Research source

K to wife the Dakota girl, Minnehaha (“Laughing Water”), hunted, fought, and lived as a warrior; yet, when need…

Date of account: Published 1896
Source: Myths and Legends of Our Own Land — Complete
Reference: Myths and Legends of Our Own Land — Complete · selected passage 149
Rights: public_domain
Language: English
Record updated: 2026-08-24

Record summary

k to wife the Dakota girl, Minnehaha (“Laughing Water”), hunted, fought, and lived as a warrior; yet, when need came, he could change his form to any shape of bird, fish, or plant that he wished

Published source text

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Source passage

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k to wife the Dakota girl, Minnehaha (“Laughing Water”), hunted, fought, and lived as a warrior; yet, when need came, he could change his form to any shape of bird, fish, or plant that he wished. He spoke to friends in the voice of a woman and to enemies in tones like thunder. A giant in form, few dared to resist him in battle, yet he suffered the common pains and adversities of his kind, and while fishing in one of the great lakes in his white stone canoe, that moved whither he willed it, he and his boat were swallowed by the king of fishes. He killed the creature by beating at its heart with a stone club, and when the gulls had preyed on its flesh, as it lay floating on the surface, until he could see daylight, he clambered through the opening they had made and returned to his lodge.

Historical context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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Modern context

Contextual commentary · mention only

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