Legend of The No-Face Doll

Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!

[USA Flag]

Legend of The No-Face Doll

Iroquois

Iroquois Legend of the No-Face Doll
The Iroquois people have what they call the three
sisters, the "sustainers of life". These sisters
are called corn, beans, and squash.
The corn Spirit was so thrilled at being one of the
sustainers of life that she asked the Creator what
more she could do for her people. The Creator said
that a beautiful doll could be formed from the husks.

The Creator set to work to form the doll.
When finished he gave the doll a beautiful face,
and sent it to the children of the Iroquois people to
play with, and to make them happy. The doll went
from village to village playing with the children and
doing whatever she could for the children. Everywhere
she went everyone would tell her how beautiful
she was, so after a while she became vain.
The Creator spoke to her and explained that this
was not the right kind of behavior, and she agreed
not to be this way anymore. The Creator told her
that if she continued with the behavior he would
punish her, but he would not tell her how he would
punish her. She agreed not to act that way again,
and things went on as before. One afternoon she
was walking by a creek and she glanced into the water.
As she admired herself, she couldn't help thinking
how beautiful she was, because indeed she was
beautiful. At this time Creator sent a giant screech
owl out of the sky and it snatched her reflection
from the water. When she looked again, she had
no reflection. This was the punishment the Creator
put upon her.

When an Iroquois Mother makes a doll
for her child, she tells them that legend. It is wrong
to think they are better then any one else, and that
the Creator has given a special gift to everyone