Mishomis Story

The Solar Eclipse

"Waynaboozhoo continued walking to the East. The land leveled out into a huge mush-ko-dayng' (plain). He could see no end to these great plains. He noticed, though, that even in the seeming barrenness of the plains and prairies, they were still teaming with life, songs, and vitality.

One especially hot day on the prairie, Waynaboozhoo sensed that something was strange. The animals around him ceased their scurrying about for food and became silent. All of a sudden, a shadow began to creep over the face of the Sun. Waynaboozhoo became frightened as the shadow grew and light on the Earth became less and less. Finally, the Earth appeared as if it were night. But then, with a flash of light, the Sun started to reappear and light gradually returned to the earth.

Waynaboozhoo remembered the time that his Grandmother’s spirit talked with him from her home on the Moon. She told him that the Sun would give him a sign that would explain the relationship between the Sun and the Moon.

Waynaboozhoo knew that he had just been given the time that the Moon, as woman, and the Sun, as man, would come together and honor their relationship. This sign would come to remind all women and men of their responsibility to each other even in the midst of all their earthly tasks.

Also this sign should be interpreted as testimony to the harmony of the entire Creation, of how the stars, moons, and planets are placed in a sacred order with a sacred purpose. The Sun never fails to give the Earth its warmth and light, but just for this moment the Sun is given a rest, a rest the should remind us that we cannot take the Sun or any part of the Creation for granted."

- from The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway by Edward Benton-Banai

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