Notes on the Fox Wâpanōwiwenit / by Truman Michelson.

  • Michelson, Truman, 1879-1938.
Date:
1932
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Notes on the Fox Wâpanōwiwenit / by Truman Michelson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Some time afterwards one came in. They did exactly so. The very last was the Gentle Manitou. Then, it is said, all bowed their heads suddenly at the time he came and entered. That man spoke as softly as possible. “Now, men, look about,” they were told. They just then raised their heads. Then, it is said, his grandfather began to narrate. “Well, my fellow manitous, the reason why I call you together to-day is this our grand¬ child. This is how I think of him. At the time his father disappeared I more than pitied him because he did not know what (his father) looked like. That is why I pitied him. Verily to-day at the time when he had (become sufficiently old to be) observant, he thought greatly of his father. You know full well that he was addressed by all the manitous. Verily he was persuaded in any manner by none. Verily he assented to me. And I surely have greatly excelled those who spoke to him that way. I first thought that of him a long time ago. So to-day I show you our grandchild. You will listen to what I thought of him and how I took compassion upon him. And he will listen to us in person, that is, this future mortal. Yet I do not think of him just for fun. Nor is my wish for him easy. I shall speak to him as is indeed right. And then you will have all heard this from me. That is all, men,” the manitous. When the manitous gave their consent this earth roared four times. “Now I shall begin to instruct my grandchild,” he said. “Well, my grandchild, this is how I think of you: when this sun ceases to come here, and when this daylight ceases to come here, and when this wind ceases to come here, and when this earth is destroyed is as far as I think of you to take care of this sacred pack. And as soon as the manitou has again planted this earth to be clean then again you will begin to know about these things. This indeed is how you will know them. As you know them now you will also know them. You will think, ‘why the reason why I know them is because my grand¬ father has taken compassion upon (i. e., blessed) me.’ These who are only listening to me here as I take compassion upon you are not small. That is why I said to you before, ‘I am not making my mouth sweet for you/ I have precisely now made eternal plans for you. And only as many of you as are members of the Bear gens shall worship this sacred pack. A member of any other gens may indeed eat at any time. And you shall call it ‘I am going to celebrate a gens festival/ whenever you bring me your cooked food. Verily I shall always think the same of you, so be it, even if you live to be a very old man. You will continue to exist as a mortal for a long time. That is how I think of you. Moreover, you will go about striking down your foes whenever you so desire. That, my grandchild, is the very last thing I say to you, my grandchild,” he was told.