Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

Wolf and Lucky-Man meet on shore of big lake, where two ducks are swimming. Wolf challenges Lucky-Man to see who can endure rain longest. Lucky-Man wins. Wolf sends Duck down to fetch dirt from bottom of lake. Duck brings up mud, which Wolf throws in north and forms into prairie. Lucky-Man sends Duck for more mud, which he throws on south side of Wolf’s land. Hills and mountains are formed and buffalo are on land. There is channel between two countries created, occupied by Missouri River.

2. THE SPIDERS GIVE BIRTH TO PEOPLE.

Wolf and friend change Spider-Man and Woman by rubbing them with wild sage dipped in water and teach them how to lie together. Their progeny are human beings.

3. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.

Large people on earth long ago destroyed by flood, by Nesaru. People turn into corn and are put into cave with animals. Nesaru turns ear of corn into woman and sends her to bring people from earth. People and animals know her. Badger, Mole, and long-nosed Mouse offer to help her to take people out. They dig in turns. Thunder opens earth. People go out upon earth, journey west, leaving behind Badgers, long-nosed Mice, Moles, and some people who turn back into earth and become animals. People come to great basin, which Kingfisher fills up by striking bill into banks. Journey is continued until people stopped by timber, which is removed by Owl. They come to big lake. Loon parts waters. Mother-Corn returns to heavens. People here make games, first shinny and then javelins, to catch ring with. Winners kill those of other side. Mother-Corn returns to give people rules to go by. Man is selected as chief. He instructs people as to scalping. Mother-Corn makes bundle, songs, ritual, and ceremonies. Man instructs medicine-man, teaches them sleight-of-hand, and tells them to make village. Mother-Corn leads people to Republican River, Kansas. Awaho people come last and receive ceremonies from Mother-Corn. They offer smoke to gods. Dog comes to village and complains that Mother-Corn has left out Dog and Whirlwind. Dog has come from Sun, who has given it curative power. Whirlwind is disease, and if dog meat first offered as sacrifice gods will send storm to drive away disease. Whirlwind comes and Dog appeases gods and says he will be people’s guardian. Mother-Corn says gods in heavens are four world-quarters. They will send storm if smoke not given to them first. Mother-Corn is Cedar-Tree in front of lodge and Stone at right of her is man who established office of chief. Nesaru watches over them and gives them long life.

4. ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.

Mother-Corn is assisted by Badger, Gopher, long-nosed Mouse, and Mole to get people out of ground, as in No. 3. People see where other people helped out of ground by Buffalo. They start on journey and are stopped by obstacles, as in No. 3, and are helped by Kingfisher, Owl, and Loon. Some people stay behind as Worms, Birds, Fish, and Loons. [Mother-Corn offers smoke and sends animals for offerings to gods.] Prairie-Chicken kills wild-cat, which represents heavens, and brings it to Mother-Corn for offering. Three Stars in East bring Mother-Corn stone for pipe to form smoke. Pipe is made and filled with native tobacco. Prairie-Chicken takes pipe in succession to gods in Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast, and to Nesaru, all of whom smoke the pipe. Prairie-Chicken says sand blown by wind made white spots on its feathers. Smoking by Nesaru is to show consent to Mother-Corn having people on earth and that gods are to protect them. Dog comes and tells Mother-Corn that Whirlwind is angry for being slighted in smoke ceremony. Mother-Corn appeals to Nesaru and the gods for assistance. Woman says she will protect the people, and turns into Cedar-Tree. Big-Meteoric-Star falls from heavens by Cedar-Tree to assist. Whirlwind comes and people all run in all directions, and when Whirlwind strikes them it changes their language. People who stand on Cedar-Tree and Rock are Arikara. Wind strikes Mother-Corn and she vomits four times, water and ears of corn of different color. Whirlwind tells Mother-Corn it has left behind diseases, but says when they offer smoke to the gods they are to give it smoke last, that it may not come very often. Cedar-Tree asks Mother-Corn that it may be known as “Wonderful Grandmother” and be placed in front of the medicine-lodge. Big-Meteoric-Star asks to be known as “Wonderful Grandfather” and sit by Wonderful Grandmother in front of medicine-lodge. Dog asks, as he brought the news, to guard camps and villages and to be offered in ceremonies, and his fat to be used by medicine-men. Mother-Corn gives corn for seeds that corn may be offered to gods. People who scattered to be their enemies—to the southwest, “Sahe;” to northeast, “Pechea;” to the east, “Wooden-Faces;” to south, “Witchcraft-People.” Mother-Corn stays with people until she has taught them bundle ceremonies. She tells them to tie all children’s moccasins together on her back. Then they are to take her to river and throw her in. People do not understand and keep up singing in night. At daylight they find Mother-Corn has turned to ear of corn, with buffalo robe tied to it. People place children’s moccasins with corn and throw them with Mother-Corn and robe into river. Many years afterwards Mother-Corn returns and teaches more bundle ceremony songs and finally disappears.

5. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.

Many people in cave under ground with Corn, Mother of tribe. Mother-Corn sends four birds to find better world, but they are unsuccessful. Long-nosed Mouse, or Mole, Skunk, and Badger work, and at last Badger goes through hole, but falls asleep. Returns in morning and Mother-Corn forces her way through hole followed by all people. They march westward. They come to wide water, thick forest, deep ravine in succession, which Fish, Owl, and Kingfisher help them to cross. They see Buffalo on open prairie and are afraid, but Mole, Skunk, and Badger make holes all around animal. His blood sinks into ground and becomes stone, from which pipes were made. Buffalo butchered and flesh divided among different sacred bundles, with animal’s joints. People again go on westward and fowls, fishes, and animals separate from them and give Mother-Corn power. Mother-Corn separates from animals.