How the Summer Season Came: And Other Assiniboine Indian Stories

Recorded by Assiniboine storytellers and illustrated by Indian artists from the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap reservations in northern Montana, these Assiniboine stories were originally intended to help educate young tribal members about their history and culture. Enter into the legendary world of the Assiniboine of long ago through six traditional tales. “How the Summer Season Came” – An Assiniboine tribe living where there is always snow recruits the help of lynx, the red fox, the antelope, the coyote and the wolf to bring the summer season. “Assiniboine Woman Making Grease” – When her people move to a new encampment, an old Assiniboine woman stays behind to make grease. She is discovered by enemy warriors, but she cleverly lures them to their death. “Indian Love Story” – In this Assiniboine ghost story, the soul of a young woman, who died of loneliness when her sweetheart went to war, is reunited with the young man she missed. After living with him and aiding him with her supernatural powers, she leaves him with final instructions before she enters the spirit world. “How the Big Dipper and North Star Came to Be” – Long ago monsters roamed the earth and hunted for people to eat. Here is the story of one girl’s escape from those monsters and her family’s decision to leave the earth for a safer place. “True Story of a Ghost” – When four teenage boys molest a gravesite, they get more than they bargained for. “Duckhead Necklace” – An orphaned boy of a man from the stars and an Indian woman grows up under the protection of a powerful amulet given him by an old woman. With the amulet’s help and through acts of his own courage, he saves a village from starvation. A book in the Indian Reading Series, How the Summer Season Came offers authentic Indian stories, created in cooperation with tribal culture committees. Written at an elementary reading level, these stories provide insights into tribal culture that will be appreciated by both children and adults.