Summary

This story, The Buffalo Dance, has a theme in which enemies become friends. It also shows a meeting of two cultures. One day a boy named Chaunka from the Ojbway tribe was canoeing in a large swamp when he heard some noise coming from somewhere near the shore. Chaunka sailed to where the noise was coming from and found that the noise was a young boy from the Dakota tribe. The boy from the Dakota tribe had been trampled by a moose. Chaunka could have gotten right back in his canoe, but he felt sorry for the boy and helped him heal his wounds.

During the time, Chaunka was helping this Dakota boy heal, the two boys never talked to each other. The Dakota boy did make effort to talk by saying his name to Chaunka, but Chaunka didn't respond to him. Once Neosho, the Dakota boy, was well again, Chaunka took him back to his camp. While Neosho waved good-bye, Chaunka just raised his paddle and started back home.

When Chaunka arrived back home, the chief didn't yell Chaunka because he thought that Chaunka was older and was more responsible. This wasn't the first time that Chaunka escaped from camp and had an adventure.The chief then decided that it was time for the tribe to fight against the Dakotas. He decided that someone needed to go and see if the Dakotas had a bundles of buffalo from hunting, and he chose Chaunka for his task.

Chaunka headed out and saw that the Dakotas had a very successful buffalo season. He thought that he needed to bring something back from the chief of the Dakotas to also prove that he was there. Chaunka found the chief's dwelling and when try to pick something out of it. Chaunka had to escape when some warriors were passing by the tent.The warriors passed in front of him, but someone came up behind him and said his name. Chaunka realized the voice and turned to face Neosho. Neosho helped Chaunka escape by switching shoes to make sure no one found out that Chaunka was there in their campsite. Then Neosho took Chaunka and bundled him into a costume that he was wearing in the buffalo dance. When Neosho got done dancing, he moved closer to the river, and Chaunka splashed into the water. One person heard Chaunka, but didn't see him leave.

Even though Chaunka and Neosho parted ways, but they may meet again. When Chaunka got home, he told his chief that the Dakotas had a successful of buffalo this season. At first the chief didn't believe him, Chaunka then held the shoes that Neosho made and switched with him. The chief then decided that they would have to fight a different time unlike the way they usually did in the past. Chaunka and Neosho will have a hard time fighting against each other when they have to, but maybe they won't even fight.

Amy Niemuth