A lone Beaver man encounters a Cree individual who invites him to his nearby camp. The Beaver man waits, constructing a fence and trail. When several Cree arrive, he kills them, including an old woman he enslaves and tortures. He then attacks two blind Cree elders and their young men, killing them all. The story highlights the Beaver man’s formidable prowess.
Source:
The Beaver Indians
by Pliny Earle Goddard
The American Museum of Natural History – Anthropological Papers
Volume X, Part 4
New York, 1912
► Themes of the story
Revenge and Justice: The Beaver man’s actions can be interpreted as acts of vengeance, and the narrative explores the consequences of such retributive justice.
Cunning and Deception: The Beaver man employs deceit to gain the trust of the Cree before betraying and killing them.
Tragic Flaw: The Beaver man’s excessive pride or ruthlessness leads him to commit heinous acts, ultimately defining his character and fate.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Dane-zaa people
A man was walking by himself. A Cree, too, was walking from the opposite direction. When they met they sat down by each other and the Cree said, “Brother-in-law, how far away is your camp? My camp is close by.” “My camp is a long distance away,” the Beaver replied. “While you are waiting for me, break open this beaver house. We will come to you tomorrow morning,” the Cree said. While the Beaver was waiting for him he made a fence and beat down the snow, making a trail. Then while he was making the fence several Cree came there.
The old man, the Beaver, was sitting by the others cutting a pole in two. He tried in vain. “Brother-in-law, break it for me,” he said.
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Just as soon as he broke it he stabbed him and killed him. Among those who were coming up was the father of the young man who was stabbed. As soon as he heard his son scream they all began to rush forward. As they were rushing along the Beaver shot them with arrows. He killed them all not leaving a single one alive. The mother of the Cree was coming along. “I killed your sons here,” he said. “You are not coming here for nothing.” He made a slave of her causing her to suffer terribly. He used to burn her skin. He killed that old woman too. Afterward he took [as slaves] those who had lived with them.
The old man asked if they knew of any people living close by. He was told there were two old blind men who had enough young men to make a war party. “We will go after them,” the old man said. When they came there they saw the winter trail in the snow. “Wait for me here and be making camp while I go there,” the leader said.
He went to the two blind Cree men, took them by the hair and burned their faces in the fire. “I shall stay here in this condition until my young men get back,” one of the old men said. The other old man said the same thing, “I, too, shall remain in the same condition.” Then one of the young men was coming home and the Beaver man ran after him and killed him. He really killed them all. There were very many men but he himself alone killed them all. They say that Beaver was a powerful man.
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