deniu] THE ASSINIBOIN 487 



Wah-con. They were also made rich and clothed, or have the means 

 of getting clothing, and everything they want without hardship or 

 exposure. The Indians, they say, were made naked and with such 

 qualifications as to suit a hunter, knowledge enough to make his arms 

 and use them at war or in the chase, a constitution to stand severe 

 cold, long fasting, excessive fatigue, and watchfulness, and this was 

 their portion. The position and pursuits of people were not defined 

 by any laws, oral or otherwise delivered, but each with the powers 

 granted him was enabled to live. The hunter soon found out that 

 he could make traps and weapons, and felt his superiority over the 

 animal creation. 



They believe all animals are made for the use of man and more 

 especially for the Indians, their meat being for food and their skin 

 for clothing, " for " say they, " if not for that use for what other 

 purpose ? " Indians must have meat, and they eat all animals and 

 birds, even to the crow and rattlesnake." The prairie (the earth) 

 was made for grazing the butfalo, and rivers to produce fuel, etc. 

 The whites from their superior knowledge soon found out their 

 destiny — to make everything, subdue everything, and make even 

 the Indians work for their benefit. People were left in this state 

 and each pursued their different occupations. 



We can not trace in any of their conversations or religion any 

 appearance of a moral code nor any offenses they can be guilty of 

 toward Wakonda except the omission of worship. If they had an 

 idea of the kind they would undoubtedly do penance and offer 

 sacrifices for these acts, but this is not the case. There is no 

 repentance for past deeds; all ceremonies and worship is to avoid 

 present or future evil. What we term crime can not be an offense 

 to Wakonda, as its aid is invoked to commit the greatest of them. 

 Their idea of Wakonda or Great Unknown Power is, we believe, 

 nothing more than the fear of evil befalling them, the averting 

 of which is beyond the power of man. Therefore they make sacri- 

 fices, fasts, prayers, etc., to this Unknown Power which they know 

 from actual phenomena has an existence, and think His aid can 

 thus be secured. 



But they can go no further. They have no idea of a Being whose 

 attributes are mercy, forgiveness, benevolence, truth, justice, etc., 

 nor will they have until these words have a signification and appre- 

 ciation among themselves. This view is the correct and general one 

 among all the prairie tribes, though it is often clothed in supersti- 

 tious narrative of fable not necessary to be inserted here. War and 

 peace would not be recognized as His special acts, as they know these 



"The Assiniboin never eat the rattlesnake, but it is known that some of the St. 

 Peter's Sioux and Cree do. 



