Indian Why Stories

The Native American was a true lover of nature and close observer of the sights and sounds about him. He delighted in composing tales that offered imaginative explanations for everything--from simple stories about creation to fanciful accounts of how animals acquired certain physical characteristics.This entertaining collection of 22 stories, compiled nearly a century ago by a devotee of Indian lore who considered them "e;well-worth saving,"e; recounts many of the legends told to him by members of the Blackfeet, Chippewa and Cree tribes. Here are intriguing explanations of "e;How the Ducks Got Their Fine Feathers,"e; "e;Why the Kingfisher Always Wears a War-Bonnet,"e; "e;Why the Chipmunk's Back Is Striped,"e; "e;Why Blackfeet Never Kill Mice,"e; "e;How the Otter Skin Became Great 'Medicine,'"e; "e;Why the Mountain-Lion Is Long and Lean,"e; "e;How the Man Found His Mate,"e; "e;Why the Birch-Tree Wears the Slashes in Its Bark"e; and many other tales rich in fanciful characters.Told in simple, direct language and enhanced with 32 illustrations by famed "e;cowboy artist"e; Charles M. Russell, these fables will delight children, lovers of tall tales and students of Native American culture.