A Story of Inktomni and the Grouse

 

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First a story of one of the primary characters in our history is a mythical creature known as îktomni, (alias Thichâ uski , Wesackajack, Nanabush, Gloose Cap, Napi). This mythical person is well known throughout Aboriginal histories. He is the one responsible of many of natures ways and the shape and habits of animals. One of these stories is the story of the how the grouse came to be the way they are.

 

“ One day îktomni was walking on an animal trial as he often did and saw that he was coming up to a lovely brown bird singing a beautiful song. This bird was perched on a limb overhanging the trail about a couple metres high. îktomni came up to the bird and said “hey thûk”, this was the kinship term that îktomni used to use for everything that he met, but the bird did not acknowledge him. Then he moved closer and  asked the bird:

 

What is your name? The bird faced another direction and kept on singing. Again îktomni ask: What is your name? The bird peered over a leaf and down its nose at înktomni, looking clearly bothered, and replied Thicha.

 

Inktomni replied that is a nice name but everything has two names. What is your other name? The bird, clearly irritated, replied Waosiye giyan “he who scares them” and continued with its singing.

Inktomni replied with a grin: what do you mean “he who scares them”? You don’t look like something that would be able to scare anything. “Well that is my name” said the bird turning its back on Thicha uski in a rather disrespectful way. Where upon Thicha uski, having enough of the behaviour of the bird, asked the bird: has anybody ever taught you how to behave when you meet people? The bird replied:

 

: yes but I am special. I am pretty, graceful, able to fly long distances and I have a beautiful voice. I don’t have to follow rules like others.

 

With this Thicha Uski grabbed the bird and picked up some buffalo chips and proceeded to rub the bird with it. This turned the bird’s color to a speckled brown and white.

 

Then Thicha Uski told the bird that from now on you will be this color, you will not be able to fly long distances and your voice will only be chirps. After this Thicha Uski continued on his journey along the bank of the creek.

 

After having gone along the creek awhile Thicâ yuski heard a rushing water and decided to cross the wide creek there. He knew creeks usually narrowed at water fall areas. When he got to the falls he could see from a distance that he could jump over the creek right above the falls. Upon seeing that he backed up to have a running start for his jump and he started running to jump over the falls. Just as he was about to take the last step, to jump, a big thundering sound came from right by his feet that startled him and made stumble. He stumbled and dove into the pool made by the waterfalls. It had been Thica that startled him. That was why Thica second name was waosiye giyen” he who scares them”. When Thica starts to fly away it makes a thundering sound. Sounds like your heart beating loudly.

 

When Thica starts to fly away it makes a thundering sound. Sounds like your heart beating loudly.

 

After that Thicâ yuski said: “ I think I’ll just visit with the fish” and settled right where the water in pool starts to flow downstream.