Buffalo Stone
The Native American Story of the Buffalo Stone
Blackfeet Indian Stories by George Bird Grinnell
The Story of the Buffalo Stone
A small stone, which is often a fossil shell, or sometimes only a queer shaped piece of flint, is called by the Blackfeet
I-nis'kim, the buffalo stone. This stone has great power, and gives its owner good luck in bringing the buffalo close, so that they may be killed. The stone is found on the prairie, and any one who finds one is thought to be very lucky. Sometimes a man who is going along on the prairie will hear a queer faint chirp, such as a little bird might make. He knows this sound is made by a buffalo stone. He stops and searches for it on the ground, and if he cannot find it, marks the place and comes back next day to look for it again. If it is found, he and all his family are glad. The Blackfeet tell a story about how the first buffalo stone was found.
Long ago, one winter, the buffalo disappeared. The snow was deep, so deep that the people could not move in search of the buffalo; so the hunters went as far as they could up and down the river-bottoms and in the ravines, and killed deer and elk and other small game, and when these were all killed or driven away the people began to starve.
One day a young married man killed a prairie rabbit. He ran home as fast as he could, and told one of his wives to hurry and get a skin of water to cook it. She started down to the river for water, and as she was going along she heard a beautiful song. She looked all about, but could see no one who was singing.
The song seemed to come from a big cotton-wood tree near the trail leading down to the water. As she looked closely at this tree she saw a queer stone jammed in a fork where the tree was split, and with it a few hairs from a buffalo which had rubbed against the tree. The woman was frightened and dared not pass the tree. Soon the singing stopped and the I-nis'kim said to the woman, "Take me to your lodge, and when it is dark call in the people and teach them the song you have just heard. Pray, too, that you may not starve, and that the buffalo may come back. Do this, and when day comes your hearts will be glad."
The woman went on and got the water, and when she came back she took the stone and gave it to her husband, telling him about the song and what the stone had said.
As soon as it was dark, the man called the chiefs and old men to his lodge, and his wife taught them the song that she had heard. They prayed too, as the stone had said should be done. Before long they heard far off a noise coming. It was the tramp of a great herd of buffalo. Then they knew that the stone was powerful, and since that time the people have taken care of it and have prayed to it.
The Story of the Buffalo Stone
This story of the Buffalo Stone is featured in the book entitled Blackfeet Indian Stories by George Bird Grinnell, published by Charles Scribner's Sons of New York in1913
The Story of the Buffalo Stone
The Native American Indian Story of the Buffalo Stone provides an opportunity to read about the life and times of Native American Indians and many of their great chiefs and famous leaders. A Classic Short story about Buffalo Stone for kids and children of all ages. This short story of the Buffalo Stone is great to read to kids and children at bedtime. This very short story contains folklore about the famous people of Native Indian tribes.
The Story of the Buffalo Stone for Kids
This short Native American story has been selected to keep the attention of kids and children of all ages. Many of the traditional stories featured in this section are true and others are folk stories or myths and legends. Read our free short story online about Buffalo Stone. Read a free, online short story about the people of famous tribes Native American Indians to increase knowledge and understanding of the indigenous people of North America.
Buffalo Stone
- The Story of the Buffalo Stone for kids
- Buffalo Stone, Culture and Mythology
- Interesting story about Buffalo Stone for kids and schools
- American Indian Stories, Folklore, Mythology, Myths and Legends - Buffalo Stone
- Classic Short story for kids and children
- Read this free, online short story of the Buffalo Stone
Buffalo Stone - Pictures and Videos of Native Americans
The Story of the Buffalo Stone. Discover the vast selection of pictures which relate to the Stories, History and Culture of Native Americans. The pictures show the clothing, War Paint, weapons and decorations of various Native Indian tribes that can be used as a really useful educational history resource for kids and children of all ages. We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic of this section - The Native American story of the Buffalo Stone. The videos on this website enable fast access to the images, paintings and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the Native Indian Tribes Index - a great educational resource for kids.
