By COL. G. E. LAIDLAW.
This series was obtained from Peter York this summer of 1915, when
camped here with his family of basket makers, and also after his return
to the Rama Reserve where he lives. This reserve is to the east of Lake
Couchiching in Ontario County in Ontario Province. The tales told by
John York were told in Ojibwa to Peter York and were written down in
English by Peter York, who can read and write English. I have followed
York’s phraseology in the stories as closely as possible, using his
terms, such as “went to work,” etc., and not changing his meaning in
any sense. Some of these stories may appear crude, and others rather
indefinite, but I have in no way altered them, preferring to leave them
as they are.
John York is an old man of 96 years and his Indian name is
“Kitche-Penascie” or “Big Thunder.” Peter York is 48 years old and his
Indian name is “Penascie” or “Thunder.” Both names, according to Peter,
are “hard” names. York frequently visits this section which is only a
score of miles from the Reserve.
Nanabush is one of the variants of Nenebojo, others being Nanabozho and
Nenebuc. This personage while being human possesses certain
supernatural powers, one of them being, that whoever or whatever he
addressed had to answer him. Nanabush seems to have been a joker and a
scapegoat at times, and is reputed to be alive yet. York remarked upon
one occasion that Nanabush “was a sort of god” and addresses him as Mr.
Nanabush. This band of Ojibwas did not know where or when Nanabush was
born, or the circumstances of his birth. Perhaps some of the older
Indians on the Reserve might know. Inquiries will be made in the
future.
York’s ending to the stories is “This ends this story.” And his use of
the words “great big” means a giant such as “a great big man,” a giant.
“A great big beaver,” a giant beaver, etc.