A Cree, caught alone, is killed by the Beaver

Source: 
The Beaver Indians
by Pliny Earle Goddard
The American Museum of Natural History – Anthropological Papers
Volume X, Part 4
New York, 1912

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► Themes of the story

Revenge and Justice: The young men seek retribution against the Cree traveler, believing he has harmed their people.

Conflict with Authority: The act of taking justice into their own hands reflects a challenge to established norms or authority.

Tragic Flaw: The traveler’s admission and perceived arrogance lead to his demise, highlighting a personal weakness.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Sub-Arctic Region
    • Dane-zaa Lore

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

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Some young men were out in the caribou country camping and snaring game. They visited their snares frequently. Four young men were out in the morning to look after the snares. When they were coming back they saw one man had passed along wearing round snowshoes. “This must be a Cree and we will kill him,” they said. They hurried after him. He was going toward their camp. He came out on a lake and was walking along ahead. The young men ran after him and caught hold of him. “Tell us what you are going after. Did you ever kill people?” they asked him, “Yes, I have killed people but they weren’t like people. They were bad people. Those are the only ones I have killed,” he replied. He meant the friends of these young men. They stabbed him through the body and put the body in the water. Those young men killed him.