Legends of Our Nations

Printed by North American Travelling College

The Robin

Many years after the marriage of Pigaigun (Rib) and his wife Waubenoqua (Women of the Dawn), a son was born to them. They named him Zoong-dae-ae (Strong Hearted). The birth of their son made the parents extremely happy and grateful.

Pigaigun wanted his son to be a great warrior, hunter and outstanding to all the people. To be successful in these ideals, Pigaigun planned to teach his son courage, strength, endurance and the skills of hunting and fishing. The training began as soon as Zoong-dae-ae was able to walk and understand.

Quick to learn, Zoong-dae-ae could outrun, outshoot, outjump many boys his age. Through stories and legends, his mother taught him his way of life. Pigaigun and Waubenoqua were very proud of their son.

As time went by, Zoong-dae-ae acquired strength and developed the many skills his father taught him, except a hardness of heart. Zoong-dae-ae was happy to enter contests of running, wrestling, or shooting, and winning mattered very little to him. But, winning was important to Pigaigun because of his honor and pride.

From the time of his training for the competition, it was evident that Zoong-dae-ae was not the surest bowman, the swiftest runner the most agile of wrestlers. Because other boys his age were bigger, stronger and as capable in bending the bow, Zoong-dae-ae was unable to win all the contests. The competitions he did win were a credit to his will and the training he had received.

When Zoong-dae-ae won, his lodge was filled with happiness and pride in the hearts of Pigaigun and Waubenoqua. His winning was an occasion for feasting, dancing and singing. But if he lost, there was only gloom and unhappiness in their lodge. His father would be displeased and would scold him for his weakness and his unwillingness to win. Sometimes Pigaigun would not speak to his son. Zoong-dae-ae thought he had lost his father’s love, and this made him very unhappy. It was during these times that his mother would tell him stories and express her pride and love for him. She would tell him that his father also loved him.

Upon his return, Zoong-dae-ae went directly to show his father the game. “ You will surely win, because it was I who taught you how to kill this game”, said his father. Zoong-dae-ae then continued on to the great fire pit to present his game to the women who were cooking. Soon all the young hunters returned and Zoong-dae-ae saw that two other boys had gotten more game.

That evening, many of the great hunters came to Zoong-dae-ae all saying “Someday , you will be a good hunter.” Again, his father was not among those who offered words of comfort.

The dancing began and many people’s hearts grew light and happy, but Zoong-dae-ae sat alone grieving. He was very sad, knowing he had shamed his father.

But, like a dark cloud that passes over one, slowly the hurt passed. Everyday, Zoong-dae-ae would go out hunting and bring the game back to his father so as to win his way back into his father’s heart.

During Zoong-dae-ae’s thirteenth summer, a celebration of the Raven Feast was to be held, and two other bands came to his village. Again, the boys were required to compete in a hunting contest. They would leave early in the morning and return by evening. The winner would be determined by the one who returned with the most rabbits and partridges. This was the first time Zoong-dae-ae would compete against boys from another village.

Continued next week.