Native American Legends
Manabozho's Wolf Brother
A Menomini Legend
When Manabozho had accomplished the works for which Kishä'
Ma'nido sent him down to the earth, he went far away and built his
wigwam on the northeastern shore of a large lake, where he took
up his abode.
As he was alone, the good manidos concluded to give him for a companion
his twin brother, whom they brought to life and called Naq'pote
(which signifies an expert marksman). He was formed like a human
being, but, being a manido, could assume the shape of a wolf, in
which form he hunted for food.
Manabozho was aware of the anger of the bad manidos who dwelt beneath
the earth, and warned his brother, the Wolf, never to return home
by crossing the lake, but always to go around along the shore.
Once after the Wolf had been hunting all day long he found himself
directly opposite his wigwam, and being tired, concluded to cross
the lake. He had not gone halfway across when the ice broke, so
the Wolf was seized by the bad manidos, and destroyed.
Manabozho at once knew what had befallen his brother, and in his
distress mourned for four days. Every time that Manabozho sighed
the earth trembled, which caused the hills and ridges to form over
its surface. Then the shade of Moquaio, the Wolf, appeared before
Manabozho, and knowing that his brother could not be restored Manabozho
told him to follow the path of the setting sun and become the chief
of the shades in the Hereafter where all would meet. Manabozho then
secreted himself in a large rock near Mackinaw.
Here his uncles, the people, for many years visited Manabozho,
and always built a long lodge, the mitä'wiko'mik, where they
sang; so when Manabozho did not wish to see them in his human form
he appeared to them in the form of a little white rabbit, with trembling
ears, just as he had first appeared to Nokomis.
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