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Blackfoot Discoveries: Blackfoot Stories: The Eagles' War Bonnet

Our summary of The Eagles' War Bonnet told by:
Alec, Erika & Ben

One hot summer day Na'pe, the Old Man, and Coyote were so hot that they wished they were way up North where it was cold. They had no transportation except their brothers the eagles who could fly them there. The eagles agreed to take Na'pe and they flew North until it got very cold. They left Na'pe hanging onto some icicles on a iceberg because Na'pe was bragging and he said he was too clever to freeze.
Coyote became worried when he didn't see Na'pe return so he called the animals to help. The only animal that would help was the Magpie. The magpies found Na'pe and began to laugh so hard that they couldn't pick him up. Na'pe jumped off the icicles and seized their tails and stretched their tails so hard that they grew longer and thinner. Na'pe fell to the ground and the eagles came by and decided to eat him since they thought he was dead.
The eagles took a bite out of Na'pe but they thought he was too tough and he tasted gross. Na'pe woke up and was so mad that he grabbed the eagles feathers from their heads and made a war-bonnet for his people.

What did we hear in this story that we have heard in other stories?

  • Animals were helpful and friendly
  • Weather always changes
  • Na'pe is always going somewhere and bragging about what he can do.
  • Animals talk to humans
  • The eagle is important

We think the story teaches us...

  • If you are not sure where you are going don't go.
  • Don't take chances that you might regret later.
  • Don't brag because something bad could happen to you.
  • Where war-bonnets came from.
  • Why the magpies have long thin tails and why there are bald eagles

Copyright for student work remains with the authors.
All else copyright © 2002 Pam Irving, Lorraine Flavelle and Galileo Educational Network Association