This story could be attributed to any number of tribes, but I learned it as a Mohawk tale. In the early days there lived a Mohawk chief who was bothered by sore feet. You see, in those times Native Americans ran barefoot, so the rough woodland terrain could ravage anyone with tender feet.
One day the chief called a council of his braves. "I must do something about my sore feet," he declared. "So I want you to cover the earth with soft deer hide, so that everywhere I step will not hurt my feet." The braves spoke up in bewilderment. "But, Chief," they protested, "such a task would be impossible for even the greatest of your braves." "Well," replied the chief, "I'll make it worth your while. Whoever of you succeeds in covering the earth with deer skins shall have the hand of my daughter in marriage!" The braves talked among themselves about this incentive, because his daughter was indeed a beautiful Mohawk princess (They always are). One brave, determined to win the hand of the beautiful princess, thought hard for a while. Then he came up with a plan! After a while he approached the chief. "Chief," he declared, "I have succeeded in covering the earth with deer skins. Now I want my reward." The chief looked around and saw that the earth was still full of rocks, twigs and brambles. "So where are the deer hides?" he demanded. "Here, Chief!" said the brave. And he held out a pair of soft deer hide shoes. "They are called moccasins," he explained. "Put them on your feet and you will not hurt any more." So the chief slipped on the moccasins and began to walk around. He had a big smile on his face. "It's true!" he exclaimed. "My feet no longer hurt. You have succeeded in covering the earth with soft deer skin. For that, you shall have my daughter in marriage. And I am proud to have such a clever son-in-law!" And that, my readers, is how moccasins came to be!
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