In ancient times, Chipewyan parents would leave their children at home, using medicine to summon large trees to feed the fire. As the medicine weakened, the branches sometimes harmed the children. On one occasion, a returning mother found her baby’s belly torn and the tree covered in blood. Enraged, she beat the tree, and since then, trees no longer come by themselves.
Source:
Chipewyan Tales
by Robert Harry Lowie
The American Museum of Natural History – Anthropological Papers
Volume X, Part 3
New York, 1912
► Themes of the story
Magic and Enchantment: The trees, animated through medicinal practices, exhibit supernatural characteristics by moving and feeding the fire autonomously.
Conflict with Nature: The unintended consequences of the trees harming children highlight a struggle between humans and the natural elements they’ve attempted to control.
Divine Punishment: The injury inflicted upon the children can be interpreted as a form of retribution for humans overstepping natural boundaries through their medicinal practices.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Chipewyan people
Long ago men and women going off together would sometimes leave their little ones alone at home with a small fire and, by medicine, could send in large trees to feed the fire. But when the medicine got weak, the branches would sometimes hurt the children. Once a woman, returning home, found a baby’s belly torn and the tree covered with blood. She was furious, and began beating the tree. Since then the trees can no more be made to come in by themselves.
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Dreamtime Whispers 