“Irving Hallowell relates the story of
Yellow Legs, a renowned Lake Winnipeg Midé who had a special
boulder that possessed contours suggestive of eyes and a mouth. It was
used in the Midewiwin for many years. When Yellow Legs tapped
this stone with a knife, it would open its mouth, whereupon he “would insert
his fingers and take out a small leather sack with medicine in it” (Hallowell
1975:148). The medicine “would be made into a concoction, which was then
shared by all present” (Hallowell 1936:48).”
[“On
another occasion Yellow Legs dreamed of a large round stone on what is now
called Egg Island, but which the Indians call wigw'iminis, birch island.*’
He sent two men to fetch this stone for him: they were told to follow a bear’s
tracks to be found on the shore, which would lead them directly to it. But to
make sure that they had found the right stone, a few branches would be broken
directly above it. The men found the stone by following the directions given
them by Yellow Legs, and it was brought to Berens River. It is now in the
possession of Chief Berens. It was used in the Midewiwin for many years, and
exhibited certain animate properties, externally represented by what appear to
be a mouth and eyes. In the course of the Midewiwin Yellow Legs use to tap the
stone with a knife, whereupon the mouth would open and he would extract a
deerskin packet of medicine. The latter would be made into a concoction, which
was then shared by all present.
In 1979, Mr Barker published an autobiography
that included a chapter entitled “Medicine Dance”. His brief description
bears out the role of certain turtle and snake petroforms:
A row
of stones, placed from smallest to largest, was often used to aid the medicine
man. These formed snakes of various lengths. The sick person was laid beside
the snake, which would then begin to move. Often, this resulted in a cure. The
stones also sometimes became turtles (Barker 1979:99).
Again, this report of stones assuming animate
properties under special circumstances has counterparts in the
literature. Hallowell (1975:148) cites an Ojibwa informant whose father
was leading a Midewiwin ceremony in which a large round stone was
present. The Midé got
up and walked around the path once or twice. Coming back to his place he began
to sing. The stone began to move “following the trail of the old man around the
tent, rolling over and over, I saw it happen several times and others saw it
also.” The animate behaviour of a stone under these circumstances was
considered to be a demonstration of magic power on the part of the Midé..."
The Petroform Phenomenon of Southeastern
Manitoba and Its Significance
Originally published 2004
Latest revision 30 October 2010
Leo Pettipas
Manitoba Archaeological Society
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