July 26, 2025 • 15 mins
Get enthralled by the vivid and engaging account of a Sioux childs life during the last era of the tribes untamed existence in the 19th century, before the encroachment of civilization. Charles Eastman, born in 1858 in Minnesota, takes you through his exhilarating journey from the lush forests of the land of lakes to the boundless prairies of the Dakota territory. Experience his extensive training in woodcraft, horsemanship, and hunting, and delve into the captivating stories passed down from his elders that formed the core of his tribes oral traditions. Eastman paints an honest picture of the dangers that were part and parcel of such a lifestyle, but also conveys the sheer joy and thrill of the adventures. As you listen, you may find yourself yearning for the freedom to ride across the wild prairie just like young Ohiyesa.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Part nine, Chapter one of Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Part nine
More Legends, Chapter one, A Legend of Devil's Lake. After
the death of Smoky Day, Old Wayuha was regarded as
the greatest story teller among the Wapitan. Sioux, tell me, good, Wayuha,
(00:25):
a legend of your father's country, I said to him
one evening, for I knew the country which is now
known as North Dakota and Southern Manitoba was their ancient
hunting ground. I was prompted by Uncheedah to make this
request after the old man had eaten in our lodge
many years ago. He began as he passed the pipe
(00:48):
to Uncle. We traveled from the Otter Tale to Many
Walk on Devil's Lake. At that time, the mound was
very distinct where Chota Honka lies buried. The people of
his immediate band had taken care to preserve it. This mound,
(01:09):
under which lies the great medicine Man, is upon the
summit of many wakan Chantey, the highest hill in all
that region. It is shaped like an animal's heart, placed
on its base with the apex upward. The reason why
this hill is called many wakan Chantey, or the heart
(01:31):
of the mysterious land. I will now tell you it
has been handed down from generation to generation, far beyond
the memory of our great grandparents. It was in Chotanka's
mine of descent that these legends were originally kept. But
(01:51):
when he died, the stories became everybody's, and then no
one believed in them. It was to in this way
I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of
the story teller, And now I took a deep breath
and settled myself so that I might not disturb him
(02:12):
by the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale.
We were taught this courtesy to our elders, but I
was impulsive and sometimes forgot a long time ago resumed Wayouha.
The red people were many in number, and they inhabited
all the land, from the coldest place to the region
(02:34):
of perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all
of one tongue, and all were friends. All the animals
were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the elk,
the antelope were tribes of considerable importance. The bears were
(02:55):
a smaller band, But they obeyed the mandates of the
Great Mystery and were his favorites. And for this reason
they have always known more about the secrets of medicine.
So they were held in much honor. The wolves, too
were highly regarded at one time, but the buffalo, elk, moose, deer,
(03:19):
and antelope were the ruling people. These soon became conceited
and considered themselves very important, and thought no one could
withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the smaller tribes
and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought
(03:40):
it best to change the people in form and in language.
He made a great tent and kept it dark for
ten days. Into this tent he invited the different bands,
and when they came out, they were greatly changed, and
some could not talk at all. After that, however, there
(04:02):
is a sign language given to all the animals that
no man knows except some medicine men, and they are
under a heavy penalty if they should tell it. The
buffalo came out of the darkened tent, the clumsiest of
all the animals. The elk and moose were burdened with
their heavy and many branched horns, while the antelope bandeer
(04:27):
were made the most defenseless of animals, only that they
are fleet afoot. The bear and the wolf were made
to prey upon all the others. Man was alone. Then,
when the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him to
keep his own shape and language. He was king over
(04:48):
all the animals, but they did not obey him. From
that day, man's spirit may live with the beasts before
he is born a man. He will then know the
animal language, but he cannot tell it in human speech.
He always retains his sympathy with them, and can converse
(05:08):
with them in dreams. I must not forget to tell
you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent in this
very region. Some legends say that the many walk Chantey
was the tent itself, which afterward became earth and stones.
Many of the animals were washed and changed in this lake,
(05:32):
the mini walkan or mysterious water. It is the only
inland water we know that is salt. No animal has
ever swum in this lake and lived. Tell me, I
eagerly asked, is it dangerous to man? Also? Yes, he replied,
(05:52):
we think so. And no Indian has ever ventured in
that lake to my knowledge. That is why the lake
is called mysterious, he repeated, I shall now tell you
of Chotanka. He was the greatest of medicine men. He
declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was
born in human form. Whay you has seemed to become
(06:16):
very earnest. When he reached this point in his story,
Li San tou Chotanka's life as a grizzly bear. As
a bear, he used to say, My home was in
sight of many won Conchantey. I lived with my mother
only one winter, and I only saw my father when
(06:38):
I was a baby. Then we lived a little way
from La Chantey to the north, among scattered oak upon
a hill side overlooking the Mini Wakan. When I first
remember anything, I was playing outside of our home with
a buffalo skull that I had found near by. I
saw something that looks strange. It walked upon on two legs,
(07:01):
and it carried a crooked stick and some red willows
with feathers tied to them. It threw one of the
willows at me, and I showed my teeth and betweated
within our den. Just then my father and mother came
home with a buffalo calf. They threw down the dead
calf and ran after the queer thing. He had long
(07:23):
hair upon a round head. His face was round too.
He ran and climbed up into a small oak tree.
My father and mother shook him down, but not before
he had shot some of his red willows into their sides.
Mother was very sick, but she dug some roots and
ate them, and she was well again. It was thus
(07:46):
that Shatanka first taught the use of certain roots for
curing wounds and sickness. Way you have added, one day
he resumed the grizzlies story. When I was out hunting
with my mother, my father had gone away and never
came back. We found a buffalo cow with her calf
(08:08):
in a ravine. She advised me to follow her closely,
and we crawled along on our knees. All at once.
Mother crouched down under the grass, and I did the same.
We saw some of those queer beings that we called
two legs riding upon big tail deer ponies. They yelled
(08:30):
as they rode toward us. Mother growled terribly and rushed
upon them. She caught one, but many more came with
their dogs and drove us into a thicket. They sent
the red willows singing after us, and two of them
stuck in mother's side when we got away. At last,
(08:52):
she tried to pull them out, but they hurt her terribly.
She pulled them both out at last, but soon after
she lay down and died. I stayed in the woods
alone for two days. Then I went around a minute
waconchantey on the south side, and there made my lonely den.
(09:12):
There I found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns, and wild plums.
Upon the plains. The teepsinna were abundant, and I saw
nothing of my enemies. One day I found a footprint,
not unlike my own. I followed it to see who
the stranger might be. Upon the bluffs, among the oak groves,
(09:35):
I discovered a beautiful young female gathering acorns. She was
of a different band from mine, for she wore a
jet black dress. At first she was disposed to resent
my intrusion, but when I told her of my lonely life,
she agreed to share it with me. We came back
(09:55):
to my home on the south side of the hill.
There we lived happy for a whole year. When the
autumn came again. Who Sheppye or this was her name?
Said that she must make a warm nest for the winter,
and I was left alone again. Now said Wayouha, I
(10:15):
have come to a part of my story that few
people understand. All the long winter, Chotanka slept in his den,
and with the early spring there came a great thunder storm.
He was aroused by a frightful crash that seemed to
shake the hills, and lo, a handsome young man stood
(10:38):
at his door. He looked, but was not afraid, for
he saw that the stranger carried none of those red
willows with feathered tips. He was unarmed and smiling. I come,
said he, with a challenge to run a race. Whoever
winds will be the hero of his kind, and the
(11:00):
defeated must do as the winner says thereafter. This is
a rare honor that I have brought you. The whole
world will see the race, The animal world will shout
for you, and the spirits will cheer me on. You
are not a coward, and therefore you will not refuse
my challenge, No, replied Chotanka, after a short hesitation. The
(11:25):
young man was fine looking, but lightly built. We shall
start from the chantey, and that will be our goal. Come,
let us go for the universe is waiting impatiently, exclaimed
the stranger. He passed on in advance, and just then
an old, old, wrinkled man came to Chotanka's door. He
(11:49):
leaned forward upon his staff. My son, he said to him,
I don't want to make you a coward, but this
young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He
has powerful medicine. He gambles for life. Be careful. My
brothers and I are the only ones who have ever
(12:11):
beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed,
he can resurrect himself. I tell you he is great medicine. However,
I think that I can save you. Listen. He will
run behind you all the way until you are within
a short distance of the goal. Then he will pass
(12:31):
you by in a flash. Where his name is Zigzag
fire lightning. Here is my medicine. So speaking, he gave
me a rabbit skin and a gum of a certain plant.
When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the
gum and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot
(12:52):
pass you. And who are you, grandfather, Chotanka inquired, I
am the medicine turtle. The old man replied, the gambler
is as spirit from heaven, and those whom he outruns
must shortly die. You have heard no doubt that all
animals know beforehand when they are to be killed, and
(13:15):
any man who understands these mysteries may also know when
he is to die. The race was announced to the world.
The buffalo, elk, wolves, and all the animals came to
look on. All the spirits of the air came also
to cheer for their comrade. In the sky, the trumpet
(13:38):
was sounded, the great medicine drum was struck. It was
the signal for a start. The course was around the
mini Wakan that means around the earth or the ocean.
Everywhere the multitude cheered as the two sped by. The
young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they
(14:01):
came out once more in sight of the shante. Then
he felt a slight shock and he threw his rabbit
skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed himself
with the gum and ran on until he reached the goal.
There was a great shout that echoed over the earth,
but in the heavens there was muttering and grumbling. The
(14:25):
referee declared that the winner would live to a good
old age, and zigzag Fire promised to come at his call.
He was indeed great medicine. Where you have concluded, but
you have not told me how Chotanka became a man,
I said. One night a beautiful woman came to him
(14:47):
in his sleep. She enticed him into her white teepee
to see what she had there. Then she shut the
door of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out.
But the woman was kind and petted in so that
he loved to stay into white tebee. Then it was
that he became a human born. This is a long story,
(15:08):
but I think Oyaza, that you will remember it, said Wayuha,
And so I did. End of Part nine, Chapter one,
Part nine, Chapter one of Indian Boyhood by Charles Eastman.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Part nine
More Legends, Chapter one, A Legend of Devil's Lake. After
the death of Smoky Day, Old Wayuha was regarded as
the greatest story teller among the Wapitan. Sioux, tell me, good, Wayuha,
(00:25):
a legend of your father's country, I said to him
one evening, for I knew the country which is now
known as North Dakota and Southern Manitoba was their ancient
hunting ground. I was prompted by Uncheedah to make this
request after the old man had eaten in our lodge
many years ago. He began as he passed the pipe
(00:48):
to Uncle. We traveled from the Otter Tale to Many
Walk on Devil's Lake. At that time, the mound was
very distinct where Chota Honka lies buried. The people of
his immediate band had taken care to preserve it. This mound,
(01:09):
under which lies the great medicine Man, is upon the
summit of many wakan Chantey, the highest hill in all
that region. It is shaped like an animal's heart, placed
on its base with the apex upward. The reason why
this hill is called many wakan Chantey, or the heart
(01:31):
of the mysterious land. I will now tell you it
has been handed down from generation to generation, far beyond
the memory of our great grandparents. It was in Chotanka's
mine of descent that these legends were originally kept. But
(01:51):
when he died, the stories became everybody's, and then no
one believed in them. It was to in this way
I sat facing him, wholly wrapped in the words of
the story teller, And now I took a deep breath
and settled myself so that I might not disturb him
(02:12):
by the slightest movement while he was reciting his tale.
We were taught this courtesy to our elders, but I
was impulsive and sometimes forgot a long time ago resumed Wayouha.
The red people were many in number, and they inhabited
all the land, from the coldest place to the region
(02:34):
of perpetual summer time. It seemed that they were all
of one tongue, and all were friends. All the animals
were considered people in those days. The buffalo, the elk,
the antelope were tribes of considerable importance. The bears were
(02:55):
a smaller band, But they obeyed the mandates of the
Great Mystery and were his favorites. And for this reason
they have always known more about the secrets of medicine.
So they were held in much honor. The wolves, too
were highly regarded at one time, but the buffalo, elk, moose, deer,
(03:19):
and antelope were the ruling people. These soon became conceited
and considered themselves very important, and thought no one could
withstand them. The buffalo made war upon the smaller tribes
and destroyed many. So one day the Great Mystery thought
(03:40):
it best to change the people in form and in language.
He made a great tent and kept it dark for
ten days. Into this tent he invited the different bands,
and when they came out, they were greatly changed, and
some could not talk at all. After that, however, there
(04:02):
is a sign language given to all the animals that
no man knows except some medicine men, and they are
under a heavy penalty if they should tell it. The
buffalo came out of the darkened tent, the clumsiest of
all the animals. The elk and moose were burdened with
their heavy and many branched horns, while the antelope bandeer
(04:27):
were made the most defenseless of animals, only that they
are fleet afoot. The bear and the wolf were made
to prey upon all the others. Man was alone. Then,
when the change came, the Great Mystery allowed him to
keep his own shape and language. He was king over
(04:48):
all the animals, but they did not obey him. From
that day, man's spirit may live with the beasts before
he is born a man. He will then know the
animal language, but he cannot tell it in human speech.
He always retains his sympathy with them, and can converse
(05:08):
with them in dreams. I must not forget to tell
you that the Great Mystery pitched his tent in this
very region. Some legends say that the many walk Chantey
was the tent itself, which afterward became earth and stones.
Many of the animals were washed and changed in this lake,
(05:32):
the mini walkan or mysterious water. It is the only
inland water we know that is salt. No animal has
ever swum in this lake and lived. Tell me, I
eagerly asked, is it dangerous to man? Also? Yes, he replied,
(05:52):
we think so. And no Indian has ever ventured in
that lake to my knowledge. That is why the lake
is called mysterious, he repeated, I shall now tell you
of Chotanka. He was the greatest of medicine men. He
declared that he was a grizzly bear before he was
born in human form. Whay you has seemed to become
(06:16):
very earnest. When he reached this point in his story,
Li San tou Chotanka's life as a grizzly bear. As
a bear, he used to say, My home was in
sight of many won Conchantey. I lived with my mother
only one winter, and I only saw my father when
(06:38):
I was a baby. Then we lived a little way
from La Chantey to the north, among scattered oak upon
a hill side overlooking the Mini Wakan. When I first
remember anything, I was playing outside of our home with
a buffalo skull that I had found near by. I
saw something that looks strange. It walked upon on two legs,
(07:01):
and it carried a crooked stick and some red willows
with feathers tied to them. It threw one of the
willows at me, and I showed my teeth and betweated
within our den. Just then my father and mother came
home with a buffalo calf. They threw down the dead
calf and ran after the queer thing. He had long
(07:23):
hair upon a round head. His face was round too.
He ran and climbed up into a small oak tree.
My father and mother shook him down, but not before
he had shot some of his red willows into their sides.
Mother was very sick, but she dug some roots and
ate them, and she was well again. It was thus
(07:46):
that Shatanka first taught the use of certain roots for
curing wounds and sickness. Way you have added, one day
he resumed the grizzlies story. When I was out hunting
with my mother, my father had gone away and never
came back. We found a buffalo cow with her calf
(08:08):
in a ravine. She advised me to follow her closely,
and we crawled along on our knees. All at once.
Mother crouched down under the grass, and I did the same.
We saw some of those queer beings that we called
two legs riding upon big tail deer ponies. They yelled
(08:30):
as they rode toward us. Mother growled terribly and rushed
upon them. She caught one, but many more came with
their dogs and drove us into a thicket. They sent
the red willows singing after us, and two of them
stuck in mother's side when we got away. At last,
(08:52):
she tried to pull them out, but they hurt her terribly.
She pulled them both out at last, but soon after
she lay down and died. I stayed in the woods
alone for two days. Then I went around a minute
waconchantey on the south side, and there made my lonely den.
(09:12):
There I found plenty of hazel nuts, acorns, and wild plums.
Upon the plains. The teepsinna were abundant, and I saw
nothing of my enemies. One day I found a footprint,
not unlike my own. I followed it to see who
the stranger might be. Upon the bluffs, among the oak groves,
(09:35):
I discovered a beautiful young female gathering acorns. She was
of a different band from mine, for she wore a
jet black dress. At first she was disposed to resent
my intrusion, but when I told her of my lonely life,
she agreed to share it with me. We came back
(09:55):
to my home on the south side of the hill.
There we lived happy for a whole year. When the
autumn came again. Who Sheppye or this was her name?
Said that she must make a warm nest for the winter,
and I was left alone again. Now said Wayouha, I
(10:15):
have come to a part of my story that few
people understand. All the long winter, Chotanka slept in his den,
and with the early spring there came a great thunder storm.
He was aroused by a frightful crash that seemed to
shake the hills, and lo, a handsome young man stood
(10:38):
at his door. He looked, but was not afraid, for
he saw that the stranger carried none of those red
willows with feathered tips. He was unarmed and smiling. I come,
said he, with a challenge to run a race. Whoever
winds will be the hero of his kind, and the
(11:00):
defeated must do as the winner says thereafter. This is
a rare honor that I have brought you. The whole
world will see the race, The animal world will shout
for you, and the spirits will cheer me on. You
are not a coward, and therefore you will not refuse
my challenge, No, replied Chotanka, after a short hesitation. The
(11:25):
young man was fine looking, but lightly built. We shall
start from the chantey, and that will be our goal. Come,
let us go for the universe is waiting impatiently, exclaimed
the stranger. He passed on in advance, and just then
an old, old, wrinkled man came to Chotanka's door. He
(11:49):
leaned forward upon his staff. My son, he said to him,
I don't want to make you a coward, but this
young man is the greatest gambler of the universe. He
has powerful medicine. He gambles for life. Be careful. My
brothers and I are the only ones who have ever
(12:11):
beaten him. But he is safe, for if he is killed,
he can resurrect himself. I tell you he is great medicine. However,
I think that I can save you. Listen. He will
run behind you all the way until you are within
a short distance of the goal. Then he will pass
(12:31):
you by in a flash. Where his name is Zigzag
fire lightning. Here is my medicine. So speaking, he gave
me a rabbit skin and a gum of a certain plant.
When you come near the goal, rub yourself with the
gum and throw the rabbit skin between you. He cannot
(12:52):
pass you. And who are you, grandfather, Chotanka inquired, I
am the medicine turtle. The old man replied, the gambler
is as spirit from heaven, and those whom he outruns
must shortly die. You have heard no doubt that all
animals know beforehand when they are to be killed, and
(13:15):
any man who understands these mysteries may also know when
he is to die. The race was announced to the world.
The buffalo, elk, wolves, and all the animals came to
look on. All the spirits of the air came also
to cheer for their comrade. In the sky, the trumpet
(13:38):
was sounded, the great medicine drum was struck. It was
the signal for a start. The course was around the
mini Wakan that means around the earth or the ocean.
Everywhere the multitude cheered as the two sped by. The
young man kept behind Chotanka all the time until they
(14:01):
came out once more in sight of the shante. Then
he felt a slight shock and he threw his rabbit
skin back. The stranger tripped and fell. Chotanka rubbed himself
with the gum and ran on until he reached the goal.
There was a great shout that echoed over the earth,
but in the heavens there was muttering and grumbling. The
(14:25):
referee declared that the winner would live to a good
old age, and zigzag Fire promised to come at his call.
He was indeed great medicine. Where you have concluded, but
you have not told me how Chotanka became a man,
I said. One night a beautiful woman came to him
(14:47):
in his sleep. She enticed him into her white teepee
to see what she had there. Then she shut the
door of the teepee and Chotanka could not get out.
But the woman was kind and petted in so that
he loved to stay into white tebee. Then it was
that he became a human born. This is a long story,
(15:08):
but I think Oyaza, that you will remember it, said Wayuha,
And so I did. End of Part nine, Chapter one,
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