the cornfield owner, the boy’s grandmother (Tale 15)

Family: Arikara · Role: cornfield owner and grandmother · First appears: Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 1

In Tale 15, the cornfield owner took in the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15) and gave him food, and he became her grandson. Her husband was the serpent, husband of the boy’s grandmother (Tale 15), whom the boy killed.

Later, when the boy captured a bear to help haul corn and wood, his grandmother turned it loose; she was the owner of the animals around her. In Part 2, the boy delivered his grandmother to the men (Tale 15), fulfilling his bargain with them.

Relationship record

Life events

• The cornfield owner caught the boy and took him home, where he became her grandson.(Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 1)
  • With: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15)
  • “She took the boy home and gave him food, such as fresh corn mush, succotash, and squash. The boy seemed quite happy.”
• The boy killed the serpent, who was his grandmother’s husband.(Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 1)
  • With: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15) the serpent, husband of the boy’s grandmother (Tale 15)
  • “The boy said within himself: ‘Ah! here is the one that eats up everything that grandmother puts here.’ He took his bow and arrows and shot and shot, until he killed it.”
• The boy captured the bear, but his grandmother later turned it loose.(Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 1 · 📍 the timber)
  • With: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15)
  • “He found the bear, captured him and thought he was strong and would do to haul corn and wood for his grandmother. On her return she saw the great, big black-bear tied. The boy spoke up, saying, ‘I have here a strong animal which will work for us.’ The old woman appeared to be happy, but felt hurt that the boy could have captured the bear. She was the owner of all animals around, both good and bad. She turned the bear loose”
• The boy delivered his grandmother to the men, who began teaching him their skills and ceremony.(Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 2)
  • With: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15) the men (Tale 15)
  • “The boy said, ‘Nawa, I have done what I agreed to do. Here is my grandmother.’ ‘Ah ho! Ah hi!’ they replied, ‘you were honest and have done as you agreed to do. That is the way for noble boys to do. As this is a bargain for your life we will do all we can for you to turn our power and skill over to you.’ Now they began to teach the boy the ceremony of catching eagles and of hunting.”

Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 1

• foster-child: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15) “She took the boy home and gave him food, such as fresh corn mush, succotash, and squash.”
• married with the serpent, husband of the boy’s grandmother (Tale 15) “The dead serpent was the husband of this grandmother.”

Tale 15 · The Girl Who Married a Star · Part 2

• younger kin: the boy, son of the girl who married a star (Tale 15) “He told his grandmother what had happened and what he had done.”

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Extracted from the original text of Traditions of the Arikara. Made with Rho MD.