Famine Winter

Written for the students at Heart Butte School on the Blackfeet Reservation, the booklet tells a story about Old Sun, a Blackfeet medicine man, and how terribly unkind the country of the far north can be. Old Sun had a dream of a bear with long, soft fur and white as snow. He was advised by his secret helper to get the bear's skin for a sacrifice to the sun. After questioning the Cree for the best route to the north country, Old Sun was determined to start in the spring. Spring came and Old Sun and his family began their trip north. The family had plenty to eat and traveled far. Soon the weather began to turn cold and the land more desolate. Old Sun and his son, Two Bows, looked for the white bears and found none. After traveling 124 days, Old Sun and his family decided to start toward home. Old Sun had a dream that warned him that great misfortune would befall his family. The cold weather made food and shelter scarce. Old Sun, his wife and Two Bows eventually sacrificed their lives to save the life of Old Sun's grandson, Otter. Otter and his mother eventually came to the Crees' camp and were saved. (ERB)