A Religious Effigy of the Cree of Rocky Boy Reservation

Abstract

The Cree of the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation, Montana, made a religious effigy called Man-to Kan to represent a supernatural spirit power to which gifts were made together with prayers. This secured some desired objective such as a cure for illness, to prevent illness or almost any other urgently desired end, or as an expression of gratitude for something perceived to have been granted by the supernatural. Prior to 1940 a religious custom, the making of an effigy representing a deity, was practiced among the Cree domiciled on Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in the Bears Paw Mountains in north central Montana, south of the city of Havre. Informants living in 1971 had the impression that the practice had its origin in prehistoric time, and that it was a practice of the Cree only, and was not shared by the Chippewa who live on the same reservation. The photograph (Fig. 1) of this effigy was taken in 1931 by R. W. Leonard of West Linn, Oregon, who lived in Gildford, Montana, at that time. The photo came into my possession in the spring of 1971 together with a request for information on the figure. Inquiry among older Cree revealed that much of a general nature was remembered concerning the making of Man-to Kan. Much specific information such as the songs and prayers and other ritual used in the construc tion, however, had been lost due to the fact that the authority or power to make the figure was owned by an individual and, unless the owner gave or otherwise transferred this power to someone else, together with the secret rituals, songs etc., the right to make the image expired on the death of the owner. The right to make the image could be acquired by supernatural gift at a vision quest or during a time of stress when someone was visited by spirit beings. The effort of making the figure was complet ed by the maker alone. The log from which it was made was of quaking aspen (Populus tremu loides). The method of selecting the log is not known. The figure was dressed in clothing and was usually made in the standing position al though the sitting position might be used, as it is in the figure. Informants were unable to suggest a reason for the variation. There was no re quirement for orienting the figure to face any specific direction, nor was there a remembered requirement as to location. Sometimes they were secretly placed in a hidden location. There was no specific time of the year when they were made, although they were not made in winter due to weather rather than specific requirement. The making could be pledged in winter for a later time when conditions permitted. When the 1931 photograph was taken there were several other figures nearby in various stages of disintegration indicating differing ages, some appearing to be several years old. After the figure had been constructed anyone desiring to make a request of the supernatural or wishing to fulfill a pledge, could make a gift to Man-to Kan. Anything was appropriate; an axe, knife or gun, but the most common gift was clothing, particularly clothing of the givers' children. Offerings could be made any time. At the time Mr. Leonard examined the illus trated Man-to Kan the gifts around it consisted largely of items of clothing, including a shawl, a blanket, a sheet, many small items and a copper Hudson's Bay kettle. An axe handle is also visible. The figure was dressed in a shirt with garter type sleeve holders and a vest, with a pencil holder in the pocket containing a pen or pencil.