These are my thoughts on the Sioux Legends...
The Rabbit and the Grouse Girls:
So the rabbit is still a trickster, even in Sioux legend. So is this the Sioux version of a "don't talk to strangers" type story? The grouse girls should definitely know better than to trust that tricky rabbit!
The Rabbit and the Bear:
This is kind of like an origin story. It explains why bears are so few and far between, and rabbits are practically everywhere. It's really too bad for the bear chief, because all he wanted to do was help the rabbit make his flint arrows, but he ended up being chopped in half! I'd probably run away too if I'd done what the rabbit did.
The Story of the Lost Wife:
It's kind of a cool concept that nature always takes care of us, or at least I think that would be what the Sioux people would believe. I also think it's interesting that the coyotes are the servants of the wolf tribe, because they are certainly the lowliest of the animals there.
The Simpleton's Wisdom:
You can learn about a society from the way that they honor and mourn their dead. This story gives a glimpse into what it would be like to experience a death in a Sioux tribe. I like that their conclusion in the end is that it is better to live for the living than to die for the dead.
A Little Brave and the Medicine Woman:
I like Brave. He's got a good sense of humor. I think this story gives us a sense of the superstitions of the Sioux people. Even the older, wiser, men had a little bit of fear about the Medicine Woman's grave.
The Boy and the Turtles:
I wonder why the boy earns the name, "Sees holy?" It doesn't seem like he really did anything special. He just saw a group of men swimming in a lake while he was hunting for turtles. Maybe there is some kind of significance to his discovery that I don't understand?
The Hermit, or The Gift of Corn:
I still don't know what the thing was that kept waking up the hermit. Maybe it was a raccoon or something like that? I think I would be pretty terrified living out in the middle of nowhere, completely alone like that hermit.
The Mysterious Butte:
More superstitions! I would be be terrified if I was one of those warriors who had to crawl through tiny openings to get to each chamber. I'm super claustrophobic haha. Anyways, it would be super useful to have cave paintings that predicted the future.
The Wonderful Turtle:
So I'm definitely picturing this wise turtle like the turtle in Kung Fu Panda. That's what comes to mind when I think of a wise turtle that is able to settle disputes and reconcile enemies. Anyways, the poor turtle gets left behind, so it seems that all does not go well for him.
The Pemmican Man and Unktomi:
That selfish spider was his own undoing. If he hadn't kept pursuing the fat man, even after he and his children had gotten much to eat, then he would probably be alive. Anyways, this shows that fat man's ingenuity got him out of danger. So, I'm going to guess that cleverness is a desirable quality.
Unktomi, the Two Widows, and the Red Plums:
Temptation always seems to bear the color red haha. Anyways, Unktomi is a total jerk. He isn't one of the trickster types that just messes with people for fun. He killed two babies just for the hell of it. That seems pretty messed up to me. He takes advantage of people's hospitality.
Unktomi and the Arrowheads:
So these Lakota and Unktomi (spiders) have a sort of symbiotic relationship in this story. The Unktomi make flint arrowheads for the tribe, and in return all they want is to be left alone. Seems like a pretty good deal if you ask me.
Iktomi and the Ducks:
Pride always goes before the fall, and Iktomi is extremely arrogant and cocky. He never thinks that anyone is as clever as he is, and he laughs when simpletons get caught it his traps. Therefore, it is ironic that he gets his foot caught in a tree and loses his duck feast.
Iktomi's Blanket:
I like that these stories fit together. It allows us to get a more complete picture of Iktomi. We learn just how selfish and foolish he really is, even if he thinks he is clever. Trying to reclaim an offering to a god would unmistakably be a bad idea.
Iktomi and the Muskrat:
This story is a good lesson on hospitality and generosity. If Iktomi had offered to share his fish with the Muskrat, then he wouldn't have lost all of it. I wonder if Iktomi actually learned his lesson, or if he will still be just as selfish as always?
Iktomi and the Coyote:
This coyote is not as inept as the Loony Toon's Wily Coyote. He tricks Iktomi into thinking that he has died. However, his pride almost gets him thrown into a fire. But he does teach Iktomi a valuable lesson: don't just assume something is dead.
Iktomi and the Turtle:
The Turtle gets his revenge haha. Iktomi tried to take advantage of him, and use him for a free meal. However, Iktomi ends up just getting himself drowned. I'm sure from all of these stories, that it would be clear to Sioux children that they ought to avoid spiders at all costs.
The War Like Seven:
So the fish and the turtle turn out to be some real warriors! They defeat a whole village, including that trickster, Iktomi. Once again, ingenuity often beats raw strength. Ont eh whole, I really enjoyed these stories.
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