Tales the Elders Told: Ojibway Legends
Basil Johnston, "Tales the Elders Told: Ojibway Legends"
English | 1981 | ISBN: 0888542615 | 62 pages | EPUB | 2.6 MB
English | 1981 | ISBN: 0888542615 | 62 pages | EPUB | 2.6 MB
Nine traditional Ojibway tales accompanied by contemporary native art.
Basil Johnston's first book of native myths, illustrated by Cree artist Shirley Cheechoo, has become a Canadian classic.
Introduction
Each of the four sons of Winona and Epingishimook (West Wind)
left special gifts to the Anishinaubeg (Ojibway). From
Mudjeekawiss came courage and a heritage; from Papeekawiss, a
sense of beauty and ceremonies; from Chibiabos, romance and
poetry; and from Nanabush, humour and the art of story-telling.
It is through stories that the knowledge and understanding of
one generation are passed on to the next. Although the themes
are far-ranging and often deep and serious, the story-tellers could
always relate the stories with humour. If the humour that forms
an essential part of Indian story-telling is not present in this small
collection, the lack may be attributed not to any lack of skill on the
part of the story-tellers but to translation and the limitations of the
printed word. Still, if these stories do no more than give some
idea of the scope of the Ojibway imagination, and perhaps bring a
smile, they will have fulfilled their purpose.