Fournier’s grandfather’s supernatural power

In midwinter, a Beaver tribe faced starvation near Hay River. A surviving group sought help from a renowned medicine man, who vowed to ensure his relatives would never struggle to find game. He erected a painted medicine pole and sang, causing a thunderstorm and heavy snowfall. The snow buried the moose, leaving only their heads exposed, making them easy prey. As the snow melted, flooding allowed beavers to gnaw the tops of tall cottonwood trees along Hay River.

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

Magic and Enchantment: The medicineman’s ritual invokes supernatural forces to alter the environment, demonstrating the influence of higher powers in mortal affairs.

Conflict with Nature: The community faces the challenges of starvation due to harsh winter conditions and scarcity of game, highlighting their struggle against natural forces.

Sacred Spaces: The creation and use of the medicine pole serve as a focal point for the ritual, indicating a location of spiritual significance.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Obtained in English from Fournier through John Bourassa. The informant was in his grandfather’s camp and remembers this incident well.

The informant’s father’s father was a great medicineman. A party of Beaver were traveling in midwinter beyond Hay River toward the Rocky Mountains. A band had been separated from the main party and through bad luck in hunting the men had all starved. The surviving women and children came to the grandfather’s camp. The old man, displeased because some of his relatives in this band had died, said he would make medicine so that none of his relatives would have trouble in killing all the game they wanted to eat. He made a medicine pole, painted it, and set it up. He had a man stand beside the pole and made it as high as the man. He then began to sing, and although it was the middle of the winter it thundered and began to snow. The snow fell until it was as high as the top of the pole. Then they could kill all the game they needed. Just the heads of the moose were sticking out of the snow and they could be killed with spears. When the snow melted the water was so high that the beaver gnawed the tops of the tallest Cottonwood trees along Hay River.

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A magician escapes the Cree by turning into a buffalo

An elderly man remains in his lodge, singing medicine songs, unaware of an attack by the Cree. As the Cree approach, they find only a buffalo ready to charge, which frightens them away. The buffalo is revealed to be the old man, who had transformed to escape harm. He had intended to rejuvenate himself by making new teeth and becoming young again.

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

Trickster: He uses cunning and his magical abilities to outsmart the Cree warriors.

Rebirth: The narrative touches upon the concept of rejuvenation, as the old man plans to make himself young again.

Conflict with Authority: The story depicts a confrontation between the individual (the old man) and an opposing force (the Cree).

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

There were many people living together. Among them was an old man who was going to make new teeth for himself. While the Beaver were camped there for him the Cree came and attacked them. The other people all ran away but that old man did not get up. He was singing his medicine songs and did not know the Cree had come there. They went off after the Beaver but did not kill them. When the Cree came back they heard a man singing. They went to him. The old man was in a lodge. He pushed the poles up high so that he could be seen. There was no man there only a buffalo which was about to attack them. They were afraid of him. The buffalo was the old man.

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He had one child. “I will make my teeth come again,” he said. That is why they had made a camp for him. He had said he would make himself a young man again. They say that is the way they used to do. When old age was going to kill them they used to rejuvenate themselves in a lodge.

A magician spends a winter in a lake

A man, believing in his supernatural abilities, requests to be placed in a sack and submerged in a lake through an ice hole. He remains underwater throughout the winter, surviving until the snow melts, when he is retrieved alive. Others who attempted this feat often perished, indicating that only those with significant supernatural power could endure such trials.

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

Magic and Enchantment: The man’s belief in his supernatural powers and his survival suggest influence beyond the natural realm.

Trials and Tribulations: Enduring an entire winter submerged in a lake represents a significant test of endurance and faith in his abilities.

Conflict with Nature: The act of immersing oneself in a frozen lake for an extended period highlights a direct confrontation with natural elements.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

A man was put in a sack which was then lowered into a lake through a hole which had been cut in the ice. The man to whom it was done had said, “Do that to me.” He thought he had supernatural power to endure that. The others kept watch while he sat in the water all winter until the snow was nearly melted. They saw he was still alive and took him out.

Some who tried to do that died and others lived. Those who were not very powerful supernaturally, died. Many who did such things to each other died. Before white people came there was no sickness. At first they died only when they were using supernatural power on each other.

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A magician cuts his throat with impunity

Two men, sharing a wife, decide to test their supernatural powers by beheading each other. The first man survives decapitation unharmed, but when the second man attempts the same, he fails to restore himself and seeks help. The first man heals him, revealing their unequal abilities. This story highlights themes of hubris and the limits of one’s power.

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

Supernatural Beings: The protagonists possess supernatural abilities, allowing them to survive otherwise fatal injuries.

Trials and Tribulations: The men undergo a dangerous test to prove their powers, facing life-threatening challenges.

Cunning and Deception: The story involves elements of testing and outwitting death through supernatural means.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

There was a man who had great supernatural power. The man with whom he shared a wife said to himself, “I, too, am just the same sort.” Thinking they would test their power they decided to cut off each other’s heads. The first man had his head cut off but he did not die. Then his companion cut his throat. He tried in vain to fix it again. He drew his hand across his throat twice but it made no difference. He was unable to restore himself. He went to his companion and said, “I thought I was the same kind as you but I am not.” Then his partner called him to him and put his hand on his throat. After that he got well. They lived all right. They were only testing themselves. At first before there were any white people, the Indians were powerful men. They secured their livings by means of supernatural power. That was when they used to wear leather.

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The equally matched magicians

Two rival magicians transform into a bear and a buffalo, respectively, to confront each other. Realizing they are equally matched and unable to gain an advantage, they exchange remarks about each other’s perceived weaknesses. Recognizing their equality in power, they decide to make peace and become friends.

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

Cunning and Deception: Each individual uses transformation as a tactic, possibly to gain an advantage over the other.

Moral Lessons: The story imparts a lesson about the futility of jealousy and the value of recognizing equality, leading to reconciliation.

Community and Isolation: The narrative begins with one man isolating himself due to jealousy, which ultimately leads to a confrontation and subsequent reconciliation, reflecting themes of estrangement and reunion within a community.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

The people were jealous of each other and because of that one man had camped alone. A party of Indians started to go to this man’s camp, but when they came within sight of it the man who was jealous of him said he would go to the camp alone. He started toward it changing himself into a bear when he came near. The people saw him as he was running along and warned the man for whom he was coming that his enemy was approaching. When the man heard what was said he turned himself into a buffalo and jumped out. They met each other; the one a buffalo and the other a bear. Neither could get the advantage over the other because they were afraid of each other.

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Then the man who was a buffalo spoke to the man who was a bear saying, “Your food is so short you are saying to yourself, ‘What can I do?’ and that way you run toward me.” The bear too, said to the buffalo, “You, too, because your teeth are short you are saying to yourself, ‘What can I do?’ That is the matter with you.” They were both alike in power and immediately made friends.

The redeeming of a doomed man

A man attempts to harm another using supernatural power, declaring he will go no further than a white patch of soil. The targeted man encounters an old figure at this spot, who urges him to retrieve his belongings. Upon learning of this, his father-in-law confronts the old man, offering an otterskin to negotiate his son-in-law’s safety, ultimately saving his life through supernatural means.

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

Sacrifice: The father-in-law offers an otterskin to the underground person to save his son-in-law’s life, symbolizing a personal sacrifice.

Supernatural Beings: The narrative includes an “underground person” with supernatural abilities, highlighting interactions with otherworldly entities.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts a lesson on the importance of courage and the protective role of family members.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

One time the people were having a bad quarrel and because of it one man tried to injure another through his supernatural power. “There is no one stronger than I and because of that you will go no further than that patch of white soil,” he said of the man he wished to injure. The man went hunting and came to a white patch of soil. [The Beaver seers refer to winter as the white patch and summer as the dark patch; winter may have been the original meaning here and the Indian informant has wrongly construed it.] An old man sitting there said to the man as he came near him, “Quick, go back and get your personal property.” The man started back for his property. “Hurry,” he called after him.

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The man came back to his camp and was tying up his things, when his father-in-law asked what he was going to do with his property. “A man who was sitting in front of me told me to come back to him quickly and I am doing it,” replied the son-in-law. “You did not used to be afraid of a man’s mind. Pay no attention to what he said. Sit here and I will go to him,” the father-in-law said.

He took an otterskin and started away to the place where the man was sitting. When he came to the white spot, and the man sitting there saw him, he called out, “Am I nobody that I call a man and you come instead?” “Well, let him alone anyway,” he said. He made a trade with him for the otterskin and left him.

They say the old man did that. He bought off his son-in-law who was about to be killed. That man was an underground person. They say the old man saved his son-in-law’s life by his supernatural power.

The giant beaver and muskrat

The story tells of a giant man who attempts to hunt a massive beaver. After spotting the beaver under a frozen lake, he drives it back to its lodge and kills it. Discovering unborn young inside, he releases them into the water to calm the restless ice. The tale also mentions a muskrat that reacts to passing canoes, though it no longer does so.

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

Mythical Creatures: The presence of giant animals, such as the beaver and muskrat, indicates encounters with beings beyond ordinary experience.

Sacrifice: The man releases the beaver’s offspring into the water to calm the ice, suggesting a form of offering to restore balance.

Harmony with Nature: The act of releasing the young beavers to calm the ice reflects an understanding of and attempt to maintain balance within the natural world.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Said to have happened on Great Slave Lake. Stories of giants in the north are common; the particular incident explains a local hill as is indicated in the last sentence.

At first they say there was a large man who chiseled for a large beaver. He worked in vain for he could not kill it. He could not find its track anywhere nearby. He went out on the large frozen lake and saw the beaver walking along under the ice. He tapped on the ice and drove the beaver back into its house where he killed it. She had young ones in her and because of that the ice would not remain quiet. He cut the mother open, took out the young ones, and put them in the water. The ice then became quiet. That was why he did it. They say both the man and the beaver were giants. The beaver house is still standing.

Out to the east where there are no trees, away from the country in which beaver are found, there used to be a muskrat. If a canoe passed by, the muskrat would hear it. They say one did not speak when he paddled by the place. It is not long since someone in passing there felt the water move. He is not there now and since he is gone they do not feel the water move.

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The Earth recovered by diving

In this Dane-zaa creation myth, birds inhabited a world covered entirely by water. Seeking land, they attempted to dive beneath the water’s surface but failed. A small bird named Xak’ale succeeded, resurfacing with earth under his fingernails. From this earth, land and trees emerged, leading to the world’s formation.

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

Creation: The story explains how the world, specifically the land, was formed from the water.

Origin of Things: It provides an explanation for the existence of land and trees, detailing their emergence from the water through the efforts of the bird Xak’ale.

Mythical Creatures: The bird Xak’ale, who possesses the unique ability to dive deep and retrieve earth, can be seen as a mythical figure within this context.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

In reply to questions it was learned that the earth is believed to have disappeared during a deluge from which certain people saved themselves by turning into waterbirds. The deluge was caused by the melting of the snow which accumulated during four summerless years. The incident of diving for the earth is very widespread in North America.

At first there was no land and no people, nothing but birds living on the water. They were the only living things. They came together at a certain place and one of them said, “I wonder where the land is?” They were looking for land without success. One of them tried to find land at the bottom of the water, but did not succeed. They all tried, but were not able to find it.

One of them, named Xak’ale, also dived into the water saying he would look for land. He went down disappearing from sight. He was gone a long time and when he came up, he was on his back vainly trying to breathe. He breathed a little and said, “Look here under my finger nails.” They looked under his nails and found some earth there which they took out. Xak’ale who brought the land up was small.

Trees grew again on the land which was taken from the water and the earth was made again. They say birds did this and the one who succeeded was named Xak’ale.

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Watc’agic kills the dancing birds

A man with birds as brothers encounters a flock and offers to share his songs if they dance with their eyes closed. As he drums, the birds dance blindly, allowing him to secretly kill them one by one. The man remains unafraid, knowing all animals are his kin.

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

Trickster: The protagonist employs cunning and deceit to outsmart the birds, convincing them to dance with their eyes shut, which leads to their demise.

Conflict with Nature: The man engages in a struggle against natural creatures, in this case, the birds, resulting in their death.

Moral Lessons: The tale may serve as a cautionary story about trust and the potential dangers of deception.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Once a man who had all kinds of birds for his brothers was traveling. He came along where there were very many birds about. When they saw this man carrying something on his back one of them asked, “Brother, what are you carrying?” “They are my songs,” he replied. “Sing them for us, brother; and we will dance,” said the bird. “Those who dance to my songs must keep their eyes shut,” the man said. “We will do as you say,” the birds agreed. “Wait, I will build a dancing camp for you,” the man said. When he had the camp ready he said, “Now, come on and dance.” The man was drumming for the birds who were dancing with closed eyes. He was wringing the necks of the birds without the other birds discovering it. There were many of them and he killed them all. That man was not afraid of anything because all the animals were his brothers.

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A man turns into a squirrel and escapes from a bear

A man is pursued by a large bear and seeks refuge in a tree. When the bear climbs after him, the man transforms into a squirrel, leaps to another tree, and descends safely. He then gathers wood, ignites a fire at the base of the bear’s tree, causing the bear to burn and fall. The man reverts to his human form and escapes unharmed.

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

Transformation: The protagonist undergoes a physical change by turning into a squirrel to escape the bear.

Conflict with Nature: The man faces a life-threatening encounter with a bear, representing a struggle against natural forces.

Cunning and Deception: The man uses cleverness to outwit the bear, first by transforming and then by setting a trap.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

A man lay down for the night by a river where there was a trail with the prints of animals’ feet. He heard a big noise made by a large bear. He ran to it and then he ran away from it. There was nothing he could do and he could not get away from the bear. He climbed a tree and the bear jumped up and climbed until he was not far below him. The bear was so big and fat he could not climb higher and he would not go away. The man was worn out for sleep and he could not go down for he was afraid of the bear which was watching him. “What can I do?” he said to himself. He turned himself into a squirrel and jumped far over to another tree which was standing there.

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He ran to the trunk of that tree and went down without the bear which was sitting high up in the tree knowing it. The man gathered many knots and brought them on his back to the foot of the tree and set them on fire. The fire shot high up the tree and set it on fire. The bear was big and could not do anything. He began to burn and fell down. He became a man again and ran off. That is the way he avoided being killed.