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| Wigwam (Wikimedia Commons) |
The story begins with a group of fisherman who are fishing towards the beginning of winter. The fish are apparently the best in the summer time, and once the South Wind falls asleep, the North Wind begins to take over, and winter begins. Some of the fisherman recognize that winter is beginning and in fear of the North Wind, they decide to head back from their fishing site that people only go to in the summertime. However, one fisherman, Shin-ge-bis, does not fear the North Wind at all. In fact, he laughs in response to the others' fear. Shin-ge-bis is known for laughing in all situations. He also has the ability to turn into a duck to dive beneath the water apparently. So, the other fisherman return home and leave Shin-ge-bis at the fishing site.
Shin-ge-bis continues fishing and returns to his wigwam (a type of dwelling). On the way back to his wigwam, he begins to taunt the North Wind with a song that he made up, daring the North Wind to find him. The North Wind responds and tries to attack Shin-ge-bis in his wigwam, but when he attacks, it fails. He actually seals up the wigwam with his frost and makes it warmer inside for Shin-ge-bis and the fire inside. The North Wind runs away in anger. Shin-ge-bis continues to taunt the North Wind with another song he made, and the North Wind tries to attack him again. This time, he breaks open the wigwam, but the fire inside is so hot that it begins to melt the North Wind. In response, Shin-ge-bis laughs again, and the North Wind flees once more. Finally, the North Wind comes back and challenges Shin-ge-bis to come outside and wrestle him. Shin-ge-bis accepts the challenge because the North Wind was weakened by the fire. The two wrestle for a long time, and when the sun rose Shin-ge-bis stood victorious, laughing. The North Wind fled again, and the laughter of the Shin-ge-bis followed him wherever he went.
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