The Pet Donkey – A Sioux Legend.

There is a story about a chief’s daughter from the Sioux people, who belonged to a large and well-known family. As she grew older, she married and gave birth to twin sons, which brought great joy to her father’s camp. The village women gathered to see the newborns, and she felt immense happiness. As the twins grew, their grandmother crafted two saddlebags for them and presented a donkey. “My grandchildren,” she said, “shall ride in a manner befitting children with such a large family. This donkey, patient and surefooted, will carry them in the saddlebags on either side of his back.”

One day, as the chief’s daughter and her husband prepared for a camping journey, the father proudly brought out his finest pony, placing the saddlebags on its back. “My sons shall ride on the pony, not on a donkey,” he declared. “Let the donkey carry the pots and kettles.” The wife loaded the donkey with household items, tying the tipi poles into bundles on its back and adding the travois net, pots, kettles, and the skin tent. However, the donkey began to rear, bray, and kick, breaking the tent poles and destroying the pots, kettles, and tearing the tent. The more they tried to control him, the more he resisted.

Finally, they sought the grandmother’s advice. She laughed and reminded them, “Did I not say the donkey was for the children? He knows they are the chief’s sons. Do you think he will be dishonored by carrying pots and kettles?” She then placed the children over the donkey’s back, and he calmed down immediately. The camping party set off on their journey. The next day, as they passed through a bushy area, a band of enemies suddenly attacked, creating chaos. The men armed themselves and fought bravely. After a long battle, the enemy fled, but the donkey and the twins were nowhere to be seen. Despite their efforts, they could not find them and returned to the village in sorrow. But, to their amazement, upon reaching the grandmother’s tipi, there stood the faithful donkey with the two babes safely in the saddlebags.

This retelling respects the living tradition of the Sioux people, to whom this story belongs.