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