3 Myths of the North American Iroquois Tribe
By: Oliver Thomas Spedding
Tags: Tribes Of North America, America, Legends, Myths, American History

The Thunderers, The Stone Giantess and The Healing Waters.

By

Oliver T. Spedding

The Iroquois tribe was also known as the “Long House People” and lived in the western part of what is today New York State.

THE THUNDERERS

Three braves set out on an expedition but they had only journeyed for a short time before adversity struck; one of them broke a leg.

The injured man’s two companions made a litter on which to carry him and began retracing their steps to their camp.

The trip was arduous and when they came to a particularly high range of mountains they set the injured man down on the ground and withdrew a short distance.

“We are burdening ourselves with this man who, through his own carelessness, has injured himself.” the one brave said.

“You are correct.” the other brave said. “He is a burden that we do not need.”

The first man pointed to a nearby deep pit in the side of the mountain.

“Let us dispose of him in there.” he said.

Silently the two braves returned to where their injured companion lay, picked him up as if to continue their journey.

As they passed the deep hole though, they hurled the man into the pit with great force before continuing on their journey home.

When the two men arrived at the camp they told the mother of their comrade that he had been killed in a fight with their enemies but that they had been able to escape.

Back at the deep pit, the injured man regained consciousness and found a stranger of revered features bending over him.

“Why did your comrades dispose of you here?” the man asked.

“They were tired of carrying me and decided to get rid of me.” the brave replied.

The stranger inspected the injured man carefully.

“I can cure you.” he said. “There is one condition though. You must hunt for me every day and bring me all the game that you slay.”

The young brave agreed to this and the old man quickly healed him using special herbs and poultices.

The young warrior soon began bringing back food for the old man regularly and the two quickly became good friends.

One day when the young brave was out hunting he encountered a large bear that he was able to slay.

As he was contemplating how to carry the dead creature back to his companion he noticed three being in the shape of men but clad in strange almost transparent clothes watching him.

“What are you doing here?” the young brave asked.

“We are people of Hi’nun known as the Thunderers.” one of the men said. “Our mission is to keep the earth in good order for the benefit of all its people. We must warn you that your companion in the deep hole is an imposter and we have come to earth to destroy him. If you help us achieve this we will ensure your return to your mother’s lodge.”

“I will do this.” the young brave said.

The young man returned to the deep hole.

“I have slain a huge bear.” he told the old man. “It is too big for me to carry on my own. Please come and help me carry it.”

“Before I go with you, please examine the sky and see if there are any clouds.” the old man said.

The young brave stared up at the sky.

“There are no clouds.” he said.

The old man nodded and followed the brave to the dead bear.

To the brave’s amazement the old man picked up the carcass and began carrying it back to the deep hole.

Suddenly dark clouds appeared above the man and there was a thunderous clap of thunder.

The old man threw down the carcass and began to flee and as he ran he quickly changed into a enormous porcupine, discharging quills like arrows as he ran.

Thunderbolts flashed around the fleeing porcupine and as he reached the big hole a large thunderbolt struck the creature and it rolled into the hole and died.

When the Thunderers reappeared the young brave requested that they now fulfill their promise and return him to his mother’s lodge.

The Thunderers fastened cloud-wings onto the brave’s shoulders and carried him carefully to the lodge.

The old widow was delighted to see her son.

The Thunderers were very pleased with the brave’s assistance and asked him to accompany them in their monster-destroying quests each spring.

On one such quest the brave stopped to drink from a certain pool that caused his lips to shine as if covered by oil.

The Thunderers told the brave that an immense Grub and its species that destroyed the standing crops lived in the pool and they had been searching for this grub for many years.

They proceeded to hurl a great thunderbolt into the pool.

The pool immediately dried up and exposed a giant grub, the King of Grubs, lying dead on the bottom.

The brave returned to his camp and told the people of his exploits and the help that Hi’nun had given him.

The people instituted a special worship of the deity and made him supreme god of their nation.

Even today many Iroquois refer to Hi’nun as their grandfather.

THE STONE GIANTESS

It was customary in bygone times for the wife of the hunter to accompany her husband in the hunt and carry back and cook the meat for him.

The wife of a certain very skilful Iroquois chief always accompanied her husband as his companion and helper when he went hunting.

On one such excursion the hunter found such an abundance of game that he built a wigwam there and settled there with his wife and child.

One day the wife set out to retrieve the game that the hunter had killed the previous day.

When she returned she heard the voice of another woman in the hut.

She entered the abode and discovered that the visitor was a Stone Giantess and she was holding the woman’s child in her arms.

“Do not be afraid.” the giantess said. “Come inside.”

The hunter’s wife entered the wigwam and saw that the giantess was worn with trouble and exhaustion.

“I have traveled from the land of the Stone Giants, fleeing from my cruel husband who wishes to kill me.” the giantess said. “I have sought shelter here and will assist you with your daily tasks. I am also very hungry but whatever you feed me must never be raw or underdone, for if I should taste blood it will tempt me to kill you and your husband.”

The woman agreed and fed the giantess with well-cooked food.

The following morning the giantess set out to collect the game that the hunter had killed the previous day, telling the woman that she already knew where the game was to be found.

She returned later with game that would have taken four men to carry.

When the time came for the hunter to return, the wife went out to greet him and explained the presence of the giantess.

He was pleased and welcomed the visitor.

The following morning he again went out to hunt and the giantess spoke to the wife urgently.

“My cruel husband is searching for me and will arrive here in three day’s time. Your husband must remain here on that day and help me to slay him.”

On the third day the husband remained in the wigwam and soon they heard a great commotion outside.

“My husband has arrived.” the giantess said. “You must both help me to hold him. Strike him where I tell you and we will kill him.”

Although the hunter and his wife were terrified, the firmness and courage of the giantess reassured them and they waited for the monster’s appearance.

When the giant appeared the giantess rushed to him and threw him to the ground.

“Strike him on the arms!” she told the hunter. “Now on the nape of the neck!”

The hunter and his wife obeyed and the giant died.

“I will now go and bury him.” the giantess said.

That was the end of the Stone Giant and his wife stayed in the wigwam with the hunter, his wife and their child until it was time for her to return to her own people.

As she departed she thanked the couple for their help.

“My husband is dead.” she said. “I have nothing to fear now. Thank you for helping me.”

THE HEALING WATERS

A dreadful plague had visited the people one winter as the snow lay thick on the ground.

Many people had died and even whole families had perished.

A handsome young brave with the name Nekumonta had lost his parents, brothers, sisters and children to the plague and now his beloved wife Shanewis was dying.

Helplessly he had watched them die, unable to help them.

Nekumonta was determined to fight the plague and save Shanewis.

“The Great Manitou had planted the healing herbs somewhere.” he said. “I must find them, wherever they are.”

Nekumonta made Shanewis comfortable and covered her with warm furs, embraced her and set out to find the cure.

All day in the freezing cold of the forest he searched but the snow lay too deep and not even one blade of grass was to be seen.

For three days Nekumonta wandered through the forest, across rivers and over hills but to no avail.

He asked the animals to show him where the Great Manitou had planted the magic herbs but they all gave him no reply.

How could they tell him that his search was in vain?

As Nekumonta lay exhausted in the snow on the third night, all the creatures of the forest came to watch over him, remembering his kindness to them, that he had never slain an animal other than for food or clothing and had loved and protected the trees and the flowers.

In their desperation to help Nekumonta they called on the Great Manitou to save his wife from the terrible plague.

The Great Spirit heard their pleas and responded.

A dream came to Nekumonta as he slept.

In the dream he saw his beautiful Shanewis who looked at him and sang a sweet song like the sound of a distant waterfall.

“Seek us, O Nekumonta, and when you find us Shanewis will live. We are the Healing Waters of the great Manitou.” the waterfall in the dream called.

Nekumonta woke with the words of the song ringing in his ears.

He looked around but there was no water to be seen.

He searched far and wide but in vain.

Then it came to his mind that the waters must be beneath his feet.

Using branches, stones and flints, Nekumonta dug zealously into the earth.

At last the hidden spring was exposed and the healing waters began to flow merrily, carrying life and happiness wherever they went.

Giving thanks to the Great Manitou, Nekumonta made a jar of clay, baked it in a fire and filled it with the precious water so that he might carry life to Shanewis.

Rejoicing, he sped like the wind back to his beloved Shanewis.

Nekumonta reached the village and directed the people to the Healing Waters and inspired them with new hope.

He then hurried to Shanewis and found her on the verge of Shadow-land.

He forced some of the Healing Waters between her parched lips and bathed her hands and her fevered brow until she fell into a peaceful slumber.

When Shanewis awoke the fever had disappeared and she was smiling and serene.

Nekumonta’s heart was filled with a great contentment.

The tribe was free of the dreaded plague and they gave Nekumonta the title of “Chief of the Healing Waters” so that all would know that it was he who had brought them the great gift of Manitou.

***

Graphic — Symbols — Oliver T. Spedding [Coyote — Bear — Eagle — End trail — Kokopelli (fertility deity) — Rain]

Photographs

Photo 1 — Photo by Martin Robles on Unsplash