THE WINTER WOLF (CHIPPEWA)

A legend about a young Chippewa Indian of Lake Huron who has to lose his earthly possessions in order to learn the true meaning of life. Jibwes wanted above all else to be rich. One winter, when the hunting season came, Jibwes found a wigwam in the forest, and within it a beautiful woman. From then on, there was abundance at Jibwes’ camp. But when spring came, the girl would not return with him but extracted, instead, a promise that he would marry no one else. Each winter she returned, and each spring Jibwes returned to the village without her. At last, wealthy through the efforts of his winter wife but still wanting more possessions, Jibwes married the daughter of the chief. When the winter wife saw that Jibwes had broken his promise to her, she fled and so did his children. Only when he became an elk was he reunited with his family. (26 minutes)