t seems strange that the Iroquois should have named our Big Dipper with the other name by which we also know it. They called it the Great Bear, and pointed it out to the white man in early days.
The Iroquois have this story about the Great Bear in the sky:
Seven braves were chasing a bear, which ran from the woods to a mountain. This mountain was the home of a stone giant; all but three hunters were destroyed by the falling stones which he threw.
The three hunters with the bear were lifted up into the sky by the spirits of the four winds.
The bear can be seen in the sky. He is followed by the first hunter, who has his bow in his hand. The second hunter comes next with a kettle. The third hunter is far behind them all, and he is gathering sticks.
The first hunter shoots at the bear in the Moon of Falling Leaves. The red maple leaves and the leaves [[156]]of the oak show the hurt the bear has received. After this moon the bear hides for a time, but he comes back after a while as brave as ever.
The hunter with the bow never kills him; the hunter with the kettle never cooks his flesh; the hunter gathering sticks never builds the fire. [[157]]