By
Karen Ann Carpenter
November 13th - National Indian Pudding Day -
". . . it is well that they (tribal stories and legends) should be put down, so that our children, when they are like the white people, can know what were their father's ways."
White Eagle
Pawnee Chief
The ability to read and write is a gift that too many of us take for granted. Much of the world's history has been altered or lost forever because people didn't have an effective way of recording their experiences. Countless stories and legends were handed down from one generation to the next only by word-of-mouth. But anyone who has ever played the childhood game of telephone -- where one child whispers a message to the child sitting next to her . . . and so on and so on . . . children whisper down the line until the final message sounds nothing like the original -- knows that this method is unreliable.
The Pawnees -- an American Indian tribe -- preserved their history through the use of what they called a sacred bundle. This bundle was made up of significant items wrapped in animal skins. On momentous occasions, the Pawnee opened the bundle and recounted the extraordinary stories related to each item. The bundle usually contained a scalp, bow and arrow, eagle feather, lasso and various other notable items. The sacred bundle almost always contained an ear of corn, one of the Indian's most precious crops. The Indians used corn in countless ways. It is still a major ingredient in many Indian puddings. The Pawnee believed that corn was handed down by Tirawa (their Creator) to his children.
In honor of National Indian Pudding Day here's an old Chippewa/Ojibwa legend of Mondawmin, the Corn Spirit:
Long, long ago, an Indian man lived with his wife and children. Everyone in the family had to work very hard just to make sure they had enough to eat. But when the cold and icy winters settled in around them, they usually went hungry.
The day finally came for the eldest son to go off to find his spirit guardian and be given his spirit name. He went into the forest all alone and prepared a small hut. For one full week he would purify his body by not eating, while he awaited whatever visions and visitations would come to him.
For three days Eldest Son walked through the woods and meadows. He spotted deer and squirrels and pigeons. He saw flowers, herbs, fruits, nuts, berries and honey bees. The boy knew that the Great Spirit had provided nature�s bounty and he felt grateful. But the boy could not help but remember the harsh winters and how a person could starve to death for lack of food.
Wanting to use his Vision Quest to help his people, everyday the boy raised his thoughts in prayer. "Master of Life, help my people."
By the fourth day of fasting, Eldest Son felt too weak to go walking. All day he lay in his hut. Strange apparitions and imaginings flashed before him. By the end of the day, Eldest Son thought he saw a figure coming out from the sunset, a man with long golden hair, and dressed in green clothes.
"I am sent to you," said the sky- stranger, "by The Master of Life, in answer to your prayers. I am your guardian, Mondawmin, and your spirit name is Wunuzh. You can help your people by fighting me."
Wunuzh was perplexed. Why fight? And how could he even find the strength to fight? But to help his people, Wunuzh miraculously found the courage to stand up to the spirit and wrestle with him. Mondawmin came to Wunuzh again the next day and they wrestled again. Then the spirit said, "Tomorrow we will wrestle once more and you will conquer me. And when I am dead you will strip off my clothes and bury me in the earth. You will care for my grave and keep it clear of weeds and grass. Do all this and your prayers will be answered."
The next morning Wunuzh's father visited, offering food. Wunuzh refused and sent his father back home so he could stay and wait for the spirit's final visit. And in that final struggle, Wunuzh did conquer Mondawmin. He then followed all of Mondawmin's instructions.
At first Wunuzh told no one of his experience. He just kept visiting and tending the great spirit�s grave. Seasons passed and eventually Wunuzh led his father to the grave site and revealed everything. There, in the place where he�d buried Mondawmin, stood a tall, magnificent plant, with silvery tassels and crowned by nodding green plumes. And in its leaves were golden clusters of sweet, juicy corn.
In return for Wunuzh's perseverance, faith and courage, the Great Spirit Mondawmin had answered Wunuzh's prayers.
There are powerful spiritual messages to be found in legends, if one takes the time to search his soul.
Thank goodness some of the old Indian legends were eventually written down, or they might have been lost forever. This could be a good day to work on that journal you�ve been dreaming about. You never know how far your stories might one day reach.
Following is a recipe for Indian Pudding. Have your sweet tooth ready because this one tastes like Gingerbread cookies. Top with vanilla ice cream if desired.
Indian Pudding
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cornmeal
8 Cups milk ( 6 1/2 , plus 1 1/2 for topping)
3 oz. (2 small boxes) raisins
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup molasses
1 cup brown sugar
Directions:
Butter a large baking dish and preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Scald 6 1/2 cups milk in the top of a large double boiler. Gradually add the cornmeal and cook, stirring frequently, until the cornmeal is well dissolved and the mixture thickens, about twenty minutes. Combine the remaining ingredients (except the 1 1/2 cups cold milk) in a large bowl and mix well. Add the hot milk/cornmeal mixture to the other ingredients and blend well. Place all ingredients in the prepared baking dish and top with the remaining cold milk. Bake 1 1/2 hours or until the mixture is set.
Copyright 2003 -
Karen Ann Carpenter