How The Dog Got Its Fur
One fine day along the Mohawk River a boy named
little Eagle went to the river to get water for the Mohawk Tribe.
Mohawk means kanye keha-ka that means people of the land of GunFlint.
Something ran past Little Eagle, then jumped on him, and licked
him on the forehead.
"Little Rock!"
Little Rock is a dog that is loving and kind. He helps people
a lot when they are in trouble. Little Eagle said laughing happily
on the ground. Little Eagle got up and walked through the woods
to his house. Little Eagle got home to the long house Little Eagle's
father Strong Like Bear,had built. His father was building a long
house for another family in the tribe. Little Eagle asked his
father how to build a long house.
His father said, "First you get wooden poles, and then get
the bark of a tree for the roof and put it all together."
Little Rock said in a heartbeat, "Well, can I help?"
"No!"
"Why?"
"Because it is too dangerous!"
Little Eagle walked back home and gave every one some water.
Little Eagle's father said out of breath, "If you want, I
will take you hunting."
Little Eagle and his father went into the woods to capture a deer
because the whole tribe was hungry. So, Little Eagle and Strong
Like Bear went out and killed a deer. The deer had blood shooting
out, so Strong Like Bear said special prayers for the deer. They
took the deer home.
When they got home they came upon a surprise attack by the Algonquin
Tribe. There was a war going on. The Mohawks were fighting the
Algonquin. Little Rock went out to help the Mohawks. He tried
to tackle the Algonquins, when all of a sudden; Little Rock jumped
up to save Little Eagle from getting shot with an arrow. The arrow
pierced Little Rock's side. He fell to the ground, silent. He
was dead. The Mohawks defeated the Algonquins but after that,
the whole tribe stood in a circle and prayed. They burned Little
Rock's body, then took Little Rocks ashes back to where he fell
and scattered them.
When Little Rock went to where the Spirits go, the Great Spirit
of Life rewarded him for his bravery with a second life. To remind
him of his sacrifice, the Great Spirit also gave him the gift
of fur. Little Rock returned to earth and when Little Eagle was
in the forest with his father, they found him. Little Eagle's
mother, Sunflower, was at home cleaning and cooking like most
mothers. She cooked a feast to celebrate the return of Little
Rock.
Then two months later, the Mohawks joined in the Five Nations,
an alliance of five tribes put together which was called the Iroquois
Nation.
