Odjibwa

Family: Odjibwas · Role: youngest brother · First appears: The Red Swan · Part 1

In The Red Swan, Odjibwa was left destitute at an early age when his parents died, and grew up with his elder brothers, the eldest brother (Red Swan legend) and Maujeekewis. The eldest had taught his brothers the arts of the forest, and when he proposed leaving to find them wives, Odjibwa and Maujeekewis persuaded him to stay. At a lake, Odjibwa shot the Red Swan through the neck with a magic arrow, but the bird flew away.

During his travels, Odjibwa was married without wishing it to the daughter of the chief of the first town (Red Swan legend). the first old man (Red Swan legend) gave him food and lodging, and the old man’s magic pot kept filling with food. the second old man (Red Swan legend) received him kindly and directed him on his way; the third old man (Red Swan legend) welcomed and fed him, and said the Red Swan would be his reward if he recovered the magician (Red Swan legend)’s scalp. Odjibwa set out to retrieve it, transformed himself into a hummingbird, and carried the scalp away after the Indians gave up pursuing him. He struck the magician with it, restoring him to his former shape, and they became warmly attached. The magician gave Odjibwa gifts and his sister, the Red Swan, as a wife; Odjibwa travelled back with her, receiving further presents from the old men on the way.

At the first town, Odjibwa presented rich gifts to the chief of the first town (Red Swan legend), his father-in-law, and the chief sent his daughter with him. A Maujeekewis of that town threatened Odjibwa, but was held back. At the other town, the chief of the other town (Red Swan legend) welcomed him and gave him his daughter to take as a wife; when another Maujeekewis there tried to strike Odjibwa, the chief knocked him down. After a number of days’ travel, Odjibwa returned home, reunited with his brothers, and gave each a wife.

One day his two elder brothers urged Odjibwa to leave so one of them could take his wife. He left the next day, travelled to the abode of departed spirits, and later returned to find his brothers quarrelling over the wife who had remained faithful to him. Odjibwa shot both brothers dead with his magic arrows, and he and the Red Swan were united.