Skunny Wundy: Seneca Indian Tales

by Arthur Caswell Parker, Joseph Bruchac (Foreword), George R. Hannell (Introduction)

A collection of children's tales, handed down by Seneca Indians. They have been gathered together by a Seneca anthropologist, who himself is the grandson of a leading Seneca chief.

Selections include: Skunny Wundy Tricks Old Fox / How Fox and Raccoon Tricked One Another / Raccoon and the Three Roasting Geese / How the Wood Duck Got His Red Eyes and Sojy Had His Coat Spoiled / Wink, the Lazy Bird, and the Red Fox / Why Ted-Oh, the Woodchuck, Climbs a Tree / How Joeagah, the Raccoon, Ate the Crabs / The Owl's Big Eyes / The Woeful Tale of Long Tail Rabbit and Long Tail Lynx / How the Rabbit's Lip Was Split / Ossedah, the Rabbit Gambler / How Chief Bear Lost His Tail / The Buffalo and the Mean Old Bear / The Porcupine's Quills / The Mink and the Eagle / The Box Tortoise's Shell / How the Bluebird Gained the Color of the Sky and the Gray Wolf Gained and Lost It / Turtle Gains a Long Neck and Reveals That He is Good for Soup / How the Conifers Flaunt the Promise of Spring / The Turtle's War Party / How Turtle Won the Race With Beaver / Turtle Run a Race With Bear / The Grand Sagamore Who Wandered Afar / The Buffalo's Hump and the Brown Birds / Toad Brother's Warts and the Peeper's Peep / How Moose and Turkey Scalped the Giants / Weasel and Old Snowy Owl / The Ghost of the Great White Stag.

248 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1926

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in 1926, this collection of traditional folktales from the Seneca Indians focuses on the doings of the animal nations, long before the advent of human beings. These stories offer an explanation - through their rivalries and friendships, adventures and misadventures - of how the various animals came to have the appearance and qualities we have come to associate with them. They also teach the listener (or reader) how and how not to behave...

To the reader who appreciates a fine animal fable, some of the qualities elaborated upon will come as no surprise: Fox is wily, and Turtle keeps to himself. Other characterizations might be less expected, as when Toad is revealed as a brave and loyal friend (Toad Brother's Warts and the Peeper's Peep). The mix of familiar and unfamiliar makes for an entertaining and lively read.

I have long been a fan of folk and fairy tales of all kinds, and this was no exception. Animal tales have an appeal that is universal, I believe, but they also reflect the belief systems of the specific cultures from which they spring. I was particularly struck by the vision of Creation as expressed in some of these tales. In The Owl's Big Eyes, we are told that Ra-wen-io, the Masterful One (the Creator) was "making the animals and birds as they wanted to be." I found the idea that the Creator would share the act of creation with the created to be very moving - not that everything always turned out quite as the animals expected (does anything?).

The only discordant note in the collection, for me, was the negative portrayal of the wolves. I was surprised at this, as I had always thought that distrust of this species was something more common in European beliefs. It makes me a little sad to see this beautiful and very social animal stigmatized... But other than this, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, and recommend it to all folktale enthusiasts.

[Mitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this collection of tales to tell primarily because, every so often, the writer phrased his stories in such amusing and colorful ways. This book has things in it that are good to remember long afterwards.

It is full of origin tales that better suit the first audience for whom they were first told and then collected and written down, but there is still wisdom stored inside them, and good advice for getting along with fellow human beings.

I don't think most people have ever heard of this collection but I'm glad I came across it.

[Tuulikki Tammi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so many things from this book. I learned that by the Haudenosawnee people there also lived little people, Junggies, sort of like fairies - they were there first, and who knows if they still live here? I learned that scampering a dance is a great way to show gratitude. And I learned that Fox is tricky, but not as tricky as Skynny Wundy, and that Turtle is wise, except when he isn't, and apparently tastes very good in soup.

Parker's story-telling uncle's voice is fantastic!