Long ago, when the Earth was still young and the rivers had just begun to sing their songs through the land, the Ojibwe people walked barefoot. The ground was their teacher, and each pebble, thorn, and root was a lesson. Children ran without shoes, their feet calloused but strong, and elders walked slowly, the soles of their feet worn thin by the seasons.
One summer, a drought came. The ground cracked, the plants wilted, and the lakes shrank like puddles. With no rain to soften the soil, the earth grew hot and sharp. People’s feet blistered, and even the strongest warriors winced with every step. The elders spoke to the spirits, asking for guidance, but no answer came.
Wabun and the Moccasins
Among the people lived a kind-hearted girl named Wabun. Her name meant “early dawn,” and like the soft light before sunrise, she was gentle but full of quiet strength. Though her family was poor, Wabun never complained. She helped the elders gather roots and berries, cared for younger children, and always offered her share to those with less.
Wabun, seeing her grandmother cry in pain after walking to the river, decided something had to change. “There must be a way to protect our feet,” she thought. She began collecting scraps of deer hide the hunters left behind—too small for cloaks, too thin for tents. Each night, she stitched by firelight, braiding grasses and sewing hide with sinew. She watched the birds and how they wove their nests, how turtles carried their homes, and how foxes padded quietly on the soft forest floor.
For days, Wabun worked in secret. Her fingers bled, and her back ached, but she persisted. At last, she shaped a pair of soft leather shoes, stitched tight around the edges and bound with thin strips that tied at the ankle. She called them “makizinan”—what we now call moccasins.
Wabun gave the first pair to her grandmother. “Try these,” she said, helping her slip them on. The old woman wept—not from pain, but relief. For the first time in weeks, she walked without wincing.
Wabun gifts the people
Word spread. One by one, people came to Wabun. She did not charge them. She asked only that they bring what scraps they could and help each other. Mothers taught daughters to stitch. Hunters remembered to save the finest hide for footwear. Soon, the village was filled with moccasins—each pair a little different, but all a gift from Wabun’s idea.
But not all were grateful.
There was a boy named Makwa, proud and boastful. “Why should we wear shoes?” he scoffed. “The Earth is ours to conquer! My feet are stronger than leather!”
To prove his point, he stomped barefoot through thorns, over rocks, and across hot sand. But pride makes a poor shield. One day, he stepped on a sharp obsidian shard hidden beneath a fallen branch. He cried out, fell, and could not walk for days.
Wabun came to him, carrying a pair of moccasins. “I made these for you,” she said gently.
Makwa lowered his head. “Why would you help me after I mocked you?”
Wabun smiled. “Because our people move forward when we carry one another.”
From then on, Makwa wore his moccasins with pride—not for himself, but to honor the one who showed him humility.
And so, the moccasins became part of the Ojibwe people’s life. They carried hunters across snow, dancers through ceremonies, and travelers across distant lands. Each stitch told a story of kindness, creativity, and community.
Moral of the Tale
Sometimes, the greatest change begins not with the strongest, but with the most caring. Wabun’s moccasins remind us that compassion and ingenuity can shape the path for generations. In a world that often rewards pride or loudness, it is the quiet, persistent kindness that leaves the longest footprints.
Knowledge Check
What is the moral of the folktale “The First Moccasins”?
The story teaches a lesson about kindness and ingenuity, showing how actions rooted in compassion can lead to lasting change and benefit an entire community.
What cultural group does the tale “The First Moccasins” come from?
This folktale originates from the Ojibwe tradition in the United States.
Why did Wabun make the first moccasins?
In the tale, Wabun made the first moccasins out of compassion and desperation, hoping to ease the suffering of her grandmother and her people during a painful drought.
How does the folktale “The First Moccasins” explain a natural feature or cultural tradition?
The story offers a traditional explanation for how moccasins were created and became essential to Native life, reflecting Ojibwe ingenuity and care for community.
Is “The First Moccasins” considered a trickster tale, ghost story, or moral fable?
“The First Moccasins” is a moral fable that reflects the values and wisdom of the Ojibwe culture, highlighting themes of empathy, humility, and resilience.
How is this folktale relevant to modern readers?
The message of “The First Moccasins” remains relevant as it teaches timeless truths about kindness, respect for others, and how individual efforts can create meaningful change.
Cultural Origin: Ojibwe (Anishinaabe) Nation, Great Lakes Region
