“Help!” she cried out. “I have come with
mucki-ki!”
Villagers came running. They carried White
Rabbit into the wigwam and covered her with
fur robes, wrapping her frostbitten feet to warm
them. The herbs healed the people, and there
were no more deaths in the village that winter.
Next spring, during Flowering Moon, White
Rabbit and Running Wolf discovered beautiful
new flowers in the woods. Each delicate
blossom was shaped like a tiny moccasin, pink
and white.
“This is where I lost my moccasins in the
deep snow,” said White Rabbit.
Thereafter, White Rabbit was called
Wah-on-nay, “Little Flower.” Today, many
moons later, this precious moccasin flower is
commonly called the lady’s slipper. It grows in
the woods of Kitchigami Land and beyond—a
delicate reminder of a brave Ojibwe maiden.Mary Morton Cowan has written numerous articles
and activities and several books for young readers.