These stories were told and retold in wigwams throughout the Illinois Country. (photograph)Īt the time of European contact, the Illinois, like all Native American groups, had a rich set of oral traditions that included many folk tales. George Washington Finley or Ta-wah-quah-ke-non-guah (1858-1932), United Peoria and Miami Tribe. (George Washington Finley, Peoria Indian, 1916) More than once, in the course of his adventures, he was driven to his wit's end to escape with his life. He would pose as an animal or a bird, a man or a spirit, and yet in spite of all these gifts, Wiskatchekwa was always getting himself involved in all sorts of troubles. By turns he would be very kind or very cruel. He was a match for any man he met, and there were but few spirits who could get the better of him. Whatever anyone else did he would attempt without a moment's reflection. He could be very foolish or very wise, very weak or very strong, very rich or very poor, just as it happened to serve his humor best. He was everywhere, in season and out of season, running about and putting his hand into whatever was going forward. There was never in the whole world a stranger man than Wiskatchekwa. Native Americans:Historic:The Illinois:Beliefs:Folklore
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