December 4th Blog
DEMIGOD
DISPATCH
12/4
Hello Demigods, Mortals, and Monsters,
Those who are familiar with our company’s mission statement know that we cherish the power that stories and storytelling possess. It is also a constant pursuit of ours to share stories that represent the full spectrum of cultures and people from around the world. To that end, we would like to present stories from the indigenous people who came long before us, as a way to reflect on the deeper themes that color our recent celebrations as well as the ones ahead and take a moment to recognize the cultures that have been tragically displaced to make room for our own.
Every Year, Native American Heritage Day takes place right after Thanksgiving, and we want to focus on that. It’s important to us that this edition of the newsletter highlights uniquely American stories that show the value of generosity and giving. In addition to these stories, we also have a staff spotlight feature on a counselor who built his very own wooden longbow recently, and for our media recommendation, we have an incredible collaborative comic book for demigods and hero parents alike.
Thank you for reading, and we hope you enjoy this edition of the Demigod Dispatch.
Stories of Giving
There are many fierce female deities from around the world. These three warrior women have incredible stories and godly aspects that should be known to all, demigod and mortal alike.
Our first story comes from Chief Black Hawk, originally Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak, who dictated this legend in his autobiography in 1833. He was of the Sauk people and lived in the present day Midwest. He is credited as being the author of the first Native American autobiography published in US history.
In his book, he tells of how his ancestors received the gifts of their staple crops through the generosity of two hunters, who witnessed a radiant woman fall to the land from the heavens as they cooked on an open fire. They assumed the beautiful woman was hungry and shared some of their meat with the stranger. The woman thanked them and told them to return in one year’s time to receive a great gift. They were mocked by their village when they told the story of what happened, until they returned one year later. When they did, they found the first plants of corn, beans, and tobacco, right where the woman had been sitting.
Our second story is passed down from the Passamaquoddy people who historically inhabited the northeast region of present-day Maine and parts of Canada.
In this story, there were three competitive brothers who lived by a beautiful lake. An old woman lived nearby who was nearly blind and could barely walk because of her withered limbs. The youngest brother was very kind to her and would bring her food, as she couldn’t collect her own easily. In return, the old woman gave the youngest brother powerful knowledge and instructed him to collect wood from a certain tree to make wooden moccasins. With these moccasins on, the youngest brother could run faster than any animal in the forest and he brought home much more game than his brothers.
In jealousy, the older brothers stole some of the youngest’s wood and made shoes of their own. The younger brother was annoyed but continued to share his food with the old woman and in exchange, she taught him to build a canoe that would cut through the water faster than any other. However, just like last time, his brothers found his secret and copied his canoe to make a better one.
Angry with his brothers, but still kindhearted, the youngest brother shared the last of his food with the old woman. She understood his struggle and taught him how to build a canoe that could fly through the air like a bird. The young man got in his new canoe and took flight. He left his village and traveled all over distant lands, going on many adventures beyond the mountains. After discovering wondrous places and meeting people of all sorts, he flew back to his village and lived in peace until the end of his days.
Staff Spotlight
The technology and craft of archery are found in cultures around the world and its practice evokes a memory of ages past. Recreational practice of archery, its use for sport, and its application for hunting are still enjoyed by many today. However, making a bow by hand is a much rarer pursuit.
Rob Miller, counselor and assistant director at Camp Half-Blood: Los Angeles East, is one of those rare people who can now call himself a bowyer. Check out his TikTok (25.5K followers!) showing his process to make his very own bow!
Plato’s Recs
Comic Book for Older Demigods (12+): Moonshot: The Indigenous Comics Collection, Volume 1
Produced by AH Comics Inc. (Titan: An Alternate History, Delta, Hobson’s Gate, Jewish Comix Anthology) and edited by Hope Nicholson (Brok Windsor, Lost Heroes, Nelvana of the Northern Lights), MOONSHOT brings together dozens of creators from across North America to contribute comic book stories showcasing the rich heritage and identity of indigenous storytelling.
From traditional stories to exciting new visions of the future, this collection presents some of the finest comic book and graphic novel work in North America. The traditional stories presented in the book are with the permission from the elders in their respective communities, making this a truly genuine, never-before-seen publication. MOONSHOT is an incredible collection that is sure to amaze, intrigue, and entertain!