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Telling
SEASONALITY STORIES AND LEGENDS
Seasons traditionally played an extremely Stories abound across the Byway,
important role in both Meskwaki and particularly ones that relate to the Meskwaki Stories
Amana people’s lifeways. Some of these and to early Amana settlers. These include
traditions continue today. For example, both stories told about both groups and by
groups harvested wild foodstuffs according both groups, tales told by one group “The storytelling tradition is in the
to seasonal availability and planted and about the other, and accounts that reach summer village. That’s where you learn
harvested crops accordingly. For the back hundreds of years. Most stories most of the religious language. You’re
Meskwaki, certain types of wickiups were have historical roots. For example, most learning the tribal religion, tribal values.
erected according to seasons (an o-te-ni-ka-ni Meskwaki know stories about how the But in the wintertime, that’s when we told
in summer, an a-ba-ge-ka-ni in winter), and tribe fought the French in the early 1700s our winter stories. And winter stories are
wickiups are sometimes still built for special in Wisconsin, how the tribe came to settle moral teachings. A story will teach you a
occasions. The activities of Meskwaki artisans along the Iowa River, clan origin stories, and lesson.”
and craftspeople may also follow seasons: stories about family traditions. The same
winter may be the time to gather wood for holds true for descendants of the Amana “Traditionally, the Meskwaki would
carving. In the Amanas, willows are harvested Community in the Byway corridor. They travel to the Lily Lake in the Amana
for basketry in the fall. Even today’s Meskwaki know stories about the group’s European Colonies to gather the underwater tubers
Powwow is based on the Green Corn beginnings; how the group migrated to New from the Arrowhead and Lotus plants
ceremony and feast, which occurred during a York and eventually, Iowa; stories about growing there. Of course, there would be
specific time of year to celebrate the harvest. spiritual leaders; and personal stories about snapping turtles nearby, but eventually
family during the communal years in the one would pop up out of the water. When
Amanas. the snapping turtle would appear, the
Meskwaki would know they had gathered
enough––a sign that maybe you should
leave some for others.”
- Johnathan Buffalo, Meskwaki Nation
Historical Preservation Office Director
