AN INDIAN STORY OF THE ROBIN

 

AN INDIAN STORY OF THE ROBIN 

NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN TALE

From Nature Study in Elementary Schools Second Reader by Mrs LL Wilson Ph D  by The MacMillan Company 

Very early was the little Indian boy taught to be brave and to endure. When he was 11 years old he had to leave his father's wigwam.
 He had to go and live in the forest by himself. Here he stayed for seven days. During all that time he did not eat even a corn cake. He did not take a drink of cool water from the stream.

He must not cry no matter how much he suffered. He must be patient and silent. Then there would come to the poor little fellow a Great Spirit. 

He would touch the boy and promise him that he would become a great warrior. 

He would give him, too, a new name. 

Once there was a great chief who had an only son.  

The child was not strong, but he was so gentle and good, that everyone loved him. 

When he was 11 years old, the poor little boy was sent to the forest. 

His mother wept when she took leave of him. She felt that she would never again see her darling. 

His father, too, was sad at heart. 

But the stern old chief felt that he must teach his son to be brave. He hoped that in time he might become head of the tribe. So he made him a little tent of birch logs.

And he spread on the floor a mat of reeds. 

Then the little boy lay down, and closed his eyes, and his father went away. 

After a few days the great chief came back and saw his little son pale and thin.

 "Father take me back," said he. "Take me back, or I shall die. 

"I do not want to be a great warrior. I want to love people, not to kill them."

 But the chief said: "Be patient, my son. In two more days I shall come for you again. 

"Then I shall bring you food, and take you home to your mother."

 On the seventh day he came and looked in the tent, and found it empty. 

But on the roof sat a robin, with a bright red breast, and sang this song:

Great chief, I was once your son, 

I shall al ways live near you, and love your people, 

I shall sing them this song:

"Chief, listen Chief, 

Be more gentle; be more loving; 

Chief, teach it, Chief; 

Be not fierce, oh, be not cruel, 

Love each other! Love each other! 

References:

1. British Birds J. Denham Bradburn 1903 

1.ROCKY MOUNTAIN EDUCATOR 1907

The Blue-Bird Song

 

1. I know the song that the blue-bird is  singing
 Out in the be apple-tree where he is of  swinging;

Brave little fellow the, skies may be dreary,-

Nothing cares  he while his heart is so  cheery;

Hark! how the music leaps out from his throat!

Hark was there ever so  merry  a note?

Listen a while and you'll hear what he's saying,

Up in the apple tree swinging and and swaying.

2. Dear little song blossoms down under the snow, 

You must be weary  of winter, I know; 

Hark! while I sing you a message of cheer,

Summer is coming and spring time is here! 

Dear little snow, drop I pray you a rise;

Bright yellow crocus, come, pen your  eyes;

Sweet little violets hid from the say cold,

Put on your mantle of purple and gold. 

References:

THE PRIMARY PLAN BOOK BY MARIAN M GEORGE MARCH A FLANAGAN COMPANY CHICAGO 1912

  

Turn Around Game- Hal Hai Jas

 Turn Around Game- Hal Hai Jas- Native American Indian Game 

Twenty or forty small sticks six inches long are taken in the palm, thrown up in the air, and as many as can be, caught on the back of the hand. Those that were caught, are then thrown up again, and, if possible, an odd number is caught in the palm. If an odd number: one, three, five, or seven is caught- one stick is kept by the player, who tries again. If none, or an even number is caught,- the opposite player takes his turn. He, who catches the last stick, wins all his opponents sticks, and then the game proceeds as at the beginning. Boys and girls play this game together. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913
2.Kinscella Readers Around the World in Story By HAZEL GERTRUDE KINSCELLA Illustrations by Ruth Mary Haliock Stories in Music Appreciation Book Six THE UNIVERSITY PUBLISHING CO Lincoln Chicago New York Dallas The University Publishing Company 1930 

Ring and Pin Game -Qua'quallis

 Ring and Pin Game -Qua'quallis - Native American Indian Game 

A piece of bone with a hole in it, or a disk of wood with a hole in it, is attached to one end of a pointed stick by a string four to seven feet long .The stick is held in the hand. and with a quick movement the disk is thrown into the air. The game is to catch the disk, while in motion, on the pointed end of the stick. 

 The ring and pin game (ajagaq), has its main distribution towards the east,  but, thereafter, quite disappears in the Mackenzie area and in Alaska, to appear again among a single Koryak tribe the Kerek, and in a modified form among the Chukchi- Like Mathiassen. I consider it to be very improbable that as Thalbitzer supposes there is any connection between the ring and pin game and the object described by Nelson in 1899 359 1. One might rather seek the connection in the hoop and pole game, which Culin also associates with the ring and pin game, and which with its diffusion among the Chukchi,2 Alaskan,3 and Copper Eskimos;- fills up the gap between the occurrence of the ring and pin game in the east, and among the Chukchi and Koryak. It is not the first time that we find an ancient element preserved among the Kerek; we saw it earlier with regard to snow houses and snow knives. We must therefore reckon with the ring and pin game as a common Eskimo element. It also occurs in the Thule Culture. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913
2.THE CARIBOU ESKIMOS MATERIAL AND SOCIAL LIFE AND THEIR CULTURAL POSITION BY KAJ BIRKET SMITH I DESCRIPTIVE PART GYLDEDDALSKE BOGHANDEL NORDISK FORLAG COPENHAGEN 1929 

3.INDIAN HERO TALES RETOLD BY GILBERT L WILSON PH D FIELD COLLECTOR FOR AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CITY OF NEW YORK Illustrated by FREDERICK N WILSON AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO 1916 

Ball and Darts Game- Hothamonne

  Ball and Darts Game- Hothamonne -Native American Indian Game

Make a ball out of fiber or some material that can be easily pierced; the Indians use yucca leaves. The darts are made of corn cobs, each with two feathers and a slender stick for a point.
The ball is placed on the ground, and the darts are thrown at it from a short distance. If the first player pierces the ball, his dart remains in place until the other one plays. If he, too, is successful, it is a tie. If the second player does not strike the ball, the first one throws again, and so on. The one who hits the ball, most often is the winner. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913
2. GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. BY STEWART CULLIN 1907

Quoits- Bas

  Quoits- Bas- Native American Indian Game 

Two common sticks, about one foot high, are set up as pegs, as far apart as one can pitch. The rings are made of rope and are about four inches in diameter, half of each ring is bound with white, and half with green cord. If in falling the green part of the ring touches the peg, it counts twice as much, as if the white touched. 

BAS QUOITS 

Drive two stakes into the ground, at a distance of fifteen or twenty feet. The stakes should be about twelve inches above ground. The rings are made of corn husks, about five inches in diameter and overwrapped with colored cord. If a ring touches the stake it counts only half as much as it would if it were thrown to completely encircle it. 

QUOITS 

The following games are akin to our game of quoits, but they do not appear to have anything in common with it mapart from a general resemblance. At the same time, it is not unlikely that the game was  played with stones by the Tarahumare, Mohave, and Zuñi may have been borrowed from the Spaniards. The last-named play with iron disks, rayuelas. The Zuñi regard their game as Mexican. I have here incorporated a Navaho game. like ring toss which may have had likewise a foreign origin. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913
2. OUTDOOR STUNTS FOR YOUNG AND OLD oward By ARTHUR H STROUSE 1926 Published by ARTHUR H STROUSE PUBLISHING CO LAKESIDE OHIO 

3.GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. BY STEWART CULLIN 1907

4. The Playground 1907

Archery Game- Zune

 Archery Game- Zune- Native American Indian Game  

The arrows are made out of twigs, about two inches long, with three feathers fastened to each.
This game can be played by any number, each one being provided with several arrows. Holding it between his index and middle fingers and thumb, (as one holds a pen), the first player throws an arrow a distance of some ten or twelve feet.

Then the second player throws, aiming to have the feathers of his arrow touch those of the one already on the ground. If he is successful, he takes both arrows, and makes another throw, when the next player aims at the arrow on the ground; if he fails, the arrow remains in place, and another player throws, and so on; each boy, taking the arrows which are touched by his arrow. The taker of the full number of arrows wins the game. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913

2. Games Of North American Indians 1907 

3.INDIAN HERO TALES RETOLD BY GILBERT L WILSON PH D FIELD COLLECTOR FOR AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CITY OF NEW YORK Illustrated by FREDERICK N WILSON AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO 1916

Kwai Indao-Native American Indian Game

Kwai Indao

 
Native American Indian Game

A set of forty or fifty sticks, representing ten different numbers (1 10), are placed in a row. The number which any stick represents is shown by the number of marks on it made by chalk, or other substance .All the sticks, representing the same number, are grouped together. The players alternately try to repeat from memory, blindfolded, the order in which these ten groups are arranged the number of pieces making it confusing.

Kwai- a word means "welcome"

SKITTAGETAN STOCK- HAIDA KAIGANI, Prince of Wales island ,Alaska 

Dr CF Newcombe describes the following game under the name of kwai indao.
A set of 40 or 50 sticks, representing ten different numbers are placed in a row. The playersm alternately, try to repeat from memory, blindfold, the order in which these ten numbers run.

References:

1. Everyland 1913

2. Games Of North American Indians 1907 

3.INDIAN HERO TALES RETOLD BY GILBERT L WILSON PH D FIELD COLLECTOR FOR AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY CITY OF NEW YORK Illustrated by FREDERICK N WILSON AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO 1916

Making the Wood Jump -Native American Indian Game

Making the Wood Jump- Ichapsil Eckunpi 

Native American Indian Game

The boys imagine themselves standing on the ice near the banks of a stream, which they have marked off on the ground. They take turns in hitting at a piece of wood in the stream, trying to send it flying into the air.

SIQUAN STOCK 

DAKOTA TETON 

South Dakota

 Rev. J. Owen Dorsey describes the game under the name ichapsil echunpi,- making the wood jump, by hitting it. When the boys play this game, an imaginary stream is marked off on the ground, and the players stand on imaginary ice near the shore. They take turns at knocking at a piece of wood in order to send it up into the air. He, who fails to send up the piece of wood, loses his stakes, and he, who succeeds, wins the stakes.  

References:

1. Everyland 1913
2. Annual Reports Vol.24 1907

3.THE CLASSROOM TEACHER VOLUME XII THE CLASSROOM TEACHER INC CHICAGO 1927

Battledore and Shuttlecock -Onumla game

Battledore and Shuttlecock -Onumla game 

Game Of Native American Indians

The battledore is a thin circular board, nine inches in diameter, with a wooden handle. The shuttlecock is a stout twig, with three feathers, tied securely to it. If there are several players, they stand in a ring, and bat the

shuttlecock to the next player to the right. 

Should the one batting send the shuttlecock behind his neighbor, he must drop out of the circle.

Should the one, to whom the shuttlecock is batted, fail to hit it with his battledore and send it on properly to his neighbor, he must drop out of the circle. Thus the circle contracts until two. and finally only one is left.The last one is pronounced the winner. 

References:

1. Everyland 1913

2.SPORTS SPICED AND PASTIMES PEPPERED BY GREENDRAGON AND DANDELION JUDY OFFICE 99 SHOE LANE FLEET STREET EC 

3.GAMES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS ETH ANN 24 1907

Ring and Arrow Game -Tokoinawas

 Ring and Arrow Game- Tokoinawas 

A ring  of seven inches in diameter is made out of dry corn husks, over -wrapped with half with white and half with red cord, and four corn-cob darts, each with two feathers and wooden points about ten inches in length.

Four play the game. Two facing each other roll the ring back and forth. The other two on opposite sides, shoot at it with darts. The arrows are shot from the hand, being so held, that the middle finger runs between the two feathers.The one, who hits the ring, or shoots through it the oftenest, in ten rolls, wins. 

Four play the game.

 One man rolls the ring by two opponents, one of whom shoots at it with a blunt arrow with a bow, tä-lip. If he knocks it over, it counts 1 point; if he transfixes it,- counts 10 points. Each part of the arrows used in this game, which are 30 inches long, has a name quite different from those of war, small game, or flight arrows. The foreshaft is literally "come to us." The shaft is literally "tied together," or "links." The feathers are literally "appointed season." I could get no light on the reason for so naming them. 

References:

1.Everyland 1913
2. TWENTY FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT PL I BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 1907

The Prayer of the Omaha Boy

 The Prayer of the Omaha Boy 

By Janet Ogden 

In preparation for the rite, practised on attaining manhood, the Omaha youth was taught the tribal prayer. He was to sing it during the four nights and days of his vigil in some lonely place.
                                                                                                       G Stanley Hall 

Wa-kon-da, Maker of Men, 

Wa-kon-da, Spirit of Might, 

Wa-kon-da, Father of all Things, 

Wa-kon-da, Giver of Light, 

"Here needy he stands;

 I am he!"

Wa-kon-da, Maker of Men!

My hands I stretch forth to Thee 

Wet with my tears, as I pray 

The prayer of my tribe's decree: 

"Here needy he stands; 

I am he!"

Wa-kon-da, Maker of Men, 

A man, born to-day, calls to Thee! 

Faint with the fasting he trembles; 

Give Thou of Thy strength is his plea. 

"Here needy he stands; 

I am he!"  

Wa-kon-da, Maker of Men, 

From the air comes the mystic song, 

The breath of the wind breathes the cadence, 

The voice of his soul, new born. 

"Here needy he stands; 

I am he!" 

Wa-kon-da, Maker of Men! 

His prayer has reached up in truth 

Once more in the countless ages, 

Thou heedest the words of a youth: 

"Here needy he stands; 

I am he!" 

References:

1.Everyland 1913

The Indian on the Nickel

 The Indian on the Nickel - The History Of The USA 

BY JOHN JAY 

Not many people know that the new five-cent piece bears the portrait of real live Indian. It is the Sioux Chief, Iron Tail. In foreign countries the faces of kings or are often placed on the money of the land. In the United States we have picture of Lincoln on our new pennies, and McKinley and a number other statesmen on our paper money, but Iron Tail is the only living man who is shown in this way. Of course, the designer used his picture because his face is typical of all Indians. But the chief is very proud of his distinction. When any one asks him for his picture, he promptly gives them one of the new nickels. On the oppo site side of these coins is an excellent representation of the buffalo, which was so closely associated with the old life of the Indians of the plains.  

Themes: Reading Lesson, Silent Reading, Civic Education, Patriotism.

References:

1.Everyland 1913