Post by blackcrowheart on Jan 21, 2008 10:22:01 GMT -5
Fish Dog Skins - Blackfoot
Some Indians from the West, over the mountains, (Rocky Mountains of Northern
Montana and Southern Alberta Canada) came to trade with this Blackfoot band.
They were called "Snake Indians" as their designs were jagged and looked
like a snake. Among there trading goods were some skins that looked like a
dog, but had feet like a beaver and a kind of fish tail. When asked where
these came from, they were told they lived in the Big Water where the Sun
sets and some came up the Big River where they lived.
The fur was finer than a beaver or martin and one skin traded for 5 buffalo
robes or a horse or equivalent. One warrior asked to go back with the
Traders to see these "Devil Fish" and maybe get some for himself. He gave
the leader one of his finest horses for the privilege and was invited. He
took horses and robes and other trade goods to trade for these "Devil Fish"
with whatever tribe in the West or at the Big Water that had them.
When he returned he had two "Fish Dog" skins, some shells (sea shells) and
related this story:
The "Snakes" took him back to their Camp. Since the "Devil Fish" hadn't been
seen for a long time they sent one of their tribe to go with him to another
tribe to the West of them along the Big River. Most of these people lived on
fish, catching them by spearing them and dried them just like the Blackfoot
did with Buffalo. He traded and moved west until he came to the Big Water
where the Sun sunk. There he traded the last of his trade goods, even his
moccasins and clothes for their clothes, shells from the edge of the Big
Water, and as many "Devil Fish" Fish Dog Skins as his last horse could
carry. He saw the Devil Fish swimming at a distance. They came out on the
shore and barked like a dog and were in herds like the buffalo.
Some said they could be eaten, but he didn't taste any, as the Blackfoot
don't eat dog. On his way back he traded some and had some stolen. He was
only able to make it home with two, one of which was offered to the Sun for
his safe journey and protection. The other one was used to wrap his Medicine
Bundle, which was been handed down through his family.
www.indigenouspeople.net/fishdog.htm
Some Indians from the West, over the mountains, (Rocky Mountains of Northern
Montana and Southern Alberta Canada) came to trade with this Blackfoot band.
They were called "Snake Indians" as their designs were jagged and looked
like a snake. Among there trading goods were some skins that looked like a
dog, but had feet like a beaver and a kind of fish tail. When asked where
these came from, they were told they lived in the Big Water where the Sun
sets and some came up the Big River where they lived.
The fur was finer than a beaver or martin and one skin traded for 5 buffalo
robes or a horse or equivalent. One warrior asked to go back with the
Traders to see these "Devil Fish" and maybe get some for himself. He gave
the leader one of his finest horses for the privilege and was invited. He
took horses and robes and other trade goods to trade for these "Devil Fish"
with whatever tribe in the West or at the Big Water that had them.
When he returned he had two "Fish Dog" skins, some shells (sea shells) and
related this story:
The "Snakes" took him back to their Camp. Since the "Devil Fish" hadn't been
seen for a long time they sent one of their tribe to go with him to another
tribe to the West of them along the Big River. Most of these people lived on
fish, catching them by spearing them and dried them just like the Blackfoot
did with Buffalo. He traded and moved west until he came to the Big Water
where the Sun sunk. There he traded the last of his trade goods, even his
moccasins and clothes for their clothes, shells from the edge of the Big
Water, and as many "Devil Fish" Fish Dog Skins as his last horse could
carry. He saw the Devil Fish swimming at a distance. They came out on the
shore and barked like a dog and were in herds like the buffalo.
Some said they could be eaten, but he didn't taste any, as the Blackfoot
don't eat dog. On his way back he traded some and had some stolen. He was
only able to make it home with two, one of which was offered to the Sun for
his safe journey and protection. The other one was used to wrap his Medicine
Bundle, which was been handed down through his family.
www.indigenouspeople.net/fishdog.htm