The four bowl stars represent the pups sent to the four directions of humankind. The three stars of the little dipper handle represent the wolf (Polaris), coyote, and fox. Polaris anchors the leash as the dogs run around their sky camp. To honor this sacrifice by the natootim-uk (our relatives) the Creator placed a reminder in the heavens. From these four came all the dogs in the world, and now they guard our homes and camps. Two pups from each council were also sent to all the four directions of humankind. The wolves held a council and decided that two of them would go to live with the people, as did the coyote’s and foxes’ councils. Their relatives the wolf, coyote, and fox saw this. Long ago the people had no dogs to protect them. In The Dog Star story, Atima Atchakosuk, Polaris is called Mahkan Atchakos, the wolf star. The Ochek, the fisher, was given this task and in honor of this, the Creator placed the fisher in the sky to remind the people of what “was”, what “is” and what “could be again if we do not respect what is loaned to us.” (This may be a living memory of ice ages.) Certain animals were selected to bring summer to the northern hemisphere. Long ago there was no summer in northern Manitoba. (The fisher is a small fierce relative of the wolverine.) This legend tells us how summer was brought to the north country. The late storyteller Murdo Scribe told this story of the big dipper: Ochek Atchakosuk are the fisher stars in Cree legends from Northern Manitoba.
The First People of North America are no different” - Wilfred Buck, Cree Science Educator. “All people of the Earth have stories of the stars. Niska flying in the Summer Bird's Path (Milky Way)Ītchakosuk are the spirit lights up above.
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