Post by Okwes on Apr 14, 2008 13:21:27 GMT -5
God's Kettle - Ottawa
About two hundred and fifty years ago Weme-gen-debay, a noted chief and a
great hunter, discovered, while hunting in the wilderness east of Traverse
Bay, Michigan, a great kettle made of pure copper. It was nearly covered
with earth; and the roots of large trees had grown over and around it. When
taken out of the ground it had the appearance of never having been used. The
kettle was so large that a full-grown bear could be cooked whole in it. It
was regarded as Manito aukick (God's kettle). Hence it was considered a
sacred relic, was treated with a sort of reverential awe, and was kept
securely hidden in a wild retreat unfrequented by man; never being used
except when Tchi-bekan-kewin (the feast for the dead) was celebrated.
When the Indians in the Grand Traverse region became civilized this magic
kettle lost its sacred influence, and was used to boil maple sap to sugar,
instead of for cooking bear at feasts. Blackbird, a noted Indian now living
at Harbor Springs, Michigan, as late as 1840, made a bail for this kettle
while he was at work in the Government blacksmith-shop at the old Mission on
Grand Traverse Bay. When I asked him, a short time since, what had become of
that magic kettle, he replied, "I do not know, but must believe Manito has
taken it home; for it disappeared as mysteriously as it came."
Indian Superstitions and Legends, Simon Pokagon , New York, N.Y.,1898
About two hundred and fifty years ago Weme-gen-debay, a noted chief and a
great hunter, discovered, while hunting in the wilderness east of Traverse
Bay, Michigan, a great kettle made of pure copper. It was nearly covered
with earth; and the roots of large trees had grown over and around it. When
taken out of the ground it had the appearance of never having been used. The
kettle was so large that a full-grown bear could be cooked whole in it. It
was regarded as Manito aukick (God's kettle). Hence it was considered a
sacred relic, was treated with a sort of reverential awe, and was kept
securely hidden in a wild retreat unfrequented by man; never being used
except when Tchi-bekan-kewin (the feast for the dead) was celebrated.
When the Indians in the Grand Traverse region became civilized this magic
kettle lost its sacred influence, and was used to boil maple sap to sugar,
instead of for cooking bear at feasts. Blackbird, a noted Indian now living
at Harbor Springs, Michigan, as late as 1840, made a bail for this kettle
while he was at work in the Government blacksmith-shop at the old Mission on
Grand Traverse Bay. When I asked him, a short time since, what had become of
that magic kettle, he replied, "I do not know, but must believe Manito has
taken it home; for it disappeared as mysteriously as it came."
Indian Superstitions and Legends, Simon Pokagon , New York, N.Y.,1898