Gifts of the Little People

Mohawk Story

Once there was a boy whose parents died. He lived with his uncle, who did not treat him well. The uncle dressed the boy in rags and because of that the boy was called Dirty Clothes.

He was a good hunter, he was always in the forest hunting for food for his lazy uncle. One day he was walking near the river, two squirrels hanging from his belt. He walked near the cliffs which rose from the river. This is where the Jo-Ge-Oh, the little people often beat their drums. Most of the hunters from his Village were afraid to go near the place, but he remembered the words of his Mother: “When ever you walk with good in your heart, you should not be afraid.”

A hickory tree grew near the river. He saw something moving in the branches. A black squirrel was hopping about, up close to the top of the tree. Then Dirty Clothes heard a small voice: “shoot again brother” the small voice said “you have not hit him yet.”

He looked down and there, near his feet, were two small hunters. As he watched them, one of them shot an arrow, but it fell short. “Ah” Dirty Clothes thought:” they will never succeed like that. I must help them”. He drew his bow and with one shot he brought down the squirrel.

The tiny hunters ran to the squirrel. “Whose arrow is this?” asked one of them. They looked up, and saw the boy. “Eee-yah” said one of the tiny hunters:” you shoot well, the squirrel is yours.

“Thank you” he answered:” but the squirrel is yours and also these others I shot today”.

The two tiny hunters were very glad. “Come with us” they said ” Come visit our lodge, so we can thank you properly.” Dirty Clothes thought about his uncle, but it was early in the day, he could hunt some more after he visited them. ” I will come with you ” he said.

The two tiny hunters led the boy to the river. There a tiny canoe was waiting, only as big as one of his moccasins, but his friends stepped into it. He took one step…..and he found that he became as small as they were, and was sitting with them in the canoe.

The two tiny hunters dipped their paddles in the river and up and away they went. The canoe rose into the air. It flew over the hickory tree, straight to the cliffs, and into a cave. The place where the Jo-Ge-Oh people lived.

There the two hunters told their story to the other little people, who gathered there to greet the boy as a friend. “You must stay with us” his new friends said. ” even if it is only for a short time, so we can teach you”.

Then the Jo-Ge-Oh taught Dirty Clothes things that he never knew before. They told him many useful things about the birds and forest animals. They taught him about the corn and the squash and about the beans that the humans planted. They taught him about the strawberries that glow each June, like embers in the grass.

They showed him how to make a special drink that the little people like very much. Last they showed him a special dance to teach his people, a dance for a dark place so the little people can come and dance with them unseen. A dance to honor the Jo-Ge-Oh. He thanked them for their gifts.

Four days passed and the boy knew that the time had come for him to leave. The little hunters said,”we will go with you, but before you go we must give you a new name, from now on you will be known as the Mighty Hunter”.

So it was that the two tiny hunters and the boy set out walking towards the village. His two friends pointed out many plants which were useful and the boy looked at each plant carefully, remembering the name. Later when he turned to talk to his friends, he found himself all alone in a field near the edge of his village.

He walked into his village, wondering how so many things had changed in just four days. It was the same village, yet nothing was the same.

People watched him as he walked around and finally a woman came up to him:” You are welcome here stranger” said the woman.” Please tell us who you are”…..”Don’t you know me?” He answered: ” I am Dirty Clothes, but now I am called the Mighty Hunter”. Then the woman said:” I can see why they call you Mighty Hunter; your clothes are so beautiful and you carry a strong bow”.

He looked at himself and saw that the old rags were gone. The things he wore now were fine buckskin, embroidered with Moose hair and Porcupine quills.

“Where is my Uncle?” He asked the woman, “the one that lived in that Lodge? The one that dressed his nephew in rags?” Then an old man spoke up from the crowd: “That lazy person? He has been dead for many years, and why would a fine young warrior, like you look for such a man?” The boy looked at himself and saw that he was no longer a boy. He became a full grown man and towered over the people of his village. “I see,” he said “The Little People had given me more gifts than I thought.” And he began to tell his story.

The wisest of the old men and women listened well to this young warrior. The learned many things by so listening. That night all his people danced the Dark Dance to thank the Jo-Ge-Oh for their gifts.

In the darkness of the lodge, they heard the voices of the Little People joining in the song, glad to know that the human beings were grateful for their gifts.

So it is, that the Little People remain friends with the people of the Longhouse and the Dark Dance is done, even today.

 

 

I work with Muskwa International Foundation Inc. which is an entity that was formed to assist the street children in the Philippines, mostly in Manila and Davao, the two largest cities in the Philippines.  You can find out about their projects here Street Children and Natural Disasters.

The stories I tell here I learned from the Elders and Story tellers and I am passing them on with their blessings. These stories can be anything from 4,000 to 5,000 years old.