Now, I will tell a traditional story Ahaw, ngad aadzooke, meaning, “Now, I will tell a traditional story.” In the olden days, a storyteller usually prefaced a tale or narrative by uttering this sacred invocation - traditionally only in winter because it was then, in the time between the first autumn snowfall and the melting of the ice on the rivers and lakes in early spring, that the grandfather-spirits were closest to humankind. It was a statement that basically said that it was a manidoo (a being from the spirit world) that had inspired the storyteller to share the tale. The story we are about to tell is inspired on - ad loosely based - on a tale related in the mid-1800s by Dagwaagaane, the gichi-ogimaa (head chief) of the Crane Clan.* Many moons ago, GICHI-MANIDOO sent Ajijaak (a sandhill crane) to earth on a mission. While the spirit-bird was descending, he uttered loud and far sounding cries heard by ininiwag (humans) and manidoog (spirits) alike. Some say the cries must even have startled Makadeshigan, the spirit of the Underworld! Slowly circling down above Gichigamiin, the Great Fresh Water Lakes, sending forth his echoing cry, pleased with the numerous whitefish that glanced and swam in the clear waters and sparkling foam of the rapids, crane finally chose a resting place (known as the fifth stopping place) on a hill overlooking beautiful Baawiting. Again the crane sent forth his solitary cry and the clans of Makwa (bear), Awaasii (catfish), Aaawaa (loon) and Moozoonii-Waabizhesh (combined clans of little moose and marten) gathered at his call. They soon congregated a large town near the Rapids and a Ceremonial Lodge of the Midewiwin (Grand Medicine Society) was erected there, and for the second time since the People had left the Dawn Land the sound of the Midewiwin Grandfather Drum reverberated across the land and the waters. Since then the crane, who is sometimes called Baswenaazhi (the Echo Maker) and regarded as a symbol of eloquence and leadership, presides over all councils.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:25:45 +0000
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