Support freedom of expression. Join PEN Canada

LITTERAE
Multilingual literary magazine

Canadian Folklore:
The Indian Cinderella

On the shores of a wide bay on the Atlantic coast there dwelt in old times a great Native Canadian warrior, known for his wonderful and strange power -- he could make himself invisible. He could mingle unseen with his enemies and listen to their plots. He was known among the people as Strong Wind, the Invisible. Strong Wind lived with his sister in a tent near the sea, and his sister helped him in his work. Many maidens wanted to marry him because of his mighty deeds. However, it was known that Strong Wind would only marry the first maiden who could see him as he came home at night. Many tried, but it was a long time before one succeeded.

Strong Wind used a clever trick to test the truthfulness of all who sought to win him. Each evening as the sun went down, his sister walked on the beach with any girl who wished to try and marry Strong Wind. His sister could always see Strong Wind as he made himself invisible to all but her. As he came home from work his sister would see him drawing near, and she would ask the girl who sought him, "Do you see my brother?" Now each girl could not see him, but they would always answer, "Yes." His sister would then ask, "With what does he draw his sled?" And each girl would answer, "With the hide of a moose," or "With a pole," or "With a great cord." And then his sister would know that they all had lied, and their answers were mere guesses. Many tried, but Strong Wind would not marry any one who was untruthful.

Now in the village lived the great chief who had three daughters. Their mother had long been dead. One of these was much younger than the others. She was very beautiful and gentle and well beloved by all. Her older sisters were very jealous of her and they treated her cruelly. They clothed her in rags so she would look ugly. They cut off her long black hair. They also burned her face with coals from the fire so that her skin would become scarred and disfigured. Then they would lie to their father, the chief, telling him that she had done these things to herself. But the young girl was patient and kept her gentle heart and went about her work.

Like the other girls, the chief's two eldest daughters wanted to marry Strong Wind. One evening, as the sun went down, the oldest daughter walked on the shore with Strong Wind's sister and waited for his coming. Soon he came home from his day's work, drawing his sled. His sister asked as usual, "Do you see him? Do you see my brother?" And the oldest daughter, lying, answered, "Yes." And she asked, "Of what is his shoulder strap made?" The girl, guessing, said, "Of rawhide."

Strong Wind knew that the oldest daughter had lied, so he kept himself from her sight and she went home dismayed.The second daughter also tried to win Strong Wind. She walked along the shore with Strong Wind's sister, and when the sister asked her if she saw Strong Wind she lied, saying, "Yes". When she was asked of what his shoulder strap was made, she guessed, "Of woven grasses."

She was also denied by Strong Wind.One day the chief's youngest daughter with her rags and her burnt face resolved to seek Strong Wind. She patched her clothes as best she could, and put on the few little ornaments she possessed, and went forth to try to see the Invisible One. Her sisters laughed at her and called her a fool. As she passed along the road, all the people laughed because of her tattered frock and her burnt face, but she silently went her way.Strong Wind's sister received the girl kindly, and at twilight she took her to the beach. Soon Strong Wind came home drawing his sled, though none could see him but his sister. And his sister asked, "Do you see him?" The girl could not so she said, "No." His sister was startled as she was the first one who had spoken the truth. She asked, "Do you see him now?" And the girl answered, "Yes, and he is very wonderful." Then the sister asked, "With what does he draw his sled?" The girl answered, "With the Rainbow," and she was very afraid. And the sister asked further, "Of what is bowstring?" The girl answered, "His bowstring is the Milky Way."It was then that Strong Wind's sister knew that because the girl had spoken the truth, her brother had made himself visible to her. She said, "Truly, you have seen him."

And she took the girl home and bathed her, and all the scars disappeared from her face and body; and her hair grew long and black again like the raven's wing. She gave her fine clothes to wear and many rich ornaments. Then she told her to take the wife's seat in the tent. Soon Strong Wind entered the tent and sat beside her. He called her his bride. The next day she became his wife. Every day after she helped him to do great deeds. The girl's two elder sisters were angry and they wondered what had taken place that their sister was now married to Strong Wind. Strong Wind knew of their cruelty, and he resolved to punish them. Using his great power, he changed them both into aspen trees and rooted them into the earth. Since that day the leaves of the aspen have always trembled, and they shiver in fear at the approach of Strong Wind, no matter how softly he comes. They still remember his great power and anger because of their lies and their cruelty to their sister long ago.

Source: "The Native American Cinderella" is based on a story of the same name from Canadian Wonder Tales by Cyrus MacMillan (John Lane, London, 1918), pp.116-119.

Orange Prize for Fiction 2006 website (www.orangeprize.com) is LIVE!
The Orange Prize for Fiction is the UK’s richest annual book award for
fiction, celebrating excellence, innovation and accessibility in women’s
writing. It is an international award open to any woman writing in English.
First prize is a cheque for £40,000 and a limited edition bronze known as a
‘Bessie’, created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. Both are
anonymously endowed.