The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend

By Marie L. McLaughlin

Within the rich tapestry of Sioux oral traditions, a poignant tale unfolds, echoing themes of love, sacrifice, and the profound connection between humanity and the natural world. This is the story of "The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend," a narrative passed down through generations, its threads woven with the cultural values and beliefs of the Sioux people. It speaks of a young woman’s devotion and a man’s willingness to prove his love, ultimately leading to a transformation that reshapes the landscape itself.

The scene is set within a vibrant Sioux village, teeming with life and activity. At its heart resided the daughter of a respected chief, a maiden of renowned beauty and grace. Her presence drew the attention of many young men, each vying for her affection. They eagerly sought opportunities to assist her, particularly during her daily trips to the brook to fetch water, hoping to catch her eye and perhaps earn a word or a smile. The air crackled with anticipation whenever she appeared, a testament to her desirability and the high regard in which she was held.

Amidst this atmosphere of courtship and competition, a young man emerged, his heart captivated by the chief’s daughter. Though industrious and skilled as a hunter, he hailed from a humble family, lacking the wealth and status of his rivals. Yet, his love for the maiden burned brightly, fueling his determination to win her hand. He observed her closely, admiring her strength and kindness, and longed for an opportunity to express his feelings.

One day, as the maiden made her way to the brook, the young man seized his chance. With a mixture of boldness and trepidation, he approached her, casting his robe gently over her head as a sign of respect and privacy. In a hushed whisper, he confessed his love, his voice filled with sincerity and earnestness. "Be my wife," he pleaded, "I have little, but I am young and strong. I will treat you well, for I love you." His words hung in the air, a vulnerable offering of his heart and his future.

The maiden, surprised but not displeased, remained silent for a time, carefully considering his proposal. She recognized his good character and the genuine affection in his eyes, but she also knew that her family’s position demanded a suitor of considerable merit. Finally, after much deliberation, she responded with a condition. "Yes," she whispered, "you may ask my father’s leave to marry me. But first, you must do something noble. I belong to a great family and have many relations. You must go on a war party and bring back the scalp of an enemy." It was a formidable challenge, a test of his courage and worthiness.

The young man, undeterred by the daunting task, accepted her condition with unwavering resolve. "I will try to do as you bid me," he replied modestly. "I am only a hunter, not a warrior. Whether I shall be brave or not, I do not know. But I will try to take a scalp for your sake." His willingness to face danger for her love was a testament to the depth of his feelings. He understood the significance of her request, acknowledging the need to prove himself worthy of her esteemed family.

Thus, the young man embarked on his quest, forming a war party of seven, including himself and six other young men from the village. They ventured into enemy territory, their hearts filled with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Days turned into weeks as they traversed the land, searching for an opportunity to engage in battle. However, fortune seemed to elude them; they encountered no enemies, their efforts proving fruitless.

Discouraged by their lack of success, the leader of the war party, the young lover, eventually conceded that their mission was ill-fated. "Our medicine is unfavorable," he declared, "We shall have to return home." Defeated, they prepared to retrace their steps, their spirits dampened by the realization of their failure. "The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend" takes a turn here, as the young men’s journey becomes more complicated than originally thought.

Before commencing their journey back, the war party paused to rest beside a picturesque lake, nestled at the foot of a verdant knoll. The scene was serene, the tranquil waters reflecting the clear sky above. Yet, as they gazed upon the knoll, a sense of unease crept over them. There was something peculiar about its appearance, an air of mystery that stirred their senses.

One of the young men, known as the jester for his playful and adventurous nature, broke the silence. "Let’s run and jump on its top," he exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

The young lover, however, cautioned against such recklessness. "No," he warned, "it looks mysterious. Sit still and finish your smoke." Heeding his intuition, he sensed that the knoll harbored a hidden danger.

But the jester, dismissing his friend’s apprehension, scoffed, "Oh, come on, who’s afraid?" With a burst of energy, he sprinted towards the knoll, his laughter echoing through the air.

Inspired by his bravado, four of the other young men followed suit. Reaching the summit, they began to jump and stomp about in jest, taunting their companions below. Suddenly, their merriment turned to terror as the knoll began to move, slowly advancing towards the water. It was then that they realized the horrifying truth: the knoll was not a natural formation but a gigantic turtle, its ancient shell concealed beneath a layer of earth and vegetation.

Panic seized them as they attempted to flee, but their feet were inexplicably rooted to the monster’s back. "Help us – drag us away!" they cried, their voices filled with desperation. But their pleas were in vain; the remaining two men were powerless to intervene. In a matter of moments, the waves closed over the unfortunate five, their cries silenced by the unforgiving waters. "The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend" tells of a tragic fate for these men.

The young lover and his remaining companion watched in horror as their friends vanished beneath the surface of the lake. Overwhelmed by grief and a sense of foreboding, they continued their journey home, their hearts heavy with sorrow. After several days of travel, they arrived at the banks of a wide, flowing river. Exhausted by their ordeal, the young lover collapsed onto the ground, seeking respite from his weariness.

"I will sleep awhile," he murmured, "for I am wearied and worn out."

His friend, ever vigilant, offered to search for food. "And I will go down to the water and see if I can chance upon a dead fish. At this time of the year, the high water may have left one stranded on the seashore."

True to his word, the friend soon discovered a fish, which he cleaned and prepared for cooking. "Come and eat the fish with me," he called to the lover. "I have cleaned it and made a fire, which is now cooking."

The lover, still overcome with fatigue, initially declined. "No, you eat it; let me rest."

But his friend insisted, "Oh, come on…But you are my friend. I will not eat unless you share it with me."

Reluctantly, the lover agreed, but with a condition of his own. "Very well," he said, "I will eat the fish with you, but you must first make me a promise. If I eat the fish, you must promise, pledge yourself, to fetch me all the water that I can drink."

The friend, eager to share the meal, readily agreed. "I promise," he said, and together, they consumed the fish, sharing it from their war kettle.

After their meal, the friend rinsed out the kettle and filled it with water from the river, offering it to the lover. To his astonishment, the lover drank the entire contents in a single draught.

"Bring me more," he demanded.

Again, the friend filled the kettle and presented it to the lover, who once more emptied it in one gulp.

"More!" he cried.

The friend, growing weary of the task, pleaded, "Oh, I am tired. Cannot you go to the river and drink your fill from the stream?"

But the lover reminded him of his promise. "Remember your promise."

"Yes, but I am weary. Go now and drink."

A sense of dread washed over the lover as he realized the implications of his friend’s reluctance. "Ek-hey, I feared it would be so. Now trouble is coming upon us," he lamented. He walked to the river, plunged into the water, and began to drink greedily, lying down with his head towards the land. After a time, he called out to his friend.

"Come hither, you who have been my sworn friend. See what comes of your broken promise."

The friend approached and was horrified to see that the lover had been transformed into a fish from his feet to his middle.

Overwhelmed by guilt and despair, the friend retreated a short distance, collapsing onto the ground in grief. After a while, he returned to the riverbank. The lover was now a fish up to his neck.

"Cannot I cut off the part and restore you by a sweat bath?" the friend asked, desperate to undo the transformation.

"No, it is too late," the lover replied sadly. "But tell the chief’s daughter that I loved her to the last and that I die for her sake. Take this belt and give it to her. She gave it to me as a pledge of her love for me." With those final words, he transformed completely into a great fish, swimming to the middle of the river, where only his large fin remained visible above the water. "The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend" is a sad story of love and loss.

The friend returned to the village and recounted the tragic events that had unfolded. The community mourned the loss of the five young men and the transformed lover. In the river, the great fish remained, its fin perpetually breaking the surface, becoming known to the Indians as "Fish that Bars," as it obstructed navigation. Canoes were forced to navigate around the obstruction, adding to the hardship of travel.

The chief’s daughter, heartbroken by the news of her lover’s fate, mourned him as if he were her husband. "He was lost for love of me, and I shall remain as his widow," she lamented, inconsolable in her grief.

Within her mother’s teepee, she sat in silence, her head covered by her robe, her hands engaged in constant work. "What is my daughter doing?" her mother inquired, but the maiden remained unresponsive.

Days turned into months, and a year passed. Then, one day, the maiden arose, revealing the fruits of her labor. In her hands, she held beautifully crafted articles of clothing, enough for three men. There were three pairs of moccasins, three pairs of leggings, three belts, three shirts, and three headdresses adorned with feathers, along with sweet-smelling tobacco.

"Make a new canoe of bark," she instructed, and her wish was carried out.

Stepping into the canoe, she slowly floated down the river towards the great fish.

"Come back, my daughter," her mother cried in agony. "Come back. The great fish will eat you."

But the maiden remained silent, her resolve unwavering. Her canoe reached the spot where the great fin emerged, its prow gently touching the monster’s back. Boldly, she stepped out and began to place her offerings upon the fish’s back, scattering feathers and tobacco across its broad spine.

"Oh, fish," she cried, "Oh, fish, you who were my lover, I shall not forget you. Because you were lost for the love of me, I shall never marry. All my life, I shall remain a widow. Take these presents. And now leave the river, and let the waters run free, so my people may once more descend in their canoes."

Returning to her canoe, she waited. Slowly, the great fish sank beneath the surface, its fin disappearing from view. The waters of the St. Croix (Stillwater) were once again free, and "The Faithful Lovers – A Sioux Legend" comes to a close with the release of the river.

By Marie L. McLaughlin, 1913. Compiled and edited by Kathy Alexander/Legends of America, updated January 2023.

About the Author: Myths and Legends of the Sioux was written by Marie L. McLaughlin in 1913. The text as it appears here, however, is not verbatim, as it has been edited for clarity and ease for the modern reader. McLaughlin, who was of ¼ Sioux blood and was born and reared in the Indian community, acquired a thorough knowledge of the Sioux people and language at an early age. While living on an Indian reservation for more than forty years, she learned the legends and folklore of the Sioux. These legends and myths were told in the lodges, at the past campfires, and then later by the firesides of the Dakota. McLaughlin kept careful notes of the many tales told to her by the Sioux elders until she published this book of legends in 1913.