Tale Ojibwé: Princess of the mist

The term Ojibwe comes from Utchibou, name given to the XVIIe century to a group who lived north of what is now Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Here's one from their tale: Princess of the Mist.

The Ojibway were part of a series of very close, but distinct groups, occupying a territory located between the northeast of the bay Georgian and eastern Lake Superior. These peoples who gathered near present-day Sault Ste. Mary are also called Saulteaux, a term that today refers primarily to the Ojibway peoples of northwestern Ontario and southeastern Manitoba.

Ojibwe Princess of the mist

Princess of the mist

More enchanting, than the rushing, swirling water, and the crystal
Studded mist rising from the great gorge, is the story of a lovely Indian princess.

A peace-loving- chieftain, White Bear, of the Ojibway encampment,
learned the Sioux were about to destroy his tribe. too old to go
to battle himself, the old chief's distress led his daughter, Princess
Green Mantle, your motto has plan.

The Princess paddled her canoe up the Kaministiquia, to a point
well above the waterfall. She Walked boldly into the camp of her
enemies and at once they captured her and planned to put her to
death. Pretending to be lost and frightened, she bargained with
them to spare her life in return for leading them to her father's camp.

The Sioux agreed and the following morning the young princess was
placed in the lead canoe and the great band of Sioux, with their
canoes tied together, set out for the Ojibway camp. Green mantle
did not tell them of the falls, and as they swiftly turned the bend
of the river, they plunged into the great gorge. Along with the
Sioux warriors, the Princess lost her life, but her tribe was spared
the torture of the most feared of all the tribes. The Great Manitou
looked kindly upon the brave deed of the Princess.

Today, if one walks along the river bank to the point of the falls,
the figure of Green Mantle can be seen in the mist, standing as
a monument to the memory of the courageous Princess who gave her
life for her people.