A man and his wife are saved by lightning

A young married man is coerced by strangers into traveling to their distant land, where he faces starvation. They plan to kill him and take his wife, but he gives her a small piece of wood, instructing her to hold onto it. Lightning strikes, killing the strangers but sparing the wife. The couple endures a challenging journey home, surviving on beaver and bear meat.

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

Conflict with Authority: The man is coerced by an unfamiliar group, highlighting a struggle against oppressive forces.

Divine Intervention: The lightning strike that eliminates the antagonistic group can be seen as an act of divine intervention, saving the protagonists.

Trials and Tribulations: The couple endures significant hardships, including abduction, starvation, and a perilous journey back home.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Some people came by who were not known. They took a fancy to a young married man and invited him to accompany them. He refused emphatically but when they insisted he went away with them. They were people who lived a long way off and he went with them a great distance to their country.

When they got there the young man began to starve. There was nothing he could do. He became weak. There was no meat and they gave him nothing to eat. He got so weak he walked with difficulty. “Well, never mind,” they said, “he will die. We will cross the large lake. The wind is very strong and cold against a man’s face. Let the cold kill him.”

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“We will take his wife,” they were saying to themselves. “Do not stay here,” they told her, “Go away. Do not wait for him. If you wait for him, you too will die.” They gave the man a piece of wood about four inches long. He did not take it but gave it to his wife. “If something happens suddenly do not let go of it,” he said to her. The woman moved her tipi.

The people could still be seen on the lake when the lightning struck among them. Not a flake of snow was left. There were many of the people and of them not one dark spot was left. The lightning had killed them all. There was just one dark speck out on the ice. The young man hurried out to see what it was. It was his wife and she was breathing a little. He took her back to his camp. There seemed to be no hope of their living, for their country was far away. “Although things are as they are, we will start back and go as far as we can before we die,” he said. They started back with nothing but their bare hands. With nothing to live on they were helpless. They were beginning to die of starvation when they suddenly came to an old beaver house. “I will set a net in the water for beaver,” he said to himself. “Make a fire and wait some place nearby for me,” he told his wife. He caught two beaver. They started back and traveled far with this food they had secured. When the beaver meat was gone and they were starving again they came where a large bear was lying. With that for food they came back until they reached their own land where there were small birds which served for food until they got back home. It was hard for them but they lived through it. Those people were like human beings but their only food was the flesh of foxes. [The informant said a tribe known as “Fox-eaters” used to live toward the south. The distance is indicated by the amount of food consumed by them, which the informant thought ought to have been sufficient for a very long journey.] The others were not accustomed to foxes and the flesh was tough for them.

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Two brothers escape the enemy by flight

Two brothers camped together, despite ominous dreams. Spotting approaching Cree enemies, they fled, with the older brother insisting on carrying a roasted beaver for sustenance. After three days of pursuit, they managed to escape, ate the beaver, and regained their strength, ultimately finding safety.

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

Trials and Tribulations: The brothers face the challenge of evading their pursuers over an extended period, testing their endurance and resolve.

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationship between the two brothers, highlighting their cooperation and differing perspectives during their escape.

Cunning and Deception: The brothers employ their wits and strategies to outmaneuver the Cree and ensure their survival.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Once there were two brothers who were camping together. They were not having good dreams. “We better not do as we are doing,” one of them said. “We are doing all right here,” the other replied. “We will roast the beaver and eat it, and remain here until the snow melts.” The older brother looked around and then said to his younger brother, “You say we are in a good place. What is that over there?” He looked and saw there were Cree in the direction they were going. “What shall we do?” asked the older brother. “I will carry the beaver,” he said. “We will run away,” said the older one. “Never mind the beaver, throw it away,” the younger one said. “Well, if we get out of this alive it will be hard to get along without meat. I will carry it over there,” the older brother said.

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They ran off and the Cree chased them. They could not get away from the Cree who came up to them and were about to kill them. The younger brother was usually able to run very fast but he could not run like that now. “He will be killed; he is clumsy with fright,” the older brother said to himself. His legs were pounding together with fear. Then he ran like a moose and got some distance from the Cree. “You carry this beaver,” the older brother said. “Never mind it, we will throw it away,” the younger brother replied. “Do not do that. Carry it,” he insisted. Then he consented to carry it and they ran away from the Cree nevertheless.

After they had been running three nights they made a camp and slept. They roasted the beaver and ate it. After that they lived happily again. They were very tired but after they had eaten they were all right again.

Torturing the enemy

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

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

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.

A young man tries to escape the responsibility of parenthood

In a time of scarcity, a young man persuades his father to camp separately from their group. Despite initial doubts, the young man successfully hunts two moose, providing for his family. Later, he rejoins the main group and faces criticism over a woman, leading him to return to his father’s camp. Unbeknownst to him, he has fathered a child, whom his mother eagerly accepts, hoping the child will become a hunting partner for her son.

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

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the relationships within a family, highlighting the young man’s attempt to escape his role as a parent and his parents’ willingness to assume responsibility for their grandchild.

Conflict with Authority: The young man’s decision to abandon his parental duties can be seen as a challenge to societal and familial expectations regarding responsibility and duty.

Community and Isolation: The young man’s actions lead to a form of isolation as he distances himself from his familial and societal roles, contrasting with the communal approach of his parents.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

The people were very hungry. It seemed as if they would not live. They had made a cache and were going to that. When they were not yet in sight of it, the son of an old man suggested they camp about alone. “We cannot do that,” his father said, “we shall die.” The young man insisted that they camp by themselves. “Are you able to keep the fire pushed together if we do as you say? ‘ the father asked his son. “Yes, I will keep the fire pushed together,” the son promised. “Well, start off in the direction you want to go,” the father said. The young man started off and left a big pile of wood as a sign of the place where they were to camp. “Why do not you look after things? You said you would keep the fire pushed together. What is the matter?” his father said.

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“You said you would push the fire together. You do not act like a man. My children would be fed at the cache and now, because you talked that way, I fear they will die,” the old man said. The young man took the snares and set two for moose. Before long the snares made a noise and two moose had been caught. The old man moved the camp to them. “Father, I am going ahead where the other people are,” the young man said. “Do not go,” his father said, but the boy insisted he would go there.

He started off and came where the other people were. They scolded him because of a woman. Soon after that he went back to his father’s camp. The old man was on ahead. A woman had given birth to a child of which he was the father. “My grandchild,” the woman said, “I wonder whose it is?” “I guess it is that young man’s child,” someone said. The old man’s wife asked if it was a boy. “Yes, it is a boy,” they told her. “Go after him quickly,” the old woman said. “I will raise it. I have one child and this one will be his partner and they will hunt together.”

The rival husbands

A strong man takes another’s wife but fails to provide for her and her children. The original husband, though poor, eventually hunts successfully, bringing back meat for his starving children. The stronger man, unable to match this feat, returns the wife, acknowledging his inadequacy. This story highlights themes of true capability and responsibility.

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

Love and Betrayal: The narrative centers on a man who takes another’s wife, leading to complex interpersonal dynamics and feelings of betrayal.

Family Dynamics: The story highlights the struggles of a father striving to provide for his children amidst challenging circumstances.

Cunning and Deception: One character deceives others by pretending to have hunted successfully, using blood from his nose and arranged pine brush to simulate a kill.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Once there was a man who, although poor was strong. There was a married man, camped by himself who was not so strong. Having lost his wife to the stronger man, he said to himself, “Why is it he does not kill anything? They will kill my children.” He continued living with them in the same camp. The man who had taken the wife away hunted a good deal but did not kill anything. Although the children were about to die of starvation he paid no attention to them. The other man who had always been poor hunted but did not kill anything. Finally, the grandmother of the children said to her son-in-law, “It seems as if your children will starve. Why do you not do something about it?” “Well, get my arrows out,” he replied to his mother-in-law.

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He hunted along one side of the road until he came to a band of caribou. He killed them all and carried a large quantity of the meat back with him for the children. The poor man who shared the camp with him had said he would move the camp to a considerable distance. The father went back to the road which he followed. He had already passed the new camp. They had not gone further than he had in hunting. Suddenly, he saw the tent standing in front of him. He put the load down outside and went in without it. “Mother-in-law, you will find some partridge dung over there from which you can make some soup for the children,” he said. “I brought it for that purpose; bring it inside.” His partner spoke up, “I saw it lying there and left it. Do not get it, for my children will choke on it.” The old woman brought the load in, and when the other man saw it was meat he was much pleased. They went for the remainder of the meat.

The other man went away hunting the next morning and came home in the evening. His leggings were covered with frozen blood. He did not bring back meat but said they would go for it in the morning. When they came where he claimed to have killed the animals it was apparent the caribou had run away from him. The blood on his leggings was from his nose. He had broken pine brush and covered it with snow thinking it would be mistaken for caribou carcasses. “What is the matter; it is nothing but pine brush. He said it was caribou meat,” the father of the children said when he saw it.

They went back and the man who had taken the wife away gave her back, for he concluded he was not capable enough around the camp to have the responsibility of a wife. They say he was that kind of a man.

This happened when they were wearing breechcloths of skin.

A man wins his faithless wives by wrestling

An elderly chief with two wives struggled to provide food during a harsh winter. Suspecting his wives were mistreating him, he discovered they had left him for another man. Determined, the chief tracked them down and challenged their new husband to a wrestling match. Proving his superior strength, he defeated the rival and reclaimed his wives.

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

Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the complex relationships within a family, highlighting issues of loyalty and betrayal between the husband and his wives.

Trials and Tribulations: The protagonist faces significant challenges, including abandonment and the struggle to reclaim his family, which he overcomes through personal effort.

Revenge and Justice: The old man seeks to restore his honor and rightful place by confronting and defeating the man who took his wives, serving as a form of personal justice.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

There was an old man who was highly respected and the chief of his band. He had two wives. They were starving, for although he was trying to secure beaver he did not succeed in killing any. He thought the women were starving but wondered at the way they were treating him. Occasionally he killed a small beaver. He would give it to the women and ask them to cook it for him. “Take it up away from the water,” he would tell them. They would leave only the shoulder of the beaver for him. The old man ate only that. “I think they are trying to starve me,” he said to himself. Wondering what they were planning to do, he went to bed. In the morning the two women got up. “Get up,” they told the old man, “what is the matter? You never acted this way before.”

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The two women went off and left him. The old man pretended he was trying hard to get up. “They are alive all right I guess but mean,” he said to himself.

He remained there all winter alone. When the snow was all melted he started off in the direction the women had gone. They had both married the same man. The man they had married was also a strong man. “I will go and see my wives’ other husband,” the old man said.

His rival was not far away. He came to him and they began to wrestle. The man who had taken the women away was thrown down for the other man was the stronger. They say the first man was called, “Strong Man.” The other one was strong. He left the man saying, “You wanted them; marry them.” He went off and began to chisel for beaver with a moose horn. This happened before there were any white people.

An old man escapes a plot only to be killed in revenge

An elderly man living alone with his young wife survives an assassination attempt by a young hunter who desires his wife. The old man kills the hunter in self-defense and flees, seeking refuge among strangers. Unbeknownst to him, these strangers are the hunter’s relatives. Upon learning of his deed, they exact revenge by killing the old man.

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

Love and Betrayal: The young man’s proposal to the old man’s wife and her implicit acceptance represent betrayal within a relationship.

Revenge and Justice: The old man’s act of killing the young man in self-defense leads to his own death at the hands of the young man’s relatives, highlighting cycles of retribution.

Tragic Flaw: The old man’s decision to share his story with strangers, who turn out to be the young man’s relatives, leads to his demise.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

There was one old man who camped by himself, living on rabbits which he was taking in snares. He had a wife who was a young girl. A young man who was living with some strange Indians was out hunting and came to the woman. He told her that he would kill the old man when he was out looking after his snares. “If I kill him I will marry you,” he told her. When the old man went out to look after his snares the young man went in the same direction. He watched for him behind some willows which were covered with snow. A rabbit had been snared and was hanging high up on the spring pole. When the old man stretched up to pull it down with a wooden hook he carried, the young man shot him. The old man jumped up and the arrow went under him.

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The old man rushed after the young man who tried in vain to run away. He caught him and killed him.

Because the young man had many relatives the old man ran off. He came to some people who were living far away whom he did not know. They were the relatives of the young man he had killed. He was telling them his experiences when they broke in on him saying, “You are telling us about our youngest brother whom you have killed. We were wondering who killed him and it turns out to be you.” They killed the old man, although he was very pitiful.

A man avenges his son-in-law

A group of Beaver Indians embarked on a war expedition but found no enemies and decided to return home. On their way back, they discovered the severed head of a friend, killed by the Cree. Realizing his son-in-law was missing, a chief found his body nearby. In retaliation, the chief infiltrated a Cree camp alone and killed everyone. His party then attacked another Cree camp, leaving no survivors. Later, they encountered another Cree war party; only one Beaver man survived to tell the tale.

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 father-in-law seeks retribution for the death of his son-in-law by attacking and killing the Cree responsible.

War and Peace: The story involves conflict between different groups, detailing war expeditions and battles.

Tragic Flaw: The father-in-law’s overwhelming anger leads him to kill all members of the opposing camps, which may suggest a lack of restraint as his tragic flaw.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

A party of Indians went on a war expedition. The strange people for whom they went were not found, and the party turned back. When they came out on a lake there was a black spot in the distance. They thought wolves might have killed a caribou, and ran to it saying they would eat the marrow. One man outran the others and came to it. It was a man’s head. The Cree had killed a man, one of their friends. They went up to the shore to a camp where many people were sitting. One of them was the chief who had a son-in-law living there. They counted the people and found the son-in-law was missing. “He has run away. He had no moccasins with him and has frozen to death somewhere. Look around the edge of the camp,” his father-in-law said.

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They found he had left the camp at a certain point and they followed after him. They found his body lying not very far away. His father-in-law just looked at him and since there was nothing he could do he left him.

They followed those Cree and came up to them where they had returned to their tipis which were grouped in two camps. There were many tipis. The father-in-law, indicating the place where the tipis were most numerous, said he would go there alone. He went there by himself and killed them all; not one was left alive. Then he cried. Because he was angry the entire party went to the other camp and killed them all.

They went home and came down to the lake again. The Cree were there again. That too was a war party. They were sitting there by their hooks and did not know anyone was about. One of them was not getting any fish. “I wonder what is the matter?” he said to himself. “I guess it is because the water is too shallow. I will make a hole in the ice further out.” He went out to another place where a man was sitting by his hook. The Beaver coming up to him thought it was one of his own people, but it was really a Cree. It was snowing hard when he came up to him. “My brother-in-law you will soon kill fish,” he said to him. There was a spear lying beside the Cree who took it up, thinking it was not a relative. He too had been carrying an ice chisel and killed the Cree with it. He ran away without telling his relatives who were all killed by the Cree. He was the only one to escape to his home alive.

A woman agrees to betray her sons to the Cree

A widow with three sons is visited by a Cree band. They threaten to kill her unless she agrees to keep their plan to attack her sons secret, promising her a husband in return. She consents, but her youngest son overhears her anticipation of their demise. The brothers decide to flee but, before leaving, one fatally wounds their mother, thwarting her betrayal.

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

Love and Betrayal: The mother’s betrayal of her sons for personal gain.

Revenge and Justice: The sons’ act of killing their mother as retribution for her treachery.

Family Dynamics: The complex and tragic relationships within the family, highlighting themes of loyalty and betrayal.

► From the same Region or People

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

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people

Secured in English from Ike through John Bourassa.

There was a woman whose husband died leaving her with three small boys. She supported herself and her sons by killing rabbits and other small game. When the boys were grown up and were away one day hunting, a band of Cree came to their camp. They told the woman that they were coming the next morning to kill her sons. They were going to kill her right then unless she promised not to tell the sons. If she did not tell them they would let her live and she might have her choice of the whole band for a husband. She promised on this condition.

The sons came home late and went to bed. The youngest woke up early in the morning and saw his mother looking through a hole in the tipi. She was saying to herself, “I wish day would come quickly so I may have a husband and be rid of these boys.”

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When the son heard this he pushed a stick through a birchbark dish, lighted it in the fire for a torch, and ran outside. There he found the strangers’ tracks. When he told his brothers what he had heard and seen they agreed that they had better go to the larger camp. As they went out the door one of them shot the mother in the throat saying, “You will not have a husband.” When the Cree came they found the woman dead.

The treacherous wife

A man searches for his wife, abducted by the Cree. Upon finding her, she betrays him, leading to his capture and torture. An old man rescues and heals him. Later, the old man bets his daughter in a footrace, which the young man wins using a magical bird. The treacherous wife is returned to her original husband, while the young man gains a new, loyal partner.

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

Love and Betrayal: The man’s wife is abducted by the Cree and later betrays him by not acknowledging him and reporting his presence, leading to his capture and torture.

Revenge and Justice: The old man, whose children were killed by the same people, rescues the tortured man and later orchestrates events that lead to the man’s wife being returned to him, serving as a form of justice for her betrayal.

Trials and Tribulations: The protagonist endures significant hardships, including the abduction of his wife, a perilous journey to find her, and being captured and tortured by the Cree.

► 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 whose tipi stood by itself. His wife was carried off by the Cree during his absence. He looked for her in vain; it seemed she was completely lost. His brother-in-law helped him look for her for a time and then gave it up. The husband started out alone thinking she had been stolen by people from a distance. He finally saw his wife as she was coming for water. “You are still alive,” he said to her. “I am in distress from a lack of moccasins.” The woman did not speak to him. She had not believed he would follow her.

He sat there waiting for her at the shore end of a sharp point of land that ran out into the lake.

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The woman went up to the camp and reported that there was a stranger sitting down below. As soon as she said it the men who were sitting about the camp rushed down after him. They caught him and built a platform on which they put him with a big fire underneath to roast him alive. The man was screaming as he slowly roasted.

There was an old man living a short distance away all of whose children, except one daughter, had been killed. He heard a man screaming over at the camp and said to his daughter, “Go and see what my son is saying.” The girl went over there and sure enough the man who was screaming was just like her older brother whom they believed had been killed. She looked at him and went back to her father saying, “Father, the one who is making that noise is just like my brother.” The old man put on his war outfit and went over there. When he came where the man was being cooked he said to them, “What is this you are doing? You are cooking a man that looks like my son.” They took him down from the platform and carried him home to the old man’s camp. There the father made him well again with his supernatural power.

There were many people living there who were not like human beings. They had killed the old man’s children. The old man did not hunt and they did that for that reason, and because they were too many for him to resist.

At another time they agreed to have a footrace. The old man said to the young man who had been roasted, “My son they say they are going to have a footrace tomorrow. I am going to bet your sister who is all we have.” He was planning that the man’s wife should be killed. The old man sang, beating the tipi poles. As he was drumming on them a live bird fell out. He took this bird, fixed it properly, and placed it in his sack. They had the footrace, but the young man paid no attention to it. The father joined in the race having the eagle. Because he was old and not strong they placed him ahead. The old man ran with his legs behind the others. The young man who was over there out of sight went into the bird and ran after them. Before long he passed the others and ran ahead of them. He came back to the camp first of all and took down the meat. The woman who had been his wife was laughing at him. Another woman asked her why she was laughing. That woman had many relatives among the people from whom she had come. Then the man who had married the woman came back and was looking for the meat, but it was gone. “Who has taken it?” he asked. “The man over there took it. He came back first.” “There was no one ahead of me as far as I knew. He did that to me because I bet you. Go to the man who has won you,” the man said. He sent her to the man whose wife she had been before. When she came to the door she said, “Let us two go over there close to the camp.” The man did not say anything to her but to his father said, “I hate her mouth. Do anything you please with her.” His father killed her.