Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man
By George Bird Grinnell
The oral traditions of the Blackfeet people, a powerful and influential tribe of the Great Plains, are rich with tales that explain the world, impart moral lessons, and connect the present to a distant past. Among these captivating stories is the legend of the Wolf Man, a narrative that speaks of betrayal, survival, and the transformative power of nature. This particular tale, collected by George Bird Grinnell, a prominent naturalist and advocate for Native American rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, offers a glimpse into the Blackfeet worldview and their complex relationship with the animal world. The Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man story is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling within the Blackfeet culture.
Grinnell’s work provides invaluable insight into the cultural landscape of the Blackfeet. He spent considerable time among various tribes, earning their trust and documenting their traditions. His writings, including this particular Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man story, are essential resources for understanding the beliefs and customs of these indigenous peoples. Through Grinnell’s meticulous recording, these narratives have been preserved for future generations, allowing us to connect with the wisdom and experiences of those who came before us.
Imagine a time long ago, when the vast plains stretched as far as the eye could see, and the lives of the Blackfeet people were intimately intertwined with the rhythms of the land. In this era, there lived a man burdened by the failings of his two wives. These women, neglectful of their domestic duties, failed to provide a comfortable home for their husband. They were more interested in socializing with relatives than tending to the needs of their family. Despite their husband’s diligent hunting and provision of buffalo hides, they were often absent, leaving him hungry and without properly tanned skins for shelter and clothing.
Driven by the hope of reforming his wives, the man made a significant decision. He resolved to distance them from the distractions of the main camp, believing that isolation might encourage them to embrace their responsibilities. Thus, he moved his lodge far out onto the open prairie, settling at the base of a prominent butte, a solitary hill rising abruptly from the flat landscape. This butte became a significant landmark in their lives, a place of solitude and reflection.
Each evening, as the sun began its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, the man would ascend to the summit of the butte. From this vantage point, he would survey the surrounding territory, scanning for herds of buffalo grazing on the distant plains and watching for any signs of approaching enemies. The butte served as a natural lookout, a place of vigilance and strategic importance. At the butte’s peak rested a buffalo skull, bleached white by the elements. This skull served as his seat, a symbolic connection to the animal that provided sustenance and life to his people.
The isolation, however, did not bring about the desired change in the wives. Instead, it fueled their discontent. One day, consumed by boredom and resentment, one wife turned to the other and lamented their loneliness. The absence of companionship and social interaction weighed heavily upon them. A dark thought then took root in their minds. "Let us kill our husband," one proposed, "then we can return to our relatives and enjoy ourselves once more." This sinister plan marked a turning point in the story, setting in motion a chain of events that would lead to betrayal and transformation.
Under the cloak of darkness, the wives hatched their treacherous scheme. The following morning, as their husband departed for the hunt, they put their plan into action. They climbed to the top of the butte, the very place where he sought solace and vigilance. There, they dug a deep pit, a concealed trap disguised beneath a layer of slender sticks, grass, and earth, carefully arranged to resemble the surrounding terrain. The buffalo skull, once a symbol of connection to the land, was now placed atop the fragile covering, a macabre marker of their impending treachery.
As the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the prairie, the wives anxiously awaited their husband’s return. They watched as he crested the hill, laden with the bounty of his hunt. Feigning concern, they rushed to prepare a meal for him, masking their deceitful intentions with false hospitality. After he had eaten, weary from his efforts, the man ascended the butte, unaware of the danger that lay hidden beneath the deceptive surface. As he sat upon the buffalo skull, the fragile support gave way, and he plunged into the depths of the pit. The wives, witnessing his fall, wasted no time. They dismantled their lodge, packed their belongings onto their dogs, and fled towards the main camp, their hearts filled with a mixture of fear and anticipation. As they approached the camp, they began to wail and mourn, enacting a charade of grief to conceal their heinous act.
The villagers, hearing their cries, rushed to meet them, inquiring about the cause of their distress. With feigned sorrow, the wives declared that their husband was dead, claiming he had disappeared while hunting five days prior. They lamented their loss and their helplessness, their words carefully crafted to elicit sympathy and deflect suspicion.
Meanwhile, trapped in the pit, the man found himself injured and unable to escape. The walls of the pit were too steep and slippery for him to climb. He sat there, despairing, resigned to a slow and agonizing death from hunger and thirst.
However, fate intervened in the form of a lone wolf. As it roamed across the prairie, the wolf happened upon the butte and, drawn by curiosity, peered into the pit. Seeing the man trapped below, the wolf felt a surge of compassion. It howled, a long, mournful cry that echoed across the plains, summoning other wolves to its aid. The call also attracted the attention of coyotes, badgers, and kit-foxes, all drawn by the promise of a potential meal.
Addressing the assembled animals, the wolf declared its intention to rescue the man, proposing that they adopt him as their brother. The wolves, moved by the wolf’s plea, readily agreed. Together, they began to dig, their combined efforts quickly excavating a passage that reached close to the bottom of the pit.
Before completing the rescue, the wolf paused, seeking to establish its claim over the man. It argued that, as the discoverer of the trapped man, it deserved the privilege of having him live among the wolves. The other animals conceded to this request. The wolf then entered the pit, tearing away the remaining earth and pulling the weakened man to safety. The man, near death, was given a kidney to eat, restoring some of his strength. The wolves then led him to their home, where a wise and ancient blind wolf possessed the power to heal and transform.
This old wolf, revered for its mystical abilities, tended to the man’s injuries and, through a mysterious process, transformed his head and hands to resemble those of a wolf, forever altering his identity. The rest of his body remained unchanged, a constant reminder of his human past.
In those days, the Blackfeet people used a specific hunting technique. They constructed fences with holes to guide buffalo into enclosures called piskuns. Snares were set at these holes to trap animals attempting to enter the pen to feed on the meat. Many wolves, and other animals, were caught in this way, their skins providing valuable resources for clothing.
One night, the wolves, including the man-wolf, ventured towards the piskun in search of food. The man-wolf, remembering his past life, offered to use his knowledge to protect his wolf brothers from the snares. He approached the piskun and sprung all the traps, clearing the way for the wolves, coyotes, badgers, and kit-foxes to enter and feast on the meat. They gorged themselves and carried food back to their families.
The next morning, the Blackfeet people discovered that their meat had been stolen and their snares disarmed. They were baffled by this mysterious occurrence. Night after night, the pattern continued, the traps were sprung, and the meat vanished. However, one night, the wolves found only the meat of a lean and sickly bull. Enraged by the poor offering, the man-wolf cried out in a mournful howl, "Bad-food-you-give-us-o-o-o! Bad-food-you-give-us-o-o-o-o!"
Hearing this, the people realized that a man-wolf was responsible for their troubles. They devised a plan to capture him. They placed pemmican and back fat near the piskun and hid nearby, waiting in ambush. As darkness fell, the wolves arrived, and the man-wolf, enticed by the delicious food, rushed to eat. The people sprang from their hiding places, capturing him with ropes.
They tied him up and brought him into a lodge, where the firelight revealed his true identity. Recognizing him as the man who had been presumed lost, they questioned him. The man-wolf revealed the treachery of his wives, explaining how they had attempted to kill him and how the wolves had rescued him. The people, angered by the wives’ actions, demanded that the man punish them. He, in turn, relinquished them to the "punishing society," a group within the tribe responsible for enforcing justice. After that night, the two women were never seen again, their fate a grim consequence of their betrayal. The Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man is a reminder of justice, and that bad actions have consequences.
The story of the Wolf Man serves as a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of humans and the natural world. It highlights the themes of betrayal, redemption, and the transformative power of compassion. Through the man’s experience, the legend explores the boundaries between human and animal, challenging the listener to consider the nature of identity and belonging. This tale, carefully preserved by George Bird Grinnell, continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a glimpse into the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet people. The Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man shows the strength of the Blackfeet people.
George Bird Grinnell’s dedication to documenting and preserving Native American cultures has left an enduring legacy. His work provides valuable insights into the traditions, beliefs, and values of these indigenous communities, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for their rich heritage. His meticulous recording of the Blackfeet Legends – The Wolf Man, along with other narratives, ensures that these stories will continue to be told and cherished for generations to come.
