The rabbit and the frog

A timid rabbit befriends an injured frog and carries him to his home. The cunning frog parades tales of hunting prowess and repeatedly tricks the rabbit—first by allowing beavers to escape, then punishing his greed by feeding him frozen deer lungs. Believing he’s harmed the frog, the rabbit regrets his actions, only to be served a final trick as retribution for his earlier selfishness.

Source: 
Ethnology of the Ungava District, 
Hudson Bay Territory 
by Lucien M. Turner 
Smithsonian Institution 
Bureau of American Ethnology 
Annual Report 11, 1889-1890 
Washington, 1894


► Themes of the story


Trickster: The frog embodies the trickster archetype by using clever schemes to outwit and teach lessons to the rabbit.

Revenge and Justice: The frog’s final trick of feeding the rabbit frozen deer lungs serves as poetic justice for the rabbit’s earlier greed.

Moral Lessons: The tale warns against gluttony, naiveté, and misplaced trust by illustrating the consequences of selfish behavior.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Naskapi people


One day a rabbit was wandering among the hillsides, and at a short distance from him he observed a tent belonging to some Indians. Being timid he crept up to the side of the tent and peeped through a small hole, and saw inside of it a frog sitting near the fire. The rabbit seeing no danger accosted the frog thus: “Brother, what are you doing?” The frog replied: I am playing with the ashes. My brothers have gone off hunting and I am here as I have a very sore leg and can not go far.” The rabbit rejoined, “come with me and I will keep you?” The frog answered, “I can not walk as my leg is too sore.” The rabbit offered to carry the frog on his back. The rabbit took the frog and giving him a toss threw him on his back and said: “This is the way I will carry you.”

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So they started for the home of the rabbit, where, upon arriving, the rabbit placed the frog inside of the tent while the former went out to look for something to eat. While seeking food the rabbit suddenly spied a smoke curling from among the willows which grew along the branch of the creek. He became frightened and started to run homeward exclaiming. “I have forgotten my crooked knife and I must go quickly to get it.” (This part, or what the rabbit says to himself, is sung as a song; with an attempt at imitation of the rabbit’s voice.) The rabbit ran hurriedly home and sprang into the tent, whereupon the frog observing the fright of the other inquired, “Brother, what is the matter that you are so excited?” The rabbit answered, “I saw a large smoke.” “Where is it?” inquired the frog. The rabbit replied, “It is from among the willows along the creek that runs near by.” The frog began to laugh at the foolish fear of the rabbit and answered him that the smoke proceeded from the lodge of a family of beavers, and taunted the rabbit for being afraid of such a timid creature as a beaver when they are good to eat, adding that his own (frogs) brothers often carried him to the beavers’ houses to kill them when they were out of food; although his brothers could never kill any of them.

The rabbit was pleased to hear the frog was such a great hunter, and gladly offered to carry the frog to the lodge of the beavers that some food could be procured. The frog accepted the offer and was carried to the creek bank. The rabbit then built a dam of stakes across the stream and below the lodges in order that the beavers should not escape. The frog then directed the rabbit to break into the top of the lodge so that the frog might get at the beavers to kill them. While the rabbit was breaking into the lodge of the beavers, the frog purposely loosened some of the stakes of the weir below in order to allow the beavers to escape, hoping that the rabbit would become angry at him for so doing. When the rabbit saw what mischief the frog had done, he took the frog and roughly shoved him under the ice into the water. This did not harm the frog as it could live under water as well as on land, but the rabbit did not know that, so he believed he had drowned his brother the frog. The rabbit then returned to his home, regretting he had acted so harshly and began to cry for his brother. The frog in the meanwhile, killed all of the beavers and tied them together on a string, then slowly crawled to the rabbit’s home with his burden on his back. The frog crept up to the tent but was afraid to enter so he began to play with the door flap of the tent to make a noise to attract the attention of the rabbit within. Finally he cried out to the rabbit, “Brother, give me a piece of fire for I am very cold.” The rabbit did not recognize the tired, weak voice of his brother frog, and, afraid lest it be some enemy endeavoring to entice him from his home, picked up a piece of dead coal which had no fire on it and flung it outside. The frog then said, “Brother, there is no fire on this piece and I can not cook my beavers with it. “ The rabbit then ran out quickly and tenderly carried the frog inside, and immediately the latter began to moan and appear to suffer so much that the rabbit inquired what was the matter and asked if the beavers had bitten him. The frog said, “No, it was you who gave me such a hard push that you have hurt me in the side.” The rabbit assured the frog that the injury was unintentionally caused. The frog then directed the rabbit to prepare and cook the beavers. The rabbit went out to fetch them but he began to eat and did not stop until they were all devoured. After having finished eating them, the rabbit went for a walk. Ere long he noticed a huge smoke curling from the farther end of a valley and becoming greatly frightened he exclaimed, “I have forgotten my crooked knife and I must go quickly to get it.” He dashed into his door in a terrible state of mind. The frog coolly inquired, “What is the matter that you are so scared? “ The rabbit said, “I have seen a great smoke at the farther end of the valley through which the creek runs.” The frog laughed loudly at his fear and said, “They are deer; my brothers often had me to kill them, as they could not kill any, when we had no meat.” The rabbit was delighted at that so he offered to carry the frog toward the place. The frog directed the rabbit to make a snowshoe for the one foot of the frog. The rabbit soon had it made and gave it to his brother. The frog then said, “Carry me up towards the smoke.” The rabbit slung the frog on his back and away they went in the direction of the deer. The frog then told the rabbit to stand in one place and not to move while he (the frog) would work at the deer, and when he had finished he would call him up to the place.

The frog killed all the deer in a very short time, skinned them, and stuck the head and neck of one of the deer into the snow so that it would be looking toward the place whence the rabbit would come. The frog then took the lungs of one of the deer and put it out to freeze. The cold turned the lungs white as tallow. The frog shouted for his brother rabbit to come quickly. When the rabbit came bounding near he saw the eyes of the deer’s head staring at him in a queer manner; he was so much alarmed that he exclaimed to the frog, “Brother, he sees me.” The frog smiled and said, “I have killed him; he is dead; come on; I have a nice piece of fat saved for you.” (It was the frozen lungs of the deer.) So he gave the rabbit a large piece and told him to eat it all and quickly, as it was better when frozen and fresh from the deer’s back. The rabbit greedily swallowed large portions and did not observe the deception. After a time they built a lodge or tent for the night. Some few hours after the tent was made the frozen deer lungs which the rabbit had eaten began to thaw and it made the rabbit so violently ill that he vomited continually the entire night. The frog had served him this trick as a punishment for having eaten all of the beaver meat two days before.


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A wolverene destroys his sister

The wolverine, starving and desperate, deceives a bear into believing they are siblings destined to gather berries. Feigning a special berry-infused eye treatment, the wolverene lures her unsuspecting “sister” into a sweat house, then blinds and kills her with a concealed sharp stone. Through this cruel stratagem, the tale highlights the perils of misplaced trust and the cunning power of deception.

Source: 
Ethnology of the Ungava District, 
Hudson Bay Territory 
by Lucien M. Turner 
Smithsonian Institution 
Bureau of American Ethnology 
Annual Report 11, 1889-1890 
Washington, 1894


► Themes of the story


Trickster: The wolverene embodies the classic trickster, using guile and false kinship to outwit the bear.

Illusion vs. Reality: The wolverene’s feigned sibling relationship and bogus sweat house treatment blur truth and appearances.

Moral Lessons: This narrative functions as a cautionary tale warning against naive trust and the dangers of deception.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Naskapi people


A wolverene having wandered far, for several days without food, suddenly came upon a bear. The former, feeling very hungry, conceived the plan of destroying his larger prey by stratagem. The wolverene cautiously approached the bear and exclaimed: “Is that you, sister!” The bear turned around and saw the wolverene, but in a low tone, winch the wolverene did not hear, said to herself: “I did not know that J had a brother,” so ran quickly away. The wolverene continued to scream: “Come here, sister, our father has sent me to look for you. You were lost when you were a little girl out picking berries.” Thus spoken to, the bear approached the supposed brother, who informed her that he knew of a place, on the hill there, where a lot of nice berries were ready for eating, saying: “Do you not see the berries growing on that hill, sister?”

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The bear answered: “I cannot see so great a distance.” So the two went up the hillside where the berries grew. “When they arrived at the place, and it was some distance off, the bear asked: “How is it that your eyes are so good?” The wolverene replied: My father mashed a lot of cranberries into my eyes and put me into a sweat house.” The bear said: “I wish my eyes were as good as yours.” The wolverene answered: “I will make your eyes as good as mine if you will gather a lot of cranberries while I prepare a sweat house.” The bear went to gather berries while the other prepared the house during her absence. The wolverene selected a stone having a sharp edge, which she concealed under the moss in the sweat house, while she procured a larger stone for the pillow.

After the sweat house was completed the wolverene cried out: “Sister, the sweat house is finished!” The bear returned, bringing a quantity of berries. They both went into the sudatory, whereupon the wolverene instructed the bear to lie with her head upon the stone pillow, while he prepared the crushed berries to put in her eyes. He then said to her: “Now, sister, do not move; you may find the berries will hurt the eyes and make them very sore, but they will be better soon.” The wolverene filled the bear’s eyes full of the sour berries, which made her exclaim: “Brother, they arc making my eyes very sore.” The wolverene answered: “You will find them the better for that. After I get your eyes full of the berries I will blow my breath on them.” After the eyes of the bear were full of berries the wolverene said: “You are too good to be a sister,” so he struck her on the head with the sharp-edged stone and cleft her skull between the eyes and killed her.


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Story of the wolverene

A cunning wolverene lures waterfowl ashore with the promise of honeycomb, then decapitates and cooks them after tricking them into dancing blindfolded. A lone loon escapes and warns the wildlife, while a whiskey-jack betrays the wolverene to local hunters, who devour the cooked birds. The wolverene awakens to find only bones and curses the jay for its impudence, reflecting on greed and deception.

Source: 
Ethnology of the Ungava District, 
Hudson Bay Territory 
by Lucien M. Turner 
Smithsonian Institution 
Bureau of American Ethnology 
Annual Report 11, 1889-1890 
Washington, 1894


► Themes of the story


Trickster: The wolverene deceives the birds into dancing blindfolded, then murders them, showcasing classic trickster behavior.

Moral Lessons: The tale warns against gullibility and greed, teaching that deceit brings dire consequences.

Conflict with Nature: The predator-prey dynamic between the wolverene and the waterfowl highlights the harsh realities of nature.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Naskapi people


A wolverene was running along the seashore and perceived a number of geese, brant, ducks, and loons sitting in the water a short distance off. The wolverene addressing them said, “Come here, brothers. I have found a pretty bees’ nest. I will give it to you if you will come on shore and have a dance.” All the birds went on land. The wolverene said, “Let us have a dance and I will sing. Shut your eyes and do not open them until we are done dancing. He began to sing, “A-ho’umu-hou-mu’-mu’-hum’.” The last word was so often repeated (accompanied with the act of the wolverene snipping off the heads of the birds) that the loon opened one eye and saw the headless ducks kicking. The loon ran to the water and exclaimed, “Our brother has killed us!”

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The wolverene ran after the loon but the loon dived under the water and came up a distance off and cried out, “A ho ho ho ho ho ho!” The wolverene screamed, “Hold your tongue, yon red-eyed fowl.” The wolverene returned to where the ducks had been killed; plucked their feathers off and cleaned them; put them into a large kettle and boiled them.

While attending to the cooking he saw a whisky-jack (Us’ ka teon) (Perisoreus canadensis) flying about. The wolverene took a firebrand and threw it at the bird, exclaiming, “You will be telling on me, you long-tongued bird!” The jay flew away and told the Indians that “Our brother (wolverene) has killed a lot of ducks and has them cooked,” adding, “I think he is sleeping. I’ll show you where he is if you will come.” The Indians replied, “We will go, for we are very hungry.” They went and found the wolverene asleep alongside the pot. The Indians ate all of the meat of the ducks. After they had finished the meat they put the bones back into the kettle and went away. The wolverene awakened after a time, took his dish and said to himself, “Now, I shall have my dinner.” He poured all the broth into his dish and found nothing but the bones remaining. In his surprise he said, “Surely, I have been sleeping a long time; the meat is all boiled away.” The jay told him that he had told the Indians. The wolverene said, “Why did you tell? you stupid bird; I was keeping a nice piece of fat for you. [The jay is well known to be particularly fond of fat of any kind, hence the tempting morsel withheld was a source for future reflection.] You will not, now, get it for your impudence.”


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The Raven

An elderly couple and their daughter welcome a bead-rich stranger, who demands removal of their dog, only to reveal himself as the Raven in disguise. When rain dissolves his lime coating, the daughter ties his tail, escaping his cheat. Later, deceiving villagers with moss rafts, the Raven regains his beak by tricking an old woman. The tale warns against appearances and cunning deception.

Source: 
Athabascan Myths 
by Frank Russell 
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.13, No.48, pp. 11-18
January-March, 1900


► Themes of the story


Trickster: The Raven repeatedly uses guile and disguise to deceive the family and villagers.

Moral Lessons: The tale warns listeners about trusting appearances and the danger of deceit.

Illusion vs. Reality: The story highlights the tension between the Raven’s human guise and his true form.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Gwichʼin (Loucheux) people


The common raven, Corvus corax americanus, is quite abundant at McPherson and throughout the Loucheux country. It is usually called the “crow” by the whites in the far north, but the true crow, C. americanus, is not found in the Loucheux territory, the northern limit of its distribution being the mouth of the Liard River.

There once lived an old couple who wished to see their only daughter married to a rich man. When any one arrived at their camp, the old man sent his son down to the landing to see if the stranger was provided with the necessary bone beads upon his clothing, in order that he might be received according to his rank. One day the boy came running in, saying that some one had come whom he would like to have for a brother-in-law, for he had a great number of fine beads. The mother went down to the river bank, and saw a richly dressed stranger, whom she also thought would make a suitable husband for her daughter. She noticed that the shore was wet and muddy, so she procured some bark and tore it into strips for the stranger to walk upon. He was invited to enter their tipi and was seated next the girl. A dog was tied in the corner of the lodge, and the visitor said, “I cannot eat while that dog is in here;” so the woman, thinking the man must be a very great personage to be so particular, took the dog away into the forest and killed it. The next morning as she went for wood, she noticed that the earth around the body of the dog was marked with bird tracks, and that its eyes had been picked out.

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When she returned to the camp she told what she had seen, and insisted upon having all present take off their moccasins that she might see their feet, as she had heard of the Raven deceiving people by appearing in the human form. The stranger, who was really the Raven, took his moccasins off, and slipped them on so quickly that his feet were not noticed. The girl had promised to marry him, and he insisted upon having her go away with him at once, as he feared that his true character would be discovered. He arranged to return in a few days, and took his bride down to his canoe. As soon as they set off down the river it began to rain. The Raven was seated in front of the woman, who noticed that the falling rain was washing out something white from his back; this made her suspicious, and she determined to escape from the canoe. Reaching forward, she succeeded in tying the tail of the Raven’s coat to a cross-bar of the canoe. She then asked to be set ashore for a minute, saying that she would come right back. He told her not to go far, but she started to run for home as soon as she got behind the trees. The Raven also tried to get ashore, but his tail was tied, and he could not succeed in his human form; so he resumed the form of the raven and cried out to the girl, “Once more I cheat you,” then he caw-cawed and flew away.

When the girl reported this to her mother the old woman asked her what she meant, and the girl answered that the rich son-in-law was the Raven, who had come to them dressed in his own lime, which the rain had melted, and so exposed the trick.

The Raven was always cheating the people, so they took his beak away from him. After a time he went away up the river and made a raft which he loaded with moss, and came floating down to the camps upon it. He told the people that his head was sore where his beak had been torn off, and that he was lying in the moss to cool it. Then he went away for two or three days, and made several rafts; as the people saw these coming down the river, they thought that there were a large number of people upon the rafts, who were coming to help the Raven regain his beak; so they held a council and decided to send the beak away in the hands of a young girl, that she might take it to an old woman who lived all alone at some distance from the camp. The Raven concealed himself among them and heard their plans, so when the girl came back he went to the old woman, and told her that the girl wished to have the beak returned. The old woman suspected nothing and gave him his beak, which he put on and flew away, cawing with pleasure at his success. The supposed people that had been seen upon the rafts proved to be nothing but the tufts or hummocks of bog moss which are commonly known as tetes de femmes.


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Story of Beaver

Beaver, a great transformer, encounters various monsters along a well-traveled trail. He first confronts Wolverene, who kills travelers using a slippery glacier and a hidden spear. Feigning death, Beaver tricks and kills Wolverene and his family. Continuing his journey, Beaver outwits Sheep-Man, who pushes people off cliffs, by reversing the trap and causing Sheep-Man’s demise. Beaver’s cunning leads to the downfall of these malevolent beings.

Source: 
Kaska Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.30, No.118, pp. 427-473
October-December, 1917


► Themes of the story


Hero’s Journey: Beaver embarks on a transformative adventure, confronting and overcoming various challenges and adversaries.

Trickster: Beaver employs cunning and deception to outsmart his enemies, such as pretending to be dead to deceive Wolverene.

Moral Lessons: The tale imparts lessons about bravery, intelligence, and the triumph of good over evil through Beaver’s actions and decisions.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Kaska people


A long time ago, when all the animals were people, Beaver was a great transformer. He travelled along a wide trail that was much used. Along the trail were many monsters that preyed on people. He came to a place where people always disappeared. Wolverene killed them. His house was at the foot of a glacier, between two rocky bluffs. The glacier was very slippery, and people crossing it slid down to the bottom, where they were transfixed on a spear placed there by Wolverene. As soon as something touched the spear, Wolverene knew it, and came out at once. If they were dead, he carried the bodies home; if they were only wounded, he killed them. His house was full of peoples’ bones. Beaver went down this slide, and, cutting his lips with the spear so that they bled, pretended to be dead.

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Wolverene knew something had been caught, and came out smiling and very happy. When he saw Beaver, he said, “What a large beaver!” Then he laughed, and said, “I have caught this clever man.” He carried the body home and put it down in his house. He had four flensing-knives. He used one after another, but they would not cut Beaver’s skin. Then he searched for the fourth knife. Beaver knew that this knife would cut him, so he opened his eyes to see where he might find a stick. One of Wolverene’s children noticed him, and called out, “Father, the Beaver has opened his eyes!” Wolverene answered, “You are mistaken. How can a dead man open his eyes?” Beaver jumped up and seized a stick, with which he broke Wolverene’s arms and legs. He killed him, and put his body before the fire to roast. He also killed all Wolverene’s children, and treated their bodies likewise.

Beaver went on, and came to a bluff overlooking a deep creek. He heard a dog barking below the cliff. He listened, and approached cautiously. Presently he saw a man on the top of the cliff, and went to him. This was Sheep-Man, who killed people by pushing them over the cliff. His wife attracted them by barking like a dog, and any who were not killed outright by the fall were clubbed by her at the bottom of the cliff. When Beaver reached Sheep-Man, the latter said, “Look at the sheep down below!” Beaver said, “You look first, you saw them first.” They quarrelled as to who should look over the brink first. At last Sheep-Man looked, and Beaver at once pushed him over. He was killed by the fall. When Sheep-Man’s wife heard the thud of something falling at the base of the cliff, she ran out quickly, and began to club the man before she noticed that it was her own husband. She then looked up and saw Beaver, who threw a rock at her head and killed her. This is why the head of the mountain-sheep is so small between the horns; and the tongues of sheep are black because they once ate men.

Beaver travelled on, and came to a large camp of Sheep people. The women were good, and called to him, “Why do you come this way?” He answered, “I am looking for friends who have passed along this trail.” The Sheep men followed him, and he ran among bluffs and rocks. It became dark; but they pursued him, just the same, by scenting him. He went down a steep place, and the Sheep did not know exactly which way he had gone. There his trail was a sheer cliff. They called out, “How did you get down?” and Beaver directed them to the sheer cliff. The Sheep then all ran over the cliff and were killed.

In the morning an old woman and girl arrived there. The woman proposed to marry Beaver, and had told the girl that when she slept with him, she (the girl) must club Beaver while he was asleep. Beaver refused the request of the women, and killed them both.

Beaver proceeded on his journey, and, after crossing a mountain, sat down on the trail. He saw a man coming, carrying a stick with a hook at the end. This was Marten-Man, who killed people (by hooking them between the legs). Beaver placed a piece of sheep’s flesh between his legs and sat still. Marten asked many questions of Beaver. They conversed together and told stories to each other. Meanwhile Marten pushed his stick underneath the snow and hooked the meat. Beaver ran away, and Marten chased him. As he ran, Beaver dropped pieces of sheep’s fat. Marten could not catch him, and turned back to his camp. He said to his wife, “I have lost some very fat game. The fat kept dropping from him as he ran. We will shift camp, and I will track him.” Next morning Marten tracked Beaver, and his wife and children followed behind. Beaver lay in wait for Marten, and killed him. He cut off one arm, and covered the rest of the body with snow. Then, making a camp, he scattered pieces of sheep’s fat about, and put Marten’s arm on a hook to roast. He had just hidden himself when Marten’s family appeared. The children were delighted, saying, “Father has killed some fat game. See the camp, and the arm roasting, and the pieces of fat scattered about!” They ran around on their snowshoes, laughing, and gathering up the pieces of fat. When Beaver appeared, the eldest boy was going to shoot him with an arrow; but Beaver called out, “Don’t! I am going to marry your sister.” His mother took hold of his arm, and said, “Don’t shoot! He will be your sister’s husband.” Beaver said, “I will make a big fire, so that the meat will roast quickly.” They did not know that it was Marten’s arm. Beaver brought in some wood covered with snow and put it on the fire, which now became smoky and nearly went out. He asked the mother and children to get down on their hands and knees and blow on the fire. When they did so, Beaver clubbed them, and killed them all excepting the youngest child, who ran away and climbed a tree. Beaver could not catch him, so he transformed him into the animal marten, saying, “Henceforth you shall be an ordinary marten, and shall eat rabbits and mice. You shall never again eat men.”

Beaver continued his journey along the trail. When near a small, round lake, he saw that a giant was following him. He went around the lake, and the giant chased him. Beaver ran round and round the lake, the giant behind him. The latter could not catch him, and began to slacken his pace. He said to Beaver, “How can I catch you?” Beaver answered, “Make ready everything required for frying and cooking my meat, then make a snare, set it, and catch me.” The giant did as advised. Beaver put a large tree-stump in the snare and hid in the brush. The giant felt something in his snare, and began to pull on the line. It was very heavy, and he gave a mighty tug. The stump gave way, and, flying up, struck him on the forehead. The wound bled much, and the giant licked and swallowed the blood as it ran down his face. He was very tired and hungry, for he had chased Beaver all day. He sat down, and thought, “What shall I eat?” He thought of eating his ears, but said, “No! if I eat my ears, I shall spoil my hearing.” He thought of his nose, and said, “No! if I eat my nose, I shall no longer be able to smell.” He thought of all the different parts of his body, and at last of his privates. He could not think of their being of much use, so he cut them off and ate them. He felt sick, and said to himself, “I am getting very sleepy.” He was dying, but did not know it. He lay down and died.

Beaver continued his travels, and came to the edge of a large river. Happening to look round, he saw another giant coming. He took off his clothes, and painted himself with the white powdery substance that covers the outside bark of cottonwood-trees. He looked like a ghost. He put little sticks in his eyes to keep the eyelids open, and stood rigid and immovable alongside the trail. As the giant approached, he said, “That game looks very strange.” He took his axe and made as if he would strike; but Beaver never moved, or winked an eye. The giant said, “This cannot be game.” The giant tickled him in different parts of the body, but Beaver neither moved nor laughed. The giant said again, “This is funny.” He poked his finger in Beaver’s anus, and then smelled of it, saying, “Well, this smells like game, but the body does not act or look like game. This is very strange.” He departed wondering. Beaver ran away and climbed a tree. The giant changed his mind, and returned to examine him again. When he arrived at the place and found that he was gone, he said, “I am very sorry I did not hit him with my axe. It was surely game.” He followed the tracks to the bottom of a tree near the water-edge, but never looked up into the tree. He saw Beaver’s reflection in the river, and said, “There he is!” He struck at the reflection with his axe. Then he moved to the side and struck again. The giant kept this up for a long time, and was completely soaked with the splashing of the water. He had about made up his mind that he could not kill him, when Beaver laughed. The giant looked up into the tree and saw him. He said, “I will shoot you,” and he put an arrow on his bow. Beaver called, “Don’t! If you shoot me, I shall fall into the river, and you will lose me.” The giant said, “I will fire the tree;” and Beaver answered, “You mustn’t. If you do that, you will burn me up, and lose all my fat.” The giant said, “I will chop down the tree;” and Beaver answered, “No! if you do that, the tree will fall into the water, and you will lose me.” The giant said, “Then how shall I get you?” Beaver answered, “Get a long pole and put a noose at the end and catch me.” The giant agreed to this. Beaver said, “Go up on yonder hill and cut a pole.” The giant went up, and, seeing a good-looking pole, called out to Beaver, “Will this one do?” Beaver answered, “No, go farther! that is not the right kind.” Beaver kept on urging the giant to go farther, until he reached the top of the mountain. The giant showed a pole from there; and Beaver called out, “That one will do, now put a noose on it and get everything ready.” Beaver then came down out of the tree, and swam across the river. When the giant came back, he missed Beaver, and said, “He has got away. I am very sorry I did not shoot him.” Beaver talked to him from across the river. The giant asked him, “How did you get across there?” and Beaver answered, “I made my blanket into a canoe by tying it up and putting a board in the bottom.” The giant did this, and when nearly across began to sink. He called out, “Help! I am sinking!” and pushed out the pole he had cut for Beaver to catch it and pull him out. Beaver took hold of the pole and pushed the giant under water and drowned him.

Beaver now made a canoe and went down the river. He saw smoke and a camp, and put ashore and tied up his canoe. This was the camp of Woodchuck, who ate men. He said to Beaver, “I am a good man, and treat my guests well. I shall cook, that you may eat, for you must be hungry.” He cooked a mixture of human and other flesh. Beaver knew the human flesh and would not eat it. Woodchuck became angry, jumped on him, and scratched him. They fought a long time; and Beaver killed Woodchuck and threw his body into the river. He then burned his lodge and all his belongings.

Continuing down the river, Beaver reached the camp of Bushtail-Rat, who was also a cannibal. He said to Beaver, “Be my guest; I am a good man, and will treat you well. I will cook food for you.” He cooked a kettleful of flesh, which when done he served on a dish. He put the human flesh on the side of the dish next to Beaver, who did not touch it, but ate only from the other side of the dish. Rat was very angry, and he and his wife jumped on Beaver. They fought a long time and nearly killed Beaver, who in the end succeeded in killing both. When nearly dead, Rat-Man called out, “I have two caches! The good meat is in the eastern one, and the poor meat in the western one.” Beaver went to the eastern cache, and saw that it contained dried human flesh. He burned up the two caches and also Rat’s lodge, and all the implements which he used for killing people.

Beaver continued his journey down the river, and came to the place where Kingfisher lived. He lived by spearing fish, and did not kill people. Beaver hid his canoe, changed himself into a large salmon, and swam to the place where Kingfisher used to draw water. Kingfisher saw him, and ran back to get his spear. He returned quickly and speared the salmon; but his spear-point broke off, and the fish swam away with it. Kingfisher was very sorry to lose his spear-head. He went back and sat down. Soon Beaver came along in his canoe. He had the spear-head hidden in a box in the canoe, where it could not be seen. Kingfisher said, “O my friend! I have just lost a big fish that went off with my spear-head. Had I caught the fish, we should have eaten together. I should have cooked it for you.” Beaver went up to Kingfisher’s lodge, where his host made him fall asleep and then read his thoughts. He found out that the spear-head was in Beaver’s canoe, and went to search for it; but he broke up the whole canoe before he succeeded in finding it. When Beaver awoke, he went down to the canoe and found it broken. He reproached Kingfisher, saying, “I thought you said you were a good man and always treated your guests well. Now you have broken my canoe.” Kingfisher said, “I wanted to get my spear-head, so that I may be sure to get food. If you are not satisfied, I will throw a sleep on you again.” Beaver did not kill Kingfisher, because he was not a cannibal. He lived entirely by killing fish.

When Beaver was leaving, Kingfisher said to him, “You will find Otter-Man living lower down; he is a bad man, and eats people. Look out for him! He has a rope stretched across the river a little above the surface of the water, and any canoe which hits it is cut to pieces.”

Beaver repaired his canoe and continued his journey. He watched for the rope. When he was near it, he lifted it up with a stick which he had taken aboard, and passed underneath. Some distance below he saw smoke on a point, put ashore, and came to the camp of Otter-Woman, who had in her privates animals that bit and killed men. The woman ran down to meet him, and cried, “You must be my husband!” She hurriedly bundled his belongings into her game-bag, tied it up, and was about to carry it up to her lodge. Beaver said, “Stay! I want to drink some cold water. Will you fetch me some?” She hurriedly brought some water from near by; but Beaver said, “That is no good, it is too warm. Go up to the spring in the mountain and get some really cold water.” When she had gone, Beaver cut one of the strings of the bag. Otter-Woman at once knew, and turned back. Beaver beckoned her to go on; and when she was far away, he cut the other strings of the bag, took out his belongings, and embarked in the canoe. He went downstream to an island where he made up his mind to camp over night. Otter-Woman came back, jumped into the river, swam to the island, and went to his camp. Beaver killed two beavers at this place for food. Otter-Woman took the skins, tanned and dressed them, sewed them into mitts for Beaver, and laid them by his side. Beaver and Otter-Woman staid on opposite sides of the fire. When Beaver awoke, he found the mitts the woman had made, and, looking across the fire, he saw her lying naked with her legs apart, in a tempting attitude. Beaver heated a stone, and, instead of having connection with her, he pushed the stone into her vagina and killed her. A weasel and mink came out, and he killed them. These animals bit men who had connection with the woman, and killed them.

Beaver continued his voyage down the river. He saw the smoke of a big camp, and put ashore. Here lived Shrew-Woman, who was very small and very wise. The smoke from her lodge rose out of the grass. She asked him where he was going and where he had come from. When he told her, she advised him not to go farther down the river. She said, “An evil being lives lower down. He is gifted with great magical power, and has many cannibal monsters under his control. Above his house are two huge snake-like monsters with hairy manes, that lie one on each side of the river. When they sleep, their eyes are wide open; and when awake, their eyes are shut. When anything comes down the river, they both dart out their heads and seize and devour it.” Beaver said he was hungry, and Shrew cooked a few salmon-eggs for him in a tiny kettle. Beaver thought to himself, “That is not enough.” Shrew read his thoughts, and said, “You will find there is enough.” As the eggs cooked, they and the kettle grew bigger, and Beaver found he could not eat all. When Beaver left, Shrew gave him two fish to throw, one on each side, to the snakes when he reached them. He came down midstream in his canoe; and as he approached the snakes, he saw that their eyes were shut. He then knew they were awake; and, as he passed between them, they darted out their heads to devour him. He threw a fish into the mouth of each; and while they were devouring the fish, he passed on out of reach. A short distance below this place he saw two girls, sisters, playing on the shore. He went ashore above them, and, changing into a bluebird, flew near them. The sisters thought the bird could not fly very well, and chased it. At last the younger girl caught it and carried it home. When they reached their lodge (they slept together, and apart from their parents), the elder sister offered to buy the bird from the younger one by paying her a silver spoon she owned. The younger one agreed, and they exchanged. The elder girl took the bluebird to bed with her, and placed it between herself and her sister. When she awoke, she found a young man lying between them, and the bird was gone. The girls began to cry, for they knew their father would kill the man. They left him and went to breakfast. Their father noticed tears in their eyes, and asked them why they were crying. At last they told him of the young man, and he told them he wanted to see him. They brought the man to him, and he at once seized him and put him into a large kettle that he had on the fire. He kept him in there for two days boiling, then he lifted the lid to see if he were properly cooked. Beaver had changed himself into a little bird; and when the lid was lifted, he flew out and escaped. The cannibal tried hard to catch him, but without avail. During the interval the sisters felt very sorry for the man and cried often. That night Beaver came to them and slept between them as a man. In the morning they cried again, for they knew that their father would try again to kill him. Their father heard them, and knew the man was there. When they went to breakfast, their father asked them, and they finally told him the man was there. He said to them, “All right, you may keep him as a husband, and he shall work for me.” He told his son-in-law, “You must finish my canoe for me,” and showed him a large, partly finished canoe, the sides of which were kept apart by a cross-stick. When Beaver went inside to work, the cannibal pulled out the stick, and the sides closed in and imprisoned Beaver. The cannibal went home and told his wife that the strange man was dead or a prisoner. Shortly afterwards he returned to the canoe, and found it split and his son-in-law gone. Beaver had burst the canoe by spreading his elbows. Next morning the cannibal heard his daughters crying again; for they knew the difficult tasks their father would give to their husband, and that if he failed in any of them, he would lose his life. That day the cannibal told his son-in-law that he wanted some eagle-feathers for his arrows, and directed him to a big tree where the Bald-Headed Eagle lived, who ate people. Beaver climbed the tree, and found only two young Eagles in the nest. He asked them when their parents would come home; and they answered, “Our mother will come with wind and rain at noon, carrying the legs of a man. Our father will come with wind and hail in the evening, carrying the upper part of a man. He eats the rest.” One of Eagle’s children always told his parents everything. He therefore could not be trusted, so Beaver killed him. Beaver said to the other, “When your mother comes, tell her your brother got sick in the head and died; and you are sick in the head now too, and will die by and by if you eat any more of that meat she brings. You must not eat any of the meat. If she asks what it is that smells like a man around here, tell her it is only the smell of the game she brought.” Beaver hid with a club outside the edge of the nest. When the Mother-Eagle arrived, she asked why her son was dead, and the boy told her all as directed by Beaver. He also refused to eat of the meat she had brought. The mother said, “Very well, I will eat the meat myself.” When she had eaten just a little, a piece stuck in her throat and threatened to choke her. She then knew there was something wrong. Beaver jumped up and clubbed her, and threw the body away. Beaver told the boy to tell the same story to his father, and, if the latter asked where his wife was, to tell him she had not yet come home. When the Father-Eagle arrived, he asked for his wife. When he was told that she had not yet come, he said, “That is strange, she always arrives here before me.” The boy refused to eat the meat he brought; so the father began to eat it himself, choked on it, and was killed by Beaver, who now descended, plucked the feathers out of the dead birds, and returned. The cannibal was much surprised that Beaver had returned alive. Next day he told his daughters that their husband had to get sinew for tying the feathers on his arrows. When they told Beaver, he sent one of them back to learn where he had to go; and her father told her he had to go to the hairy cannibal monster who lived beyond Shrew-Woman’s house. On the way Beaver called on the Shrew and told her of the task he had to perform. She said to him, “I will help you.” They went off together; and when near the monster’s place, she dug a hole for Beaver in which to conceal himself. The hair was worn off the monster’s haunches through sitting on the ground. When Shrew drew near, the monster asked her what she wanted. She said, “I want you to help me. I am cold, and I want some of the long hair from your body to weave a blanket for myself.” The monster told her to pluck some hair from his haunches. She pretended to pull the hair, and said, “The hair is too tough and coarse here, it will not pull out.” He told her to try another place. She did so, and said the same. Finally she said, “The hair under your arm seems to be the best. I will pluck some from there.” The monster said, “All right.” She pulled out much of the hair from under the arm over the heart, and left a bare spot. Beaver then shot an arrow at this vital place and mortally wounded the beast, who immediately crawled into his hole or den. Shrew crawled in, and found he was dead. Shrew-Woman now had plenty of meat, and she cut out the sinew for Beaver, who went back with it. When Beaver brought home the sinew, the women were glad, and their father was very angry. Next morning he told his daughters to tell their husband to get glue to fasten the feathers and sinew on his arrows. He sent one of his wives back to ask where to get it. Her father said, “Down there in the lake.” There lived a monster-fish, probably a kind of pike or a sturgeon, that ate people as they went along the shore. Beaver took his spear and went to the lake and speared the fish, which moved the whole lake in his death struggles. When he was dead, Beaver cut out the part used for glue from behind the dorsal fin, and returned home. The cannibal was now very angry, and said to his wife, “This fellow has killed all my pets that kill men, and my arrows are not yet made.” Next day he sent him for paint to paint his arrows with, and sent word that it was up the river where he had passed. As Beaver went by, he called on Shrew-Woman for advice. She told him that the snake-monsters he had passed coming down the river lay on the paint. She said she would assist him. She made a man of clay to throw into the middle of the river. She said, “When they see him, they will pounce on him, and then you may steal the paint from underneath the tail of the one on this side of the river.” Beaver brought back the paint. The cannibal now transformed his daughters into grizzly bears, and put them on a side-hill across the river. He pointed out the bears to his son-in-law, and said, “Do you see those bears across the water? Let us go and kill them! You will go on the top of the hill, I shall drive them to you, and you will shoot them.” He gave his arrows to Beaver, who saw that none of them had heads. Beaver, however, was prepared for this, and had hidden two bone arrow-heads in his hair. When Beaver got to the top of the hill, he put the bone heads on two arrows. The cannibal drove the bears, and, when they came near the top, Beaver shot the headless arrows at them; but they all broke, and none of them penetrated. He then fired the arrows with heads, and killed both the bears. The cannibal was very angry, and chased him with a knife. As he could not run fast, he called on his wife, who was fleet of foot, to chase Beaver. When she had nearly caught up with Beaver, the latter made the ground crack behind him, and the woman fell down. Again she gained on him; but he reached a lake, jumped in, and changed himself into a beaver. The cannibal said to his wife, “You can run fast; go back and fetch my net, that I may catch him.” The woman brought the beaver-net, and they set it in the lake. They tried for several days, but could not catch Beaver. The cannibal then called for the man (bird) with a big stomach to come and drink up the lake. He came and drank the lake dry. Beaver then hid in the mud, and the cannibal and his wife probed all over for him. At last they felt him, and Beaver realized that he was in extreme danger. He called on Snipe, saying, “Quick! They have found me. Hurry and punch a hole in the stomach of that bad man (bird)!” Snipe approached the Bird-Man, who was sitting quite still on the edge of the basin where the lake had been. He was so full of water he could not move, and felt very heavy. He said to Snipe, “Don’t come near me!” Snipe answered, “I shall not harm you. I am just looking for food near you.” Snipe made a swift stroke with his bill, and punched a hole through Bird-Man’s stomach and belly; and the water gushed out, and soon filled the lake. Beaver began to swim about, and the cannibal and his wife rushed hurriedly away for fear of drowning. The woman told her husband to come home, saying he could not beat their son-in-law. On the way back they came to the bodies of their daughters, and began to cry. Beaver followed them, and, coming to the place, said, “Why do you cry? They are only sleeping.” He said to the bodies of the bears, “Wake up!” and they arose and changed into the women they had been. They went off with him as his wives. The cannibal man was now powerless to do harm, and consented fully to his daughters marrying Beaver. Before they parted, he gave each of them a feather, which he told them to put in the water wherever they got their drinking-water. He told them that the feathers, although in the water, would always be dry as long as their husband remained faithful to them and did not go with other women, but the moment he was unfaithful the feathers would become wet. They were then to leave their husband and return home. Beaver went back to his own country, [some say “in the sky”, others “to the east”] and took his wives with him. The women examined the feathers every day, and knew that their husband was faithful. A long time afterwards Beaver met his former wife, who made love to him. He was unable to resist, and had connection with her. On the following morning, when his wives went for water, they found the feathers wet. They said, “We will leave our husband, for our father told us to do this. Heat will come, and the people will suffer for this.” Soon great clouds appeared, and the women disappeared in them. [Some people say “they ascended to the sky”] Such a great heat came, that finally the water boiled. People jumped into the streams and lakes to cool themselves, and died. Beaver’s first wife was the first one to die of the heat. Beaver put his brothers in a shady place, and covered them thickly with brush and grass to keep them cool. All the people died excepting Beaver and his brothers. When the weather became cool again, Beaver made snowshoes for his brothers, and left them. He went off to search for his wives. He found their tracks and followed them. He found their old camps, with lynx-meat cooked by suspending it from a pole with hook and line before the fire. He did not touch any of the meat, and always camped off to the side. At last he came to a camp where the wood was still smoking. It was their last camp before reaching their parents. Beaver camped to the side of it. That night his father-in-law came into his camp and took up his place on the opposite side of the fire. Both men hung their trousers above the fire to dry. Neither of them spoke. In the night the cannibal interchanged the trousers, putting his own where Beaver’s had been. Beaver arose very early in the morning, threw the cannibal’s trousers into the fire, and put on his own. When the cannibal discovered that he had no trousers, he said it would be very bad for him if the sun got up and he were without trousers. Beaver had two pairs, and the cannibal begged Beaver to give him one pair. When the sun was about to get up, Beaver took pity on him and gave him a pair, which he at once put on. The cannibal then acknowledged that Beaver was more powerful than he, and left him, ascending towards the sky. [Some people say “to the sky,” for this cannibal was the Sun and lived there.] Beaver watched where he went, and, following, came to where his wives were. He took them back, and travelled to where people were. After he had met them, they all travelled together. As they journeyed, two Ravens began to fly ahead of them. The Ravens drove all the game away, so that the people could not get any. It was winter, and they began to starve. When people died, the Ravens picked out their eyes. At last all the people had died excepting Beaver and his wives. The Ravens flew over them, saying, “Yes, you are alive yet, but it will not be for long. You will soon be dead too, and then we shall eat your eyes.” The Ravens always flew ahead of them wherever they travelled, and at night roosted on a tree near by. It was moonlight, and Beaver burrowed under the snow until he was past the tree where the Ravens were sleeping. Then he ran ahead, and found the country full of caribou and other game that the Ravens had been driving ahead. He killed many caribou, and returned the way he had come. Beaver now pretended to be dead to deceive the Ravens. He told his wives to put his hands up near his eyes and cover him with brush. The Ravens awoke at daybreak, and, looking down, saw that Beaver seemed to be dead. Beaver’s wives left, crying. The Ravens flew over their heads, saying, “Yes, by and by you will be dead also, and we shall pick out your eyes.” They flew back and alighted on the brush. Here they disputed as to which eye each would take. Beaver suddenly seized their legs, and they begged to be let off. Beaver, however, had no mercy on them, and burned them alive in the campfire, saying, “What about the people you have killed? Why should I spare you?” Beaver now went out to where he had killed the caribou. When he was about to return home, he smeared blood over his snowshoes, so his wives would know that he had killed game.

The narrator said that there was more of this story, but he did not remember it.


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The shiftless husband

A man and his wife face starvation during winter. The husband fails to catch fish or rabbits due to his laziness, while his wife successfully provides for them by fishing and setting snares. The story explains the origin of shiftless men, suggesting that such individuals exist because of this man’s behavior.

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


Moral Lessons: The story imparts a lesson on the consequences of laziness and the virtues of hard work and responsibility.

Conflict with Nature: The narrative involves attempts to procure food from natural sources like fishing and hunting, underscoring the challenges of survival in a harsh environment.

Cultural Heroes: The wife emerges as a cultural hero by exemplifying the values of diligence and competence, ensuring the family’s survival.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people


A man who was camping by himself ran out of food and went with his wife to a lake to get some fish. He went out on the lake and sat by his hook, but came home at night without any fish. His wife wondered what was the matter, for fish had always been taken in that lake. She told her husband that she herself would go fishing the next day. Her husband assented to this. The woman got some fish very quickly. She found her husband had not even cut a hole entirely through the ice, and that was why he had not taken any fish. The woman got a good many. The man himself had gone to set snares for rabbits but came home without any. The wife wondered why he hadn’t caught any, for rabbits were plentiful.

► Continue reading…

“I will go to look after your snares tomorrow,” she told him. “All right,” he said, “you look after my snares.” She found he had merely cleared away the snow on the top of the mountain and sat there all day. He had set two of the snares and thrown the remainder down in the snow. She gathered them up and set them. She caught many rabbits which she took home with her. The man had spent the day fishing but had not caught any fish, for he had not gotten the hook into the water.

Now the woman suspected what sort he was. If it had not been for his wife he would have starved. They lived through the winter because of the woman’s effort. He was not a manlike fellow and had concluded he could not live anyway.

When the point of the story was asked for, the informant said this man was the first of such men. Because he was a shiftless man we still have them.


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The loaned hunting dog

An old man owned a hunting dog, which was actually a wolf adept at hunting moose. A young man borrowed the dog but ignored instructions to reward it with the moose’s tongue, offering the liver instead. Angered, the dog killed the young man. The old man lamented his loss, but the dog eventually returned, and they continued hunting together.

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


Moral Lessons: The tale imparts the importance of following instructions and respecting established customs.

Conflict with Nature: The young man’s failure to adhere to natural laws or customs leads to his demise.

Ancestral Spirits: The old man’s relationship with the wolf-dog may symbolize a connection to ancestral knowledge or guidance.

► From the same Region or People

Learn more about the Dane-zaa people


An old man had a hunting dog which was very good for moose. That was because it was not an ordinary dog but a wolf. A young man saw a moose track, but did not succeed in killing the moose. He came to the old man and said, “Grandfather, I saw a moose track, lend me your dog and I will go after it.” “My dog is mean,” the old man replied, “you must promise to treat the dog exactly as I tell you.”

The young man agreed to do so. “If you kill a moose the first thing you must do is to give the dog the end of the tongue. He is only pleased when I do that. You must do the same. Do not fail to do as I do, my grandson.”

► Continue reading…

The young man went hunting with the dog and killed a moose. Instead of doing as the old man had told him he cut off the liver and threw it to the dog. The dog was angry and did not eat the liver but went off and left it there. The young man cut up the moose and started home. Being thirsty he went to get a drink. The dog which was lying there jumped on the man as he drank and disemboweled him, killing him. He ate all the man’s ribs.

Neither the man nor the dog returned. The Indians at the camp were going to bed, but the old man said, “There must be some reason my dog is not here. He has been howling and he does not do that without some reason. I told the young man repeatedly not to treat the dog in any way differently from the way I treat him. I loaned him the dog because he asked me for him so many times. The dog has probably killed him. I fear he is not living. Look for him and see if you can find out what has happened.”

They went out to look for him and came upon his tracks where he had been approaching the camp. They saw his body lying there in front of them. The dog had killed him. The dog was not there and they did not know where he had gone.

The old man who had been living by the dog’s aid said, “How shall I live? The dog with which I got my living has left me alone.” He was much displeased. He called the dog and the next morning it came back to him. He lived with the help of the dog again. The dog did not kill the old man who was able to live on good meat again. They say that was a very good dog.

They tell this story about the time the world was beginning.


Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page

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

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.


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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

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.


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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

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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Running and expanding this site requires resources: from maintaining our digital platform to sourcing and curating new content. With your help, we can grow our collection, improve accessibility, and bring these incredible narratives to an even wider audience. Your sponsorship enables us to keep the world’s stories alive and thriving. ♦ Visit our Support page