are 'playing' with you and that is all. It is not to be taken seriously. You should know us better."

The man took sometime to understand this and over time a few more practical jokes were played on the man and he in turn pulled a few "good ones" on the birds. A good time was had by all and the man became even closer to the Ravens.

Then another event occurred. A young Raven swooped out of the sky and pecked the man on the head. Then another young Raven swooped down and did the same thing. The man ran across the field and into the woods but the Ravens kept chasing him and very skillfully they flew at high speeds through the woods tormenting the man. Finally the two stopped and started to yell mean words, fighting words at the man.

Again the man did not understand, but he knew the two Ravens were very mad at him, so he decided to leave and let the Ravens be. The man went away for many months.

As he did his duties in the his tribal village, he told all the people about his adventures and what he learned about the Ravens. Some listened with intent, others just thought the man was a fool to study the Ravens so. The villagers gave the man a new name of "Black Feather" because of his close relationship to the birds, but the man objected and said, "I am no longer close to the Raven people."

From above there was a squawking sound of a single Raven. Some of the people looked up and were surprised that they could understand the Raven, others just looked around because they could hear nothing but squawking. The Raven was speaking to the man and said, "It is true, you are closer to us than any Anishinabe (Human) has ever come. You are close, but you still don't understand us fully. I invite you to return to us, many miss you."

Black Feather started to follow the Raven but then stopped at the edge of the village. He looked around to make sure no other Anishinabe could hear then asked the Raven, "why do you ask me back when the two Ravens where fighting with me and were mean."

"The Raven landed at Black Feathers feet and said, "See how little you understand us. The two young Ravens did not fight with you because you are Anishinabe, it is because they accepted you as a member of the Raven people. You should know that we fight among ourselves too. It is a part of our way of life. Instead of sulking and leaving you should have fought back."

Black Feather stood in silence and said, "There is much about Ravens I don't understand. Maybe we are too different people to ever understand each other. I should stop and return to my people in the village."

The Raven again shook his head and told Black Feather, "That is your choice, but again I tell you that you have come closer to us Raven people than any other Anishinabe. Would you throw this all away just because you can't understand us yet?"

Black Feather responded, "It's useless, how can I ever understand you, I can't even fly!"

A thousand bursts of laughter was heard from all the surrounding trees and Black Feather knew that all the Raven People were there, hiding and listening.

"Of course you can't fly. You are Anishinabe and we are Ravens. But we accept you as one of us. We play with you. We fight with you. We love you and want you back. We also recommend you don't try to fly in order to be like us, because then, you would not be Anishinabe nor a Raven but something else. We like you as an Anishinabe that understands us as Ravens. Join us or not the decision is yours."

Black Feather returned to the Anishinabe village and bid everyone farewell because he had decided to live with the Raven people. After all the farewells and such he started to leave the village. All the Anishinabe people were there to see him off, and high over head was a thousand Raven's.

Then from high above one of the older Ravens dropped a walnut shell and again with remarkable aim, plunked Black Feather right on the head. All the Ravens started laughing hard and all the Anishinabe were laughing too.

Black Feather laughed and looked up at the old Raven and said, "Good one."

Reprinted by permission by the author since 2005, Charles P. Whitedog, Ojibway. email: [e-mail]

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Turtle gets a Shell

It was one of those days when Nanaboozhoo was in a strange mood. He had just awakened from a deep sleep that was disturbed by the noisy quarreling and scolding of the blue jays. He was a bit cranky; his sleep was disturbed and besides that, he was hungry. His first thought was to down to the village and find something to eat.

Entering the village, he came across some men cooking fish. They had their camp located close to the water and Nanaboozhoo spied many fish cooking over a fire. Now, being very hungry, he asked for something to eat. The men were happy to give him some, but cautioned him that is was hot. Not heeding their warning, he quickly grabbed the fish and burned his hand. He ran to the lake to cool it off in the water. Still unsteady from his deep sleep, he tripped on a stone and fell on Mi-she-kae (turtle) who was sunning on the beach. At that time, Mishekae was not as we know her today. She had no shell and was comprised of soft skin and bone.

Turtle complained loudly to Nanaboozhoo to watch where he was going. Now, Nanaboozhoo felt ashamed of his clumsiness and apologized to Mishekae. He wondered, "what can I do to make it up to her?" He wanted to do something to help his friend. "I'll have to sit and think it over,"he thought, as he followed the path back to his wigwam.

Sometime later, he returned to the beach and called for Mishekae. Turtle poked her head through the soft beach mud. Nanaboozhoo picked up two large shells from the shore and placed one on top of the other. He scooped up Mishekae and put her right in the middle, between the shells.

Nanaboozhoo took a deep breath and began. "You will never be injured like that again." he said slowly. "Whenever danger threatens," he continued, "you can pull your legs and head into the shell for protection"

Nanaboozhoo sat beside his friend on the beach and told Mishekae his thoughts. "The shell itself is round like Mother Earth. It was a round hump which resembles her hills and mountains. It is divided into segments, like martyrizes that are a part of her; each different and yet connected by her."

Mishekae seemed very pleased with and listened intently. "You have four legs, each representing the points of direction North, South, East and West." he said. "When the legs are all drawn in, all directions are lost. Your tail will show the many lands where the Anishnabek have been and your head will point in the direction to follow. "You will have advantages over the Anishnabek," he went on. "You will be able to live in the water as well as on land and you will be in your own house at all times."

Mishekae approved of her new self and thanked Nanaboozhoo for his wisdom. Moving now in a thick shell, she pushed herself along the shore and disappeared into the water.

So, ever since that accident long ago, Turtle has been special to the Anishnabek. To this day, she continues to grace Mother Earth, still proudly wearing those two shells.