Princess of the mist
An Ojibwa Legend
More enchanting, than the rushing, swirling water, and the crystal Studded mist rising from the great gorge, is the story of a lovely Indian princess.
A peace-loving- chieftain, White Bear, of the Ojibway encampment, learned the Sioux were about to destroy his tribe. Too old to go to battle himself, the old chief's distress led his daughter, Princess Green Mantle, to devise a plan.
The Princess paddled her canoe up the Kaministiquia, to a point well above the waterfall. She Walked boldly into the camp of her enemies and at once they captured her and planned to put her to death. Pretending to be lost and frightened, she bargained with them to spare her life in return for leading them to her father's camp.
The Sioux agreed and the following morning the young princess was placed in the lead canoe and the great band of Sioux, with their canoes tied together, set out for the Ojibway camp. Green Mantle did not tell them of the falls, and as they swiftly turned the bend of the river, they plunged into the great gorge. Along with the Sioux warriors, the Princess lost her life, but her tribe was spared the torture of the most feared of all the tribes. The Great Manitou looked kindly upon the brave deed of the Princess.
Today, if one walks along the river bank to the point of the falls, the figure of Green Mantle can be seen in the mist, standing as a monument to the memory of the courageous Princess who gave her life for her people.
Return to Ojibwa Legends