Story of Nanabozho - A version ● Nanabozho learns from his grandmother Nokomis that his mother has been stolen by a "powerful wind" spirit at his birth and he then sets out on an epic journey to find her. ● Lots of stuff happens...(long story)... ● At the end of the journey Nanabozho meets the Great Gambler and defeats him through trickery (all the while saving the destiny of his people) and returns home triumphant--knowing the fate of his mother and securing his own destiny.
Erdrich’s Sources ● In earlier story spirits representing The West Wind (or a great storm) kills Nanabozho’s mother Wenonah. ● Nokomis, Nanabozho’s grandmother, hides him from the spirits. ● When Nanabozho becomes a grown man he sets out to avenge his mother’s death. ● In some versions it is against an evil brother of Wenonah (who killed her). In others it is against The West Wind and its manitous. In other version it is the The Great Gambler or Ghost Gambler and supporting manitous.
Erdrich’s Sources.... ● In all versions Nanabozho defeats his opponents through deception. ● Nanabozho exchanges confidences. He tells them the one things that will kill him (which turns out to be a lie). While his enemies tell him the truth. Guess who wins. ● When it is all over, Nanabozho, puts the surviving Manitous in their proper places within the Four Corners of the earth. His destiny and the destiny of his people is now secure.
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