The Myth of Hiawatha, and Other Oral Legends

the beaveress, Iëna's first wife

Role: Iëna’s wife and mother of his children · First appears: Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1

When spring opened in Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1, the beaveress and Iëna had two children, one resembling each parent. Angry with him, she left their lodge in the night with the children, the son (Iëna legend) and the other child (Iëna legend), and built a dam across a stream and an earth lodge, living as beavers did.

When a young woman brought food to Iëna, the beaveress reproached her for showing kindness to “that animal that has but two legs.” The young woman, who was a bear in disguise, broke the beaveress’s dam and nearly killed her.

Relationship record

Life events

  • Iëna and his wife had two children, one resembling each parent.(Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1)
  • The beaveress left Iëna, taking their children with her.(Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1)
  • The beaveress built a dam and an earth lodge, and lived like a beaver.(Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1)
    • “She built a dam across the stream, erected a lodge of earth, and lived after the manner of the beavers.”
  • The young woman broke the beaveress's dam and nearly killed her.(Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1)
    • With: Iëna's wife
    • “The young woman, who was all the time a bear in disguise, hearing herself thus reproached, broke down the dam of the beaver, let the water run out, and nearly killed the beaver herself.”

Iëna, the Wanderer; or, Magic Bundle · Part 1

  • married with Iëna “The husband lay in this situation until he was almost starved, when a young female approached him, and thus accosted him: ‘Look here; why are you keeping yourself in misery, and thus starving yourself? Eat this,’ reaching him a little mokuk containing fresh raspberries which she had just gathered. As soon as the beaveress, his former wife, beheld this, she began to abuse the young woman, and said to her, ‘Why do you wish to show any kindness to that animal that has but two legs? you will soon repent it.’”
  • child: the son (Iëna legend) “The mother, as soon as she heard this, was highly displeased; and taking her children, unknown to her husband, left the lodge in the night.”
  • child: the other child (Iëna legend) “The mother, as soon as she heard this, was highly displeased; and taking her children, unknown to her husband, left the lodge in the night.”
  • enemies with Iëna's wife “The young woman, who was all the time a bear in disguise, hearing herself thus reproached, broke down the dam of the beaver, let the water run out, and nearly killed the beaver herself.”

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