Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-04-17
Indian
Lodge Tales

THE CREATION OF MAN

HE SNEAitON VI MAN
NOV when the Manitou had created
~ the birds and the beasts and the
eshcs. aud had then created the grixzly
to rule over them. he returned 70
heaven content with his handiwork.
He left behind him on the earth .
happy kingdom, where the animals
lived In peace together and whore the
grizzly. who was their king. was kind
and just and fair TO weak and strong
alike.
As time went on there finally came
a daughter to cheer the life OF the
Manitou In heaven: and IN she grew
to womanhood she was fair TO look
upon; az beautiful ~ the dawn and
as stately ~ tho oak. The blue sky
gave the color to her eyes the placid
lakes put their expression there; and
golden sunbeams gave their beauty to
her hair. The south wind warmed
her blood and made u red; the SHOWS
rave on their glow 20 tinge her akin.
The rirpIing waters. soft and low.
gave up their music In a voice for her.
And she was fair to look upon, even
a. the blossoms IN her hair.
The Manitou. who loved her much.
gavo her the freedom Of thu heavens
and the earth 10 60 and come a. she
pleased. excepting only the one small
spot where the Erixxly was given
power 10 reign. Here she must not
20. for there were evil spirits and
strong hands TO stay her way. And
there the power Of the Manitou ala
not avail. for Il was the homs II the
Erixsly who was ruler.
But one day. walking aIl alone. the
maiden forgot the warning ef her ia
ther and wandered Into this forbidden
land where lived the grixxly, and
where flowers bloomed and all was
beautiful and bright. Az she wan
dered about the forest the beasts saw
her beauty and carried word OF her
coming 10 the grixxly. And the Erixxly
came down the trail and looked upon
her and desired her. He was 20 Inn
pressed with her beauty that he for
got the Manitou and his rower. and
seeing the maiden, carried her or
against her win 10 his home. And
there he kept her hid away for many
moons and finally he married her. al
though II was against her win. and
for long years he held her In captivity
and the Manitou knew not where she
had gone or why.
Finally q child was born 10 the grIx-
ely and the daughter OF Manltou. And
this child. when he had grown, heard
from his mothers lips the story OF the
Erizxly's cruelty. He learned. too. how
the grizzly had run away with tho
daughter Of Manitou and had stolen
her from her home and kept her In
captivity; and he was very angry. and
prayed night and day to tho Manitou.
who was his grandfather. asking that
he might be given the strength and
the wisdom 10 right the wrong.
SO the Manltou heard his plea ana
decided that the grizzly must be pun
ished: and 40 the ManItou decreed
that the grizzly henceforth should
walk on four feet like the beasts he
had governed. And on his body hair
was made 10 grow. and his language
becnme the grunt and the squeal; and
he was made 10 dig In the ground 10
ind his food and his eyes were made
60 watch his feet and no longer could
he look toward heaven and Into the
face Of the Manitou. who IL good al
ways. g
In HIS place the Munitou named the
Red Mantle son Of the Great spir-
it's daughter and the grizzly--to rule
no long as he bore himself ms n man.
From his mother he Inherited his form
and beauty and wisdom. and from his
father the strength and courage and
power--and 80 he came 20 rule over
the land which the Manitou had Gre
ated.
so was the creation Of the Chosen
People who are the trIbesmen. and
who lived for ages under the sunshine
Of heaven and counseled with Manitou
and ruled long and well until IN later
years evil spirits came from the sea
and fought and wrestled with the
Chosen People and took away their
power and their strength. Then did
the Manitou intervene 10 set right the
Affairs Of earth and to give TO Us. who
are his children. those things which
are ours by right. But that, again. Is
another story. and too many stories nj
one time are not best for little ears.
Note-Iiere again we have legend
from the nomadic tribes Of the noun
tain district--the Utes. the Comanches
and all the tribes Of the great Sho-
shone family. This legend. EXPRESSED
In pictures. IL one OF the features OF
the tribal home In the great Ute reser-
walton at IgnacIo. Colo.
Little Pitehsra