The old storyteller leaned over the fire, taking a red-hot coal between his thumb and forefinger he lit his pipe. The boy named Tulpe—Water Turtle—watched in awe as the elder gently tossed the coal back into the fireplace as if it were just a cold stone.

The storyteller had long, neat, white hair, pulled away from his face by a bright blue scarf tied around his forehead. He had a broad belt of wampum around his waist, holding a gray blanket coat in place. Around his neck were at least three small medicine bags, and circular silver earrings sagged from his ears, while another thin hoop pierced his right nostril. What drew your attention to this Lenape elder though was his intense stare—eyes that could fasten you to a tree trunk like a sharp lance in the hands of a skilled warrior.

This fascinating Indian was spending the winter with Tulpe’s family. He was wolf clan just like Tulpe’s mother and grandmother, thus, entitled to hospitality from other wolf clan members in other towns. The family was honored to have such a visitor, a whole winter of stories! Tulpe felt himself the most fortunate of youths, and was much envied by his peers.

"What tale would you hear my children?" spoke the elder in his sing-song voice, sounding deep and rich and sleepy all at once.

Tulpe’s father spoke up, "Grandfather, we would be honored if you would tell our children about the first days, the time when the Great Manito made all things."

The old man nodded, looked intently at each of the children, three boys that were shy, but also very excited as storytelling was deeply cherished by all the Lenape.

"Then we will start at the beginning," he said, drawing deeply on his pipe and looking up into the opening in the wigwam above him. He sat thoughtfully staring at the few visible, twinkling stars, then began.

The sound of waters, and thick mist were all about Kitanitowit. He is known as the Great Manito, or Manito the Maker; those are the names you call him by today.

Kitanitowit—Great Manito held much in his thoughts. He envisioned what his creation should become, and he began creating the many things we see today.

But first Great Manito made the lesser manitos. He made the Four Winds, he made the spirit beings and servants that help him create, and watch over his creation. These are called the Manitowak.

Creator above made the Stars, the Sun and the Moon and the Earth. The Sun we call Father, the Moon Grandmother, and the world is our Mother Earth.

Great Manito made the winds to blow upon the earth, and the spirit directions to bring seasons. Along with these he made the animals, the creeping-crawling things, the swimmers and the fliers.

Kitanitowit made the people, the human beings to live in the world.

The storyteller stopped at this point and looking at each boy in turn asked:

"Will you remember these things, will you hold them in your hearts?"

With awe and large eyes staring back at the elder each boy nodded ‘yes’.

"Do not forget these things." It was a command, gently said, but a command nonetheless. He then smiled kindly at them, "Would you like to know about Nanabush?"

They nodded their heads vigorously. Tulpe was the oldest at 12 years old. He had heard about Nanabush before, what excited him, and what he never got tired of hearing was about how Nanabush used a Turtle—Tulpe’s namesake—to….

The Elder began again.

Before I speak of mighty Nanabush, I must speak of the time that ruined the world. Before the time of the ruining, there was peace and goodness on Mother Earth. But then there came an Evil Spirit, it was Maskanako, the Great Horned Serpent! (The boys shuddered and huddled closer together at the naming of the Evil Spirit.)

Maskanako was very jealous of the Frog Spirit named Kichichaxkal. The Great Toad ruled the water of the world, and Maskanako murdered the Great Toad so he could rule the water world instead. Great and terrible things happened then, the whole of Mother Earth shook violently and soon a great flood of water began to cover the lands because of Evil Maskanako.

When all seemed lost a hero arrived, none other than the great Nanabush. The wise and gifted Nanabush was born of the manitos. He saw the floods rising and he quickly picked up the humans, and animals, and the birds—saving them from the dangerous flood. He cast cedar sticks upon the water and formed a raft to put all the humans and creatures upon, to save them from certain drowning. Then wise and mighty Nanabush sent a Loon down to find the mud beneath the water, but the Loon could not find it. So he sent an Otter, but the Otter could find no mud in the deep waters. But just as hope was disappearing among all creatures, the Muskrat gave it a try, and he came back up nearly dead from being out of breath, but with mud on his paws and muzzle!

Nanabush rejoiced, and told the Muskrat his descendants would live upon the earth until the end of time for this great service. Next Nanabush took the mud from Muskrat and placed it upon the back of a Turtle. Thinking for a bit, Nanabush decided what to do; he blew gently upon the mud causing it to grow bigger and bigger along with the Turtle. In a short time the Turtle had become huge. The land was formed upon the Turtle and it became a large Island, with trees and flowers and animals and humans multiplying upon it. And that is why we call the world Turtle Island today.

"Nanabush is a great one!" blurted out Tulpe. Who quickly covered his mouth with his hands, noticing his father’s gentle, rebuking stare. But the storyteller laughed.

"Yes he is a great one. We call him our Grandfather because he saved the world, and saved the Lenape from certain death. And since Nanabush was a shape changer, changing from a Man into a Rabbit, we Lenape honor Nanabush by never eating the meat of a Rabbit—we leave that hopper, Moskimus, alone because of Nanabush." The elder shook his pipe out. Was silent for a time and said, "My father told me when I was just a boy that Nanabush went to live in the far north after he helped the People. That each fall season when the leaves turn colors, Nanabush puts out his pipe and goes into a long sleep like brother bear. But Nanabush is always ready to help the People, when great need or danger comes—Nanabush will come back to aid us."

Tulpe stared at the old man still sitting by the fire. He pulled the blanket up to ward off the growing cold, and watched as the storyteller took out his prayerstick and began a low chant. Tulpe turned his head toward the wall and nestled more deeply into the skins beneath him. The boy began to drift off to sleep listening as the old one prayed to Kitanitowit, the Great Manito.

Karlton Douglas © 2002