Wisakedjak Tales

Long ago, during the time of the Great Flood, Wisakedjak found himself floating on a vast raft with all the animals of the world. The Great Spirit had sent the waters to cleanse the earth, but Wisakedjak, the benevolent trickster, wanted to bring the land back. He spoke to the strongest swimmers first. 'Beaver,' he said, 'dive down and bring me a handful of earth from the bottom.' Beaver dived deep and stayed down for a long time, but he returned empty-handed, exhausted by the depth. Next, the Otter tried, but even he could not reach the bottom. Finally, the tiny Muskrat volunteered. The others laughed, but Wisakedjak encouraged him. Muskrat stayed underwater for so long that the animals feared he had drowned. When his small paws finally broke the surface, he was breathless and weak, but held within his tiny claws was a small clump of mud. Wisakedjak took the earth, blew upon it, and placed it on the raft. As he sang his sacred songs, the mud began to grow and stretch, spreading across the waters until it became the vast, beautiful land we inhabit today.