Even though the manuscript for Honest to God and Other Whoppers is over and done, I can't seem to bring myself to draw a line under it. But I am working on a transition. There are many other stories to tell and I will perhaps have to open yet another page, maybe even several. I want to put up a page called Wisakadjak (pronounced Whiskey Jack) Stories. This of course is the Cree trickster you read about in the TruthSeeker Cree creation story. I would have to give equal time to Nanabozo, his Ojibway equivalent, or Coyote. But I might need some help with this. So if there are any of my Native American or Canadian friends who would like to share some of the stories they have heard, I would be glad to post them on your behalf. If you have a story to share, you can either let me know through your comments, or even email me at vepp@mymts.net .
The other thing I wanted to tell you is that I'm trying to find a way to link all these stories in print to the audio versions as well. With Shane's help over at Worldwide Sunshine Records, I may just succeed and that would bring a whole other dimesnion to this storytelling circle. But I'll keep you posted.
Now to Wisakadjak; there are two - no actually three reasons these stories will appear here now. The first is that they are some of the biggest "Whoppers" there are, so they fit right in with the page title. Secondly, they have an earthy sense of humor that makes me wonder whether Mennonites and North American First Peoples have a common ancestor. The stories just tickle my fancy. Third, (and I wouldn't be above challenging Wisakadjak on it) they say that these stories should just be told in the winter when he is asleep and won't hear. Otherwise he ay play a trick on you. That said - here is a little taste:
Wisakadjak
Wisakadjak is one of the most famous Cree heroes. The stories about him are endless. He is a prankster, always playing jokes on his brothers and sisters, animals, plants and rocks.
Stories about Wisakadjak always have a moral. They are called story cycles because they are all connected. Each story is from the collective memory of everyone who has told it and may change each time it is told. The narrator may add characters from another story to change it a bit in order to make a particular point.
Wisakadjak has many powers, such as the ability to change shape and be anything he wants, to speak the languages of the animals and plants. No one really knows what he looks like. He is believed to have left earth and headed north, but he returns sometimes to attend dances and other celebrations. His presence however, is never mentioned at these functions.
The mischievous Wisakadjak is always getting in to trouble in his attempts to prove his intelligence and strength. Stories about Wisakadjak usually begin with him walking and feeling hungry. He is too lazy to get food for himself so he will try to trick the animals into giving him their food, or becoming his food. Tricks are often played on Wisakadjak himself. The stories also often tell of Wisakadjak's entry in to the world and of his experiences, teaching us about how the animals and plants came to have their present colors, forms and special characteristics.
Stories about Wisakadjak should only be told in the winter. If they are told in the summer when there is good weather and we should be working as much as possible, the lizards will come and ruin the narrator's life by sucking out his or her blood. These stories are meant to be narrated and not read. Much is lost in the written word. Much of the spirit, humor and excitement are also lost in the translation and can be best appreciated in the language in which they were first told.
Wisakadjak is regarded as a pseudo-religious character in Cree culture. His actions may seem evil or bad according to Christian standards, but the Cree don't consider him or his actions evil. It is Christian morality that imposes itself on this outlook. To the Cree the means is less important than the end. Stories about Wisakadjak were told for entertainment and as a way of teaching people not to do certain things. Here is an example of such stories:
Wisakadjak and his Scabs
One day Wisakadjak was looking for food. He was getting upset with his bum because every time he was about to shoot his arrow, he would fart and scare off the game. In order to punish his bum he built a large fire and put a big rock in it. When the fire was hot he sat on the rock. Wisakecahk was really in pain. He ran to the river to cool off his bum. "That will teach my bum", he said.
Scabs formed on his sore bum. As he walked the scabs cracked and fell off. Later, he walked back the same way and saw the scabs on the path.
"Hey, that looks like grandmother's dried meat! I am sure hungry", he thought. He picked up the scabs and ate them.
Some of the animals that had been watching started laughing so loudly that they startled Wisakadjak.
"What are you laughing at?' he asked.
"Oh, silly Wisakadjak", they said. "You have been eating the scabs from your own bum"!
Wisakadjak was so embarrassed that he ran off.
