Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa

CANADA DEPARTMENT OF MINES Hon. Louis Coderre, Minister; R. W. Brock, Deputy Minister.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
MEMOIR 71
No. 9, Anthropological Series
Myths and Folk-lore of the Timiskaming Algonquin and Timagami Ojibwa
BY F. G. Speck
OTTAWA Government Printing Bureau 1915 No. 1470
It is important to note, in dealing with myths in this area, that the scenes of the trickster-transformer’s adventures always lay in well known localities within the territory of the band among which the story is told. These vary considerably, so that the stories have to be gathered independently from each band before any thorough comparison can be attempted. In these myths the scene of action commences with Dumoine lake, Ki·we·′goma “Turn-back lake.” The other geographical references are as follows. The beaver’s cabin in the first story is a high round-topped mountain near the lake. Then came Coulonge river and Pembroke lakes. The Calumet chutes are below Allumette island in Ottawa river; they are called Apwa′ganiba‵utək “Pipe rapids,” because the stone at that place is suitable for making pipes and was there sought by the Indians for this purpose. The big river referred to is Ottawa river, Ki′tcisi·′bi “big river,” down which Wiske·djak’s course seems to have been. Other general qualities of the transformer attributed to him by the Indians were given by the informant and appear at the end of the cycle.
Wiske·djak was always in trouble. One time he was going along the shore of a big lake carrying a big pail. He felt very hungry and was looking for something to eat. Pretty soon he saw a lot of clumps of high-bush cranberries and commenced to eat from one little clump to another. Then he remembered his pail. Said he, “If I could pick my pail full, I would have a good supply to last me a long while.” So he began filling his pail, and as he went on he got into some big clumps. Suddenly he saw a big Bear sitting down among some bushes, every little while rubbing his eyes and picking out his paws as though something was hurting his eyes. Wiske·djak watched him a while and thought how nice it would be to kill him. What a big supply of food he would have then to fill his pail with! So he went up to the bear and said, “Hello, Bear! What’s the matter with you?” The Bear answered, “Oh! my eyes are so sore, and I can’t see where to go. I just wish somebody would help me.” “Well, come along with me. I will help you. I know where to get some fine medicine that will fix you up all right.” “Very well,” said the bear.