Now when the foremost ones of more than one of these kin clans
possessed a contained or sacred seed-substance, they banded together,
forming a society for the better use and keeping of its medicine
and its secret (forbidden) mysteries, and for the guidance and care
thereby of their especial children. Thus, leading ones of the Bear
people, Crane people, and Grouse people became the ‘Hléetâ-kwe, or
Bearers of the Ice-wands as they are sometimes called, whose prayers
and powers bring winter, yet ward off its evils to the flesh and
fearsomeness to the soul. But at first, only four were the bands of
priest-keepers of the mysteries: Shíwana-kwe, or the Priesthood of
Priest people; Sániak‘ya-kwe, or the Priesthood of the Hunt, who were
of the Coyote, Eagle, and Deer kin, Keepers of the Seed-substance of
Game; Áchiak‘ya-kwe, or the Great Knife people, makers and defenders
of pathways for the people; and Néwe-kwe, keepers of magic medicines
and knowledge invincible of poison and other evil, whose first great
father was Paíyatuma, God of Dew and the Dawn, himself. Out of these
and of other clans were formed in later days by wisdom of the Father of
Medicines and Rites (the great Póshaiyaŋk‘ya, when he returned, all as
is told in other talk of our olden speech) all other societies, both
that of the Middle, and the Twain for each of all the other six regions
(_tem‘halatékwiwe_,) the Tabooed and Sacred Thirteen. But when all was
new, men did not know the meanings of their possessions, or even of the
commandments (_haítoshnawe_); even as children know not the prayers
(_téusupénawe_). These they must first be taught, that in later days,
when there is need therefor, they may know them and not be poor.