96 
Adolescence, as stated in an earlier chapter, was the most critical 
period in the life of every human being. It was then that the boy fasted 
and prayed in solitude to gain the protection of some supernatural power 
throughout the rest of his days . 1 Girls often fasted and obtained visions 
in the same way as boys, although their visions generally came to them 
during their seclusion at the first signs of womanhood. The Parry 
Islanders believed that every woman was possessed of a mysterious power 
that was dangerous to men. This power was latent in them at all times, 
so that during the hunting season men kept aloof as far as possible lest 
it should neutralize their hunting-medicines and rob them of success in 
the chase. It was strongest during labour, when any man who inhaled 
the expectant mother’s breath (except the most powerful medicine-man) 
lost all his hunting powers; and it was perhaps no less strong at the first 
blossoming into womanhood. Every month the moon renewed this power, 
just as it renewed the medicine-power of the wabeno, djiskiu, and kusa- 
bindugeyu ; for it was grandmother moon, by day the oldest and by night 
the fairest of all women, who brought the first Indian maid to maturity, 
in accordance with the following legend. 
“ When the first Indian maid reached adolescence Grandmother Moon, hiding 
her face (it was the time of the new moon), peered down at her and whistled, saying, 
‘Follow me.’ For some days the girl remained dreamy and wished to play all by 
herself; but when a fortnight had elapsed and the moon was past full she heard the 
call of her grandmother and tried to reach the place from which the whistle sounded. 
A large tree blocked her path, and the girl did not try to leap over it but looked 
back. Grandmother Moon then taught her to redden her cheeks with the juice of 
the bloodroot as her own cheeks were reddened; and she bade her go and fast on the 
hide of a ‘ lion ’ (mythical giant lynx) to prepare herself for a blessing. Afterwards 
Grandmother Moon taught her to fashion a pot of clay and to smooth its surface 
with a stone. The grandmother herself provided the food for the pot as soon as 
it was finished” (Mary Sugedub). 
As this first Indian maid blossomed into womanhood, the Parry 
Islanders say, so should all maidens down to the present day. If a girl 
does not listen to the whistle of Grandmother Moon that comes to her 
in her dreams she may never reach old age, never perhaps see little 
children growing up around her. She must trust her grandmother, or the 
lion manido, on whose hide the first maid sat, will destroy her mind and 
make her crazy. Her call should come after the moon is full, for it will 
be dangerous if she matures at an earlier period. She must never leap 
over the log that Grandmother Moon sets in her path, never overstep the 
bounds of modesty and honour. Hence, when a young couple married, the 
Parry Islanders used to set a maple log between them for the first four 
nights, to please Grandmother Moon and to teach them self-restraint. 
At the first signs of womanhood the girl had to remain in seclusion for 
about ten days (some said the full period used to be twenty), formerly in 
a special wigwam, today, when the Indians live in European houses, in 
a separate room. If it was harvest time, she remained in seclusion until 
the close of the harvest. No man, or child younger than herself, might 
approach her, but her mother or older sister could take her food and 
water each day and some dry sticks for her fire. She herself might not 
1 See p, 48. 
