Polaris, or the North Star, is known as “Giwedin’anung—Star of the North.” “Giwedin’anung” was used in determining the four cardinal directions as well as
navigating through the Great Lakes region at night. “Giwedin’anung” is part of the constellation known as “Maang‚The Loon.” The Loon constellation comprises the stars of the Little Dipper. “Giwedin’anung” is located at the tip of the tail feathers of the Loon constellation.
More from Michael Wassegijig Price, "Star Knowledge," Mazinigan, Summer 2010, page 12 http://www.glifwc.org/publications/m...Summer2010.pdf
There are many stories associated with Gewedinanung. I posted some last winter. Here is one from January 23, 2010, Post 253. It is traditional to repeat stories.
Why Bears sleep through the Winter
Long, long ago, Bears roamed the woods all the time, winter as well as summer. In summer, times were good, with the warm sun and rain, berries were plentiful, fish swam in the streams, soft grass grew lush and fine for sleeping. Bees filled their hive trees with honey and all was good.
But when winter came, it was a different story. The berries were all gone, the streams were icy and frozen, so the bears couldn't catch any fish, and the bees crept into their hives and hid because there were no more flowers to make honey. There was only the cold snowy ground to sleep on.
The bears eventually became so miserable that they called a council to discuss what could be done to make their lives better in winter time.
One wise old bear said, "We can do nothing ourselves. We must ask the Great Spirit for help.'
"Yes, yes!" agreed one young bear. " We should ask the Great Spirit to make it summer all the time. That way there will always be berries, and fish, and honey to eat, and warm grass to sleep in."
The wise old bear shook his head. "That may not be the right thing, even for us. The Great Spirit may have a very good reason for making winter on the earth."
"What can be good about it," the young bear objected, "when there is nothing to eat, and only cold to endure?"
"I cannot say," said the old bear, "but I am sure if we ask, the Great Spirit will be happy to help us." He looked around and asked, "Who will travel to the Great Spirit to ask for help? I am too old to make such a long and hard journey."
None of the bears was anxious to make the trip, but finally a strong young bear stepped forward. "I will go and ask how we can live more comfortably in the winter."
The young bear traveled long, and finally arrived at the setting sun where the Great Spirit lived. As soon as he got there, he went to the Great Spirit and explained how miserable the bears were every winter. He asked, "Could we just have summer all year 'round? Summer is so wonderful, with lots of good things to eat, and warm places to sleep. We really have a hard time getting through winter."
"Oh, no, that can't be," said the Great Spirit. "After a time, you would be even worse off than you are now. Without snow in winter, there would be no water for the streams, and the fish would die. There would be no berries to eat, and no flowers for the bees to make honey."
"Then must we go on freezing and starving through the winter as usual?" asked the young bear.
"No," said the Great Spirit. "I have thought of a plan that will help you all be comfortable through the winter. Listen carefully while I explain, then you go back to your brothers and tell them what they must do to live through the winter in comfort."
The young bear listened carefully, then he hurried back to tell the others.
"We are each to find a cozy den in a cave or the trunk of a hollow tree, or under the roots of a big fallen tree. Then, when the sun heads to the north, and the berries die on the bushes, we are to go into our dens and sleep through the long winter. That way we will miss all the cold and hunger of winter. When the sun comes back and melts the snow, we shall awaken and find fish in the streams and honey in the bee trees."
"It is well," said the wise old bear.
"It is well,' echoed the other bears in council.
""But there is more," said the messenger bear. "The Great Spirit has put a sign in the sky so we will know which is the season for going to sleep and which is the season of awakening. In the northern sky he has put a Great Bear. All year long it will travel around a fixed star which is the opening of its den. In the summer the Great Bear will be above his den, and we will know it is the right time for us to stay above ground and enjoy the warm weather. When the winter cold comes, the Star Bear will be below his den, and we, too, will go below the ground."
"It is indeed wise," said the old bear. "Now the winter will be just a short dream."
And so it has been from that day to this. The bears go into their cozy dens to sleep away winter's cold, and come out when the sun warms the earth again in the spring.