It's A Work Day!

Yes, it is an anonymous time, as names and faces cannot be shown. I can't share too much, anything that may identify anyone, except me. It is nanaboozhoo story time today. Then again, it may not be as there is not much snow on the ground on this day.

Tomorrow will be different; we could have a fresh 7 or 8 inches of snow. After reading about 103 weather in other parts of the world, where they have summer now, I don't mind our weather.

So what story will I tell if I need snow on the ground to tell a nanaboozhoo story? How about this one?

Several years ago now, I was at a Tiospye (extended family or community group in the Dakota language), and an elder Lakota woman was telling this story, and her granddaughter was interpreting in English.

Iktomi is a spider and a trickster. There were probably 15 to 20 people listening to the story. I've told this story over the years and have had some interesting comments.

Iktomi had three daughters. When his oldest daughter came of age, she had suitors (dates, hookups, interested males). After several suitors came and went, Iktomi made a decision, and the oldest daughter went off to start a family.

Next, the middle daughter came of age, and the same process happened, but Iktomi did not approve of any of the suitors. The daughter was beautiful, and no one stood up to Iktomi's choosing. Eventually, there were no more suitors.

When daughter number three came of age, she wanted no suitors as she already had strong feelings for a neighboring family male, and Iktomi approved, and she was married.

One day, not long after that marriage, the three sisters and their mother decided to approach Iktomi with a request to allow daughter number two the right to have a family of her own.

Iktomi said he would think about it, and the next day, he came out with a map and directions to find her mate. They were all excited and helped her to pack.

(The trail is extensive, and the story has lots of detail that I leave out.)

The next day, she left home early, anxious to meet her mate. When she finally reaches her destination, no one is there when she calls out except a teepee, with smoke billowing from inside the teepee.

After a short time, she goes in, and she doesn't see anyone until arms wrap around her from the back, and just that quick, she turns and knocks him to the ground.

As she opens the door to leave, she sees Iktomi lying there. She runs home as fast as she can and tells her mother and sisters what happened. Her mother then says, "Come with me and bring a stick!"

They go out on the trail, and when Iktomi comes by, the mother throws a blanket over him, and they all beat him with sticks!

(At this point in the story, the elder woman starts to laugh, and she is laughing and laughing, and that is the end of the story. What do you think? Many guessed, and I thought I knew what happened when I heard it: Incest is not okay... and if you try it, you will be punished. Until I heard others' comments.)

Definitely a lesson of some sort. For whom it was not clear for most. What do you think? Over the years, many have shared what they heard with me. Is it the way I tell it or does it come from my life experiences and theirs? Before police, judges, law enforcement, what did the people do?

I tell stories all year long and one guest at this job asked that I not share this story anymore. She didn't share why. If you think you know, please tell me.