The Meesink Story

Native American Forest Legends: The Meesink Story

Told by Bob Red Hawk, Transcribed and translated into Lenape by Margret Lenfest, Edited by Louise St. Amour

Years ago around the Pocono area the Creator was about to finish his creation with man. And all the animals got together and they were thinking “Wait a minute.” We think this man is a bad idea. Lets go talk to the Creator about this.”

Now there was a great powerful spirit named MeesinK. And they said “Meesink, you are pretty powerful. Would you go up to the Creator for us and would you ask him not to make man?”

Meesink goes “Yes I would.” So he went up to the Creator’s door and he knocked and Creator said, “Come in.” so Meesink came in and said “Creator, you know we love you, you know we love your creation. And he said “Creator we know that man is going to dig in the earth; he is going to pollute the rivers, the blood of the earth. Hhe is going to chop down all the trees; he is going to dirty up the air. Creator we would never question you, but on this one we are asking you, please Creator, don’t create man.”

The Creator said “Meesink, I see the logic of what you say but I have a deeper understanding.So I will tell you this, What we will do is we will have a contest. Whoever moves that mountain the farthest, that’s whose decision we will go with. If you win then I won’t create man, and if I win I will create man.” So they decided that they would stand with their backs to the mountain. And first it was Meesink’s turn. So Mesink, he was using every bit of his concentration. The mountain did not move an inch.

Then it was the Creator’s turn. And the moment it was the Creator’s turn Meesink heard a whoosh by his ear. And as he heard that noise he turned his face and the mountain smacked him right in the side of the head. Smashed his face all in, made him all crooked on top, and gave him wrinkles where his skin was smooth. At that moment, Meesink said “Creator, I see that I was wrong to question your wisdom. They will need the deer for their food; they will need the deer for their bedding, for their clothing. They are going to use every part of the deer. Creator, these men that you are about to create they will need the deer. Please put me in charge of the woodlands where they live. I will make sure that man will always have the deer.”

And Meesing has been true to his word. To this day there are great animals you will never see. Some animals are extinct. Some of us need a mountain to hit us in the head to know when we are going against what the Creator means for us to do, but there is one animal that you will always see: the deer Meesink will always be the protector of the woodlands and deer for the Lenape people.

Source: lenapenations