Week Nine: American Indian Fairy Tales

This week, I decided to read the unit entitled, American Indian Fairy Tales. This unit stuck out to me because I had no idea that American Indians had fairy tales in their traditional folklore. I am hoping to learn more about the American Indian culture through this unit, as it is a big part of Oklahoma history as well.

Iagoo, the Story-Teller
The story begins with Iagoo, a wise man who knew and understood many things. He knew about fairy tales and wonders told to him by his grandfather and he won over children with his stories. In the winter, Iagoo would tell many stories and he begins with the first story of how Shin-ge-bis fooled the North Wind. This story is a frame for the rest of the stories to come in the unit.

Shin-ge-bis Fools the North Wind 
This two-part story begins with Ka-bib-on-okka, the North Wind. He lived in the land of ice where no man could live, for it was too cold. Ka-bib-on-okka was no match for Sha-won-dasee, the South Wind. The story progresses with a group of fisherman who knew the North Wind was coming so they worked more quickly. A man, Sin-ge-bis, was a diver of fish and had a happy spirit, as he was always laughing. His friends told him they had to leave, however, he wanted to keep fishing so he turned himself into a duck and kept fishing. His friends never expected to see him again.

Shin-ge-bis Fools the North Wind (cont.)
Shin-ge-bis begins this story by preparing for his fire to keep warm. He learned to catch fish through the ice and sang a song about the North Wind. Ka-bib-on-okka found him and asked who dared to linger in the winter. Shin-ge-bis sang his song again and the wind began to blow more heavily. The snow then covered the tent and kept the cold air out. Ka-Bib-on-okka forced himself into the curtain to where Shin-ge-bis was sitting by the fire. The North Wind began to thaw and shrink. Shin-ge-bis left the tent, believing he could overpower Ka-bib-on-okka and they wrestled all night until Ka-bib-on-okka was conquered, showing that cheerfulness and courage could conquer even the North Wind.

The Little Boy and Girl in the Clouds
The story begins with Iagoo again telling a story to the children. A little girl asked if the mountains had always been here and Iagoo told her that he has always wondered the same thing. He noted that the mountains and hills were made when the world was made and he proceeded to tell the story of the Big Rock that carried a little boy and girl up among the clouds. The story began with a little boy and little girl who lived in a beautiful valley with nothing to fear. All the animals and humans lived in harmony around the river than ran through the valley. There was a shallow pool that seemed especially made for the children and they learned to swim there.

The Little Boy and Girl in the Clouds (cont.)
One summer day, the boy and girl climbed on a big rock and fell asleep. All of a sudden, the rock began to rise and grow until it was taller than the tallest of the trees. Their parents searched in vain, trying to find their children and a coyote told the parents that their children were on the rock. None of the animals could help get the children down except the measuring worm. It took the worm a whole month to reach the top of the rock and he guided the children down safely, showing that even the smallest of animals could be mighty.

The Child of the Evening Star 
This story begins with Gitchee Gumee, a hunter who had ten beautiful daughters. Many men came to court the daughters and brought presents with them until all but one was married. Oweenee was the fairest of all the daughters and was shy and modest. She seemed hard to please but it wasn't their appearance, but the fact that she could look into the hearts of men and tell what really mattered. One day, Osseo, a poor and ugly man came and married Oweenee and her sisters were unhappy. Oweenee saw his heart of gold and her family did not.

The Child of the Evening Star (cont.)
Little did anyone know that Osseo was a beautiful youth who had an evil spell cast on him. He was the son of the King of the Evening Star. Osseo had descended from the beautiful star. One evening, on their way to a wedding, Osseo and Oweenee found an old tree and was transformed into his beautiful self. Then Oweenee turned old and ugly as the enchantment had shifted to her. They loved each other no matter their appearance.

The Child of the Evening Star (cont. again)
Oweenee's sisters could not believe their eyes. They looked enviously at Osseo. Osseo had changed. He was no longer the vibrant soul he once was and was often found gazing at the sky. One evening, he heard the voice of the Evening Star and everything around him changed and Oweenee's beauty was restored. The tent moved upward to the sky and was settled gently on the land of the Evening Star. The King welcomed them into his kingdom.

The Child of the Evening Star (end)
Osseo and Oweenee lived in the kingdom until the evil magician, Wabeno, lost his power. The couple had a son who soon became lonely. He wondered what Earth was like and wanted to leave the kingdom. One day, the son opened the cage in which the sisters, who had been turned into birds, were nesting. He shot the bird with an arrow and it turned into a woman. Soon, the tent descended to Earth and they all danced in the light of the Evening Star.

The Boy Who Snared the Sun
This story begins in a cold and silent winter night. Inside the old Iagoo's tepee, it was warm and a little girl, Morning Glory, and her brother, Eagle Feather were visiting. Suddenly, a mouse crept up and Morning Glory caught him. Iagoo proceeded to tell the story of the Dormouse, the biggest of all the beasts. Iagoo begins the story by noting the world was much different than it once was, as animals used to rule the world instead of men.

The Boy Who Snared the Sun (cont.)
Iagoo's story begins with a young boy and girl who often killed many birds. The sister sewed the skins together and made a coat so they would not freeze in the winter. The boy, only three feet tall, walked until he became tired and fell asleep. The sun caused the coat to shrink, causing the boy to become angry. The boy laid for ten days without moving and then he rose to his feet and told his sister of his plan to catch the sun with a noose. He caught the sun in the noose and held it fast.

The Boy Who Snared the Sun (end)
This story begins back in Iagoo's teepee where Morning Glory asked if he had forgotten about the Dormouse. He noted that he had not forgotten and began to tell the story again. The sun did not rise as normal the first day in his story and the animals knew that something strange as happening. The East Wing came and said that the sun was caught in a snare and noted that one animal must cut the cord. The eagle tried but the sun was too hot. The Dormouse cut through the rope and was singed until he was the size of a tiny mouse, proving the story of how the mouse came to be.

How the Summer Came
This story begins with Morning Glory longing for spring. Iagoo told her to be patient and pointed to the sky, asking the girl if she knew the name of the stars. Eagle Feather knew and said it was the Fisher. Iagoo told the children that there could have been a time with no summer on earth and the Fisher brought the summer down from the sky. The story begins with O-jeeg, a mighty hunter who was very skilled. Many believed that he had magical powers, as he could change himself into the Fisher.

How the Summer Came (cont.)
O-jeeg had a wife and a son who would also be a great hunter. O-jeeg would bring his family food even though the snow never melted. There were some wise men that heard summer was above the sky and one day a red squirrel told the son about summer just above the sky. The boy asked his father to do this dangerous task nearly every day and he planned to climb the tallest mountain, as he heard it could almost touch the sky.

How the Summer Came (end)
This story begins with O-jeeg beginning his long journey to the mountain and stopped at an inn with a giant called Manito. Finally, they reached the foot of the mountain and began to climb. The animals jumped and cracked the sky until one of them disappeared. O-jeeg went up to the sky and saw a beautiful land. The sky people pursued him but he turned into the fisher and ran at top speed. He slowed down and realized that he was stuck in the heavens and said that his son will enjoy the summer. He was to stay in the sky and his name was to be praised.

The Fairy Bride
This story begins with Neen-i-zu, a lovely girl and the daughter of an Indian chief. She often roamed off and came back with eyes as if she had seen strange things. She was called a dreamer and often thought of fairies and little men that were suspected to be in existence. One day, she went to the river and sang a song to the fairies.

The Fairy Bride (cont.)
The last story begins with Neen-i-zu's mother bringing her a hunter to marry. The dreamer saw in her mind fairies in the forest and yearned to go after them. Her mother scolded her for not paying more attention to the hunter and notes that her daughter does not know what is best for her. Neen-i-zu looked like a fairy and often sang her songs until her wedding day to the hunter. Neen-i-zu ran away and was not seen again. She left to go to the fairy world in the Spirit Wood and became a fairy bride, after all.