IV. THE FACE OF THE GREAT MANITOU IN THE ROCK
The great stone pipes of all tribes of Indians are made in the Valley of Peace. The Valley of Peace has high walls of rock. This rock is soft when it is first cut; it is red and white.
No Indian may harm any one in this valley. Enemies must not know war here. Dakotas, Chippewas, Pawnees, tribes of the south and tribes of the north buried their tomahawks when they met in the Valley of Peace. This is true; the tribes gathered here to make their calumets. The calumet is the pipe of peace.
The Falls of the Winniwissi are in the Pipestone Valley. The music of the falling water is like the song of peace.
Near the Falls of Winniwissi is a high rock. When the braves come to the Valley of Peace they see a great face in this rock. They see it when far away on the long trail. It is the face of the Great Manitou. It is the face of the Great Spirit.
All the tribes believe that the water spirits cut this face on the rock. It is Wahkan. It is sacred. [[94]]
The Dakotas believe that Toonkan, the oldest of all the gods, lives in stone. Stone was made first. Toonkan lived first. He lives in every rock. He loves best the great rocks. They are his home. The Indians worship the face in the rock. It is Toonkan watching them. He will bring them back alive from battle. He will help them in the fight with the bear.
The Indians lift their pipes and let the smoke blow toward the Great Stone Face. They sing songs to him; he helps the tribes.
There is another Great Spirit who lives in the sun. These two Great Spirits know each other.
The Dakota prays to the sun. One of his prayers is this:
“Wahkan Ate! onshemada!” (“Sacred Spirit, Father! have mercy on me.”)
The Chippewas fear their manitous. They are careful not to offend them; there are many little manitous; there are many manitous that try to do harm. The good manitous are wiser than the bad manitous. The Indian must not forget to pray to the Great Manitou. He must not forget the little manitous. [[95]]
Alaskan Indian Women with Baskets
From a Photograph
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