Wigwam stories told by North American Indians — John Shaqi
Wigwam stories told by North American Indians
History
Wigwam stories told by North American Indians
Indians of North America; Indians of North America -- Folklore
Another hunter from the same tribe found him after three days. He had
trailed him by the little marks on the trees; by bent twigs and
branches; by his footprints in the mud or sand. He knew the lost one
was very weak and hungry, for the last fox picture had three circles to
show that he had been lost three days, and other marks to show that he
had shot nothing. An untrained white hunter would not have seen one
sign of the lost Indian.
If the Fox Indian had been asked why he used the fox picture, he would
have said, if ready to talk: “My grandfather was a fox.” This would
mean to us that his totem or first ancestor was a fox.
Other tribes believe they are descended from bears, wolves, cranes, or
other creatures. They nearly all have their totems, or sign-pictures.
We write our names with letters; they use pictures. It is their
coat-of-arms. Our names also have meanings.
The tall, curiously carved totem poles of Alaska are really carved
family histories. Where two or more animals are pictured on one pole it
shows the marriage or other union of different bands to which the
family belongs. These totem poles are usually put up before each native
house. The natives will not sell them, for they are valuable family
records.
A Dakota warrior shot an arrow into the sky; the clouds parted just as
his arrow turned to fall. He was thought to have shot the clouds; he
was called Hole-in-the-sky.
Old Chief Sleepy-eye had a bright mind, but his eyelids did not serve
him well; hence his name.
In some tribes the little ones are named after the first object that is
seen, as Buffalo Horn, White Pony, Lame Dog, and names that are
sometimes better but more often seem to us not so good.
The Sioux have names for their boys or girls according to their order
of birth. The first boy is called Chaska, until by some feat of bravery
he changes it himself. The second son is Harpam; his next brother is
Hapeda; the fourth son is Chatun; and the fifth boy has the name of
Harka all ready for him.
The first girl has the musical name of Winona, and her next younger
sister takes the name of Harpan. Harpstena will be the name of the
third girl baby. Waska and Weharka are for the fourth and fifth girls
of a family, and other names are provided for a greater number of
children.
The Indians have titles and descriptive names for the white people whom
they know. A certain military surgeon who has been among them and has
keen, dark eyes and gray hair is always called Gray Eagle. Their senses
are trained to observe very keenly, and they quickly know each person.
Perhaps the paleface might be startled if he understood the name they
gave him.
Some Indian tribes call the horse Foot-with-one-toe. Few white
Americans would have noticed the horse’s foot so closely.
THE INDIAN NAMES FOR THE MONTHS OR MOONS
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