NH+Native+American+Culture

Welcome to NH Native American Culture! Our workshop leaders, Kunnaway, Happy One, Mike Laughy, and Peter Newell,

We entered the tipi with excitement, eager to hear about the Native American culture! It was fun to hear the stories and learn about how the Native Americans respect nature. There are so many beliefs and customs. I know that our group would have liked to hear more and ask more questions.



Dear Mom & Dad,

You’ll never believe what we did today? I don’t know if it was last week but…well anyway we went back in time. We went back to visit the Native Americans of New Hampshire. WOW!! I am writing to tell you I am okay and what I am experiencing here. When we got here we were in a beautiful forest, the sun was as bright as a jewel. Not too far off I saw smoke, it was black as night. I followed it and fell down a hill. I rolled round and round. I felt very dizzy. Last thing I remembered was hitting a log. Then, out of nowhere, a woman dressed in animal skin (it could have been a bear, deer, or fox). She reached out her hand and pulled me up. She had long black hair. She was pretty. She asked if I was all right and I said kindly, “yes”. She took me around the village and pointed out things. I saw a woman tending gardens. I also saw houses with animal hides. They are called wigwams. We thought they were called teepees. I went hunting with the boys and I caught a turkey when it wasn’t looking. We gathered water and trout from a beautiful waterfall. Through the mist I thought something winked at me. The girls tending gardens collected corn, pumpkins, squash, and other vegetables. They served lunch that was really yummy. They gave me a new name. It was Fast Runner. I will write again soon.

Love, Fast Runner

By Flarbnigle**
 * Skunk and the Old Man: a New Hampshire Legend

One day long, long ago, there lived a scared skunk and his friend the mighty moose. Skunk had just woken up and scuttled out of his den, which was made out of twigs, leaves, grass, and other pieces of cloth that he had spotted on the mountainside. As Skunk was scooting out of his den, a big gloomy gust of wind swooshed by him. Skunk also noticed there was a small, slightly bumpy patch of ice in front of his den. Skunk ran as fast as his little legs could take him and slid all the way across the ice and all the way back.

Skunk was having so much fun that he didn’t notice Moose charging towards him. After awhile, Skunk finally noticed Moose. Skunk glided over to Moose to greet him. Once the 250 pound moose and the 20 pound skunk met up, they talked for a while. Then Moose asked Skunk if he wanted to go slide on the big ice rink on the other side of the horrendous mountain.

Skunk commented, “Isn’t there supposed to be a big snowstorm when nightfall comes?”

I won’t listen to all that hoopla,” replied Moose.

But skunk was still curious like a monkey. Skunks aren’t much at climbing, but still he went on the journey. When they started on their way, one snowflake gently fluttered down.

More and more snowflakes fell. Soon a thousand glimmering snowflakes were gently falling down. Now it seemed like a blizzard was coming!

Now they had reached the other side of the mountain. They ran as fast as a lion pouncing at his prey. They ran all around until they got tired of sliding, so they decided to play tag. They didn’t notice the storm getting worse until Skunk tagged Moose. He tagged him so hard that Moose went gliding across the ice and smacked the boulder so hard that all the rocks fell down on the ice.

Moose and Skunk had to think fast!

Moose pushed Skunk off the ice so he would be safe. Moose ran and skidded all the way across the ice so he would also be safe. They both landed on the cold, hard snow. At least they were safe!

Out in the open again, Skunk noticed that the dust cleared up. Skunk saw there was a face on the boulder—a face of an old man.

“What should we call it?” Moose said.

“Well, it’s a face of an old man and it’s on a mountain. Let’s call it the Old Man of the Mountain!”

“Okay! Wait until the animals back at home hear about this," said Moose.

And that’s how the Old Man of the Mountain came to be.