A long time ago, in the Time of the Beginning, it was told this way:

A young boy, known as Little Deer was out walking in the forest near his home. Grandfather Sun shone brightly, and the weather was warm. As he walked through the trees, he watched his Animal-Kind relatives. Squirrels ran about collecting nuts to store for winter. Rabbits chased each other, playing their own kind of 'tag'. A mother deer with twin fawns drank water from a running brook, and watched him. She knew that he would not harm her since female deer were not hunted by the People while raising fawns. Little Deer left an offering of sacred tobacco near her, for he was of the Deer Clan, and wished to learn from her. He watched as she faded into the brush, almost out of sight.

He smiled and thought to himself, "I must learn to stand so still that even someone nearby would not see me." He listened to the birds as they sounded their voices, singing back and forth to each other through the trees. How beautiful their voices were! He walked farther along. He wished he had a Human-kind friend near his own age. He often felt lonely. There had been several years of famine among the People. Few children had been born. It was the way of his People to bear children only when there was food enough to nourish the mothers while they carried the gift of new life, and food enough for all. Several children had died of hunger an illness over the long and cold winter.

Little Deer longed for a friend and companion. Each morning when his mother lit the Smudge of Sweetgrass for Opening Day, Little Deer prayed to the Great Spirit, Gitchi Manitou, and asked him to send a friend, and an end to the hard times for his People. Little Deer came close to the lake, and found a large rock to sit upon. He leaned over the still waters, to see his reflection looking back at him. He saw a youth of some eleven winters, whose hair was tied back with a leather thong. It was the custom that men braided their hair only after they married. Then their wives or daughters would comb and braid their hair.

As one side was braided, prayers were said for the family members who lived in the Physical World. When the second side was braided, prayers were said for those family members who had left this world for the World of the Spirit. He was dressed in only a softly tanned deer-skin wrapped around his waist by a thong of rawhide. He carried a special pouch, also of deerskin, and in it, were his sacred objects. One for each of the four kingdoms: plant, animal, human and mineral. His brown eyes sparkled brightly. He was too young to think yet of marrying. When he did, he knew that he would leave his family to go and live with the family of his wife. That would be many years yet. He looked up into Grandfather Sky.

As his eyes rose, an Eagle dove down to scoop a fish from the surface of the water, flying off with a screech. That was a good sign. Eagles were always seen as powerful, bringers of Truth. Little Deer sprinkled Tobacco onto the water, giving prayers of thanks to the Spirit of the Eagle, the waters and Mother Earth.

Lying back on the rock, he closed his eyes. The sun was much warmer now. He grew drowsy, and drifted off to sleep. He awoke as a shadow passed over his face, blocking out the warmth of the sun. A strangers face looked down at him. There were no strangers among the People!

Little Deer jumped to his feet with a start, reaching for the obsidian edged knife he carried at his waist. The stranger spoke, and his voice was kind and gentle. "I will not hurt you, little one. I have come to be your friend. Is that not what you heart wishes for most of all? A friend?" Little Deer looked at him in surprise. "How do you know my name? Where do you come from? The Stranger answered: "I have come from the Spirit World in answer to your prayers. You have prayed for a friend. And so, I am here."

Little Deer laughed. "I would love to have a friend. Why is your hair so strange? I have never seen anyone who looks like you. Your hair is golden like the sunlight, and your eyes are the same blue colour as the sky." The strange one answered: "Those who live in the Spirit World are not the same as you who remain here in this Physical one, we come in many colours, as many colours as their are in the Rainbow. Come, lets play a game."

So the two played together. They threw rocks across the water, to test their strength and aim. They threw them at targets to test their eyesight and accuracy. They ran races to see who could run farthest and fastest. They practiced sitting very still in the forest to watch for the animals who lived there. As Grandfather Sun moved down the horizon, the Stranger said: " I must soon return to my home. I will come again in four days. Before I go, come and wrestle with me." So, Little Deer wrestled with the Stranger.

Since the older man was much stronger, he soon pinned the boy to the ground. As his shoulders touched the ground, he found himself growing sleepy. His eyes became so heavy, he could not stay awake. When next he awoke, Grandmother Moon was just beginning to show her face. Little Deer was not unhappy, for he knew his friend would return. He was very pleased for the Creator had answered his prayers. He returned through the twilight to his village.

For some reason he could not name, he did not tell anyone of his meeting with the Stranger in the woods by the lake. On the fourth day, the boy again returned to the lake. As the sun rose, he grew sleepy. As before, when he awoke the Stranger was standing over him. They spent the day playing together. The Stranger taught Little Deer many things. He shared stories of the Old Ones, and Teachings the Creator had given to the people. Little Deer learned much. His favourite Teaching was about being in good relationship with all things: all four kingdoms, four directions, within oneself, ones family and community. He came to understand that this meant he must first learn to care for his mind, body, emotions and spirit. Only when he found this Balance, could be move forward in a positive way and share with his family and friends.

As before, at the end to the day, they wrestled. Little Deer felt stronger. It took the older man a longer time to pin him down. As before, as his shoulders touched Mother Earth, he felt his eyes grow heavy, and he fell fast asleep. The Stranger was gone when next he woke. Little Deer returned to his village, and as before, he told no-one of his day.

Four days following, Little Deer returned to meet his friend. The day passed much as the previous ones had. But the boy noticed that his friend seemed older, more easily fatigued. Little Deer could now throw the rocks as far as his friend. He could easily keep pace with him when they ran races. At the end of the day, it took the older one a very long time to pin him to the earth. As before, when his shoulders touched Mother Earth, he fell asleep, and when he next awoke, the Stranger was gone.

Little Deer returned to his village. This time, however, he was concerned for his friend. The next four days passed very slowly for the youth. At each Opening Day, he offered prayers to the Creator for his friend. As the morning of the fourth day dawned, Little Deer awoke just as Grandfather Sun showed his face to the world. He dressed quickly and quietly left his lodge. He was careful not to awaken anyone as he did not wish to answer any questions. He hurried through the forest, down the trail to where he would meet his friend.

Unlike the earlier times, when he entered the clearing next to the lake, he found his friend waiting for him. Little Deer hurried the last few steps to his friend. His mouth opened in astonishment. The face of the Stranger was lined with age. The braids of his long golden hair showed streaks of grey. He stood slightly bent over, as the Old Ones, the Elders of Little Deer’s People stood. Little Deer spoke softly to his friend: "My friend, what has happened to you? Are you ill? What can I do to help you?"

The Stranger smiled wistfully as he sounded his deep voice: "Time in the Spirit World runs in a different manner than it does in this World of Physical Things. In that World, I am forever young and strong, but when I visit this one, the body that I put on ages very quickly. Do not worry, little friend. What is, is. Let us spend what time remains together in a good way." The boy felt great sadness in his spirit, but he respected the wishes of his friend, and said no more about it.

They spent the day together, as they had the other ones, playing games of skill, sharing stories, and talking in the way of friends. But now, Little Deer was stronger and faster than his friend. He often had to assist the older one in moving about. It seemed that he aged faster with each passing moment. The Stranger told the youth stories of the Peoples of times now long past. The day passed far too quickly for Little Deer. Soon Grandfather Sun began his downward journey. The boy's heart became heavy with sadness. To his eyes, his friend looked older than the oldest person Little Deer had ever seen.

The Stranger spoke: "My little friend, soon this body that I have put on will cease to function. My spirit will return to the Spirit World from whence I came. When this happens, I ask you to follow my wishes. "Do not be too sad, for I bring you and the People a wonderful gift that will soon end the hunger that brings such pain and sadness. You have shown me, a stranger who looks so very different, kindness. You have been a good friend to me, though my appearance is so different than your own.

Your kindness will feed your people for many generations to come. "When this body dies, you must dig a hole in the ground. You are to take some fresh fish from the lake and put it into the hole. On top of this you will place the body I now wear. Then you will put Tobacco onto the ground and cover me with the warm moist soil of our Mother, the Earth. "Next you will take some sacred Cedar which you will gather in the Traditional way in the forest, and sprinkle it over the soil. You will say four prayers, one for each of the Four Sacred Protectors who live in each of the four Directions. The Cedar and prayers will guide my spirit on its journey home to the Grandfathers and the Creator.

"Each day you will return to this place and cover the soil with life-giving water from the lake. What will grow here will feed the People, their children and their children's children down to the seventh generation. "You are to remember me always, for I come as a special gift given in love by the Great Spirit, Gitchi Manitou for the People. My name is Maize. "Each year when harvest time comes in the long days of autumn, you and the People, and all who will yet be born, will celebrate with Feasting and Prayers of Thanksgiving. "Share with all who have need of this gift. Do this in remembrance of me and my coming.

The Stranger smiled, softly and slowly. "Come little one. Wrestle with me. Do not mourn my passing, but honour my memory and my gifts. You will become the Keeper of the Maize, and teach your People how to grow and care for me. I will return again each and every year, and the People will not again know such hunger and pain." So saying, Little Deer wrestled with the fair haired Stranger. Tears blurred his eyes. Far too soon, the youth pinned the older man to the soil of Mother Earth. As the old ones shoulders touched the ground, his spirit left his body and it ceased to breath. The heart stopped and the body died.

Little Deer said a prayer for the soul of his friend as it began the journey back to the Spirit World. Little Deer followed the instructions that his friend had given him, all but one. He mourned for the passing of his friend. He buried the body as he had been instructed in the soil of Mother Earth.

Each day he returned to the place and place water upon the soil. He left Tobacco and said prayers for the Spirit of his friend. After a few days had passed, plants began to grow. The plants matured, and cobs began to grow and mature. Little Deer always seemed to know what needed to be done to care for the plants. It was as though the voice of his friend echoed in his mind, and explained what was to be done.

As the cobs of maize matured, it pleased the youth to note that the silky tassels that were found on one end of the cobs were the same golden colour as his friends hair had been. Each time Little Deer saw that, he smiled and felt happier. Little Deer shared the gifts of the Maize with his village. Soon the People of other villages heard of the wonderful gift and came seeking food. Little Deer honoured the wishes of his friend and shared his knowledge with all who asked. Hunger was not again such a problem for the People. Children again were born, and there was food for all. Little Deer soon had many younger friends and companions.

As he grew up, he became a leader among his people, and was the Keeper of the Maize for all the years he remained in the World of Physical Things. His life was long and fulfilled. He never forgot his friend, and often told the story to the young ones sitting round the fire in the long cold nights of winter, when Mother Earth rested. The story became part of the history of the People, and the Storytellers and Wisdom-Keepers passed it down in the oral Tradition.

So it is today, that we honour the gift of Maize, and his friend Little Deer.

Megwetch Gitchi Manitou for the gift of Sacred Corn.

KiiskeeN’tum – She Who Remembers