A man scares off the Cree with a gun

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

Cunning and Deception: The old man devises a clever plan to use his limited resources effectively, deceiving the Cree into believing he poses a greater threat.

Conflict with Authority: The story involves a confrontation between the man’s community and the attacking Cree, representing a struggle against an opposing force.

Guardian Figures: The elderly man acts as a protector for his people, taking decisive action to safeguard them from harm.

► 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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They were living there when one of them felt there was something wrong. He asked the people to keep good watch. The next morning the Cree attacked them. This old man had one gun and four bullets. His tipi was the last one in the row. When the Cree were coming there he fired the gun. He had planned what he would do. He killed the Cree who was running ahead and the others ran back. The Cree thought he had a gun and were afraid. That was a tough old man. They say he wintered on his flesh.

The old man had found the gun with four bullets lying beside it at a place where some people had been killed. He had kept it without firing it and now he killed a man with it. Then they say the old man had the use of it.