The Great Lodge

by Joseph LaMère, Bear Clan


"After all the clans had originated and gathered at the Red Banks, then the chief of the people built a big lodge that they might all live in it. So they did, but the clans had a fight within the lodge and even killed one another. So the lodge was abandoned and after that anyone could live in it that cared to." [1]


Commentary. "Red Banks" -- this is on the shore of Green Bay (De Rok) in Wisconsin and is the site where the animal progenitors of the clans gathered to form the Hotcâk Nation (the Creation Council).


Comparative Material. This sounds a little bit like the story of the Tower of Babel, save that the nations have been replaced by the Hotcâk clans. This is told as an incident in history, as it may have been for all we know, although that is highly unlikely, since it is set in the primordial times of foundation.


Links: The Creation Council.


Stories: set at Red Banks (Mógacútc): The Creation Council, Annihilation of the Hotcâgara II, Thunderbird Clan Origin Myth, vv. 1, 2, 3, 5, Bear Clan Origin Myth, vv. 2a, 3, 8, The Winnebago Fort, Blue Bear, Waterspirit Clan Origin Myth, The Hotcâk Arrival Myth, The Creation of Man, v. 10, Wonághire Wâkcik Clan Origin Myth, v. 2, Pigeon Clan Origins, fr. 1, Eagle Clan Origin Myth, Elk Clan Origin Myth, v. 1, Deer Clan Origin Myth, v. 1, Buffalo Clan Origin Myth, Blessing of the Yellow Snake Chief, Gatschet's Hotcank hit'e ("St. Peet", "Hotcâk Origins"), The Shell Anklets Origin Myth, v. 1, The Seven Maidens, Big Thunder Teaches Tcap'ósgaga the Warpath.


Themes: ...


Notes:

[1] The original text (it was told in English) is found in Paul Radin, Notebooks, Freeman #3862 (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, n.d.) Winnebago I, #3: 79.