The story recorded as "The Menominee Origin Story" has been interpreted by a number of early historians. It has been mistakenly noted as the origin of humans when actually it depicts the origin of the Tribe’s early social organization and civil government. According to another legend the Great Spirit allowed various animals to become men and women. This legend was told by a Menominee elder living in the early 1900’s. In viewing both legends there are enough similarities that someone could confuse them if they didn’t have the proper background. There are several versions of this story that seems to provide an explanation of the historic event of the coming together of the clans to form the Menominee Tribe.

Early historians recorded elder Menominee's who could only speak the Menominee language and had to speak through an interpreter. Many times these interpreters were not always accurate in their explanations. They also left things out or didn’t bother to explain certain things that were very important. This was probably because these things were so well known by tribal members that they assumed everyone knew them.

One of these important things was that at one time everyone was identified by their clan. So if you were a member of the Bear clan someone might say, "I am expecting a bear to come and visit". A person lacking the proper background knowledge would very easily misinterpret this statement. Historians have also assumed the Bear Clan village was at the mouth of the Menominee River. In all the versions it states the Bear came from "Mi’nika’ni sepe" which has been translated as "Menominee River". "Mi’nika’ni" means village not Menominee. So if you said a "bear came from the mouth of the river" it could have meant someone from the bear clan came from the village located at the mouth of a river". A tribal member would have known they were talking about a person and which river they came from.

What ever happened you know something is left out or something is wrong when you read the recorded accounts of this story of the Menominee's. But if you just take a few things into consideration when reading this story it changes the meaning of the "Origin Story". The following is a shortened version of this important event based on the information from the Chiefs Neopit, Nia’qtowa’pomi and Me’tshi Kine’u. We are also using the title they used when telling it to a historian in the early 1890’s.

1. The elders telling the stories had to talk through interpreters who often summarized what was being said.
2. People were known and referred to by the clan they were born into, that is their father’s clan.
3. Menominee’s like other tribal groups used metaphors when describing their environment especially when they were telling stories. A metaphor is when you use a word that means one thing to describe another, such as: "What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night."; (Crowfoot)

The Bear in the village where the river empties into the Bay found himself alone. He decided to call Kine’u (Eagle/Thunderers) and said, "Eagle, come to me and be my brother." While they were considering whom to call upon to join them, they saw a beaver approaching. The Beaver requested to be taken into the totem of the Thunderers, but being a woman, was called Nama’kukiu (Beaver Woman), and was adopted as a younger brother of the Thunderer. Soon afterward, as the Bear and Eagle stood on the banks of a river, they saw a stranger, the Sturgeon (Noma’eu), who was adopted by the Bear as a younger brother and servant. In like manner Omas’kos, the Elk, was adopted by the Thunderer as a younger brother and water-carrier.

At another time Bear was going up Wisconsin River, and becoming fatigued sat down to rest. Near by was a waterfall, from beneath which emerged Mahwaew (Wolf). While asking Bear why he was there Ota’tshia (Crane) came by. Bear called to him and said: "Crane, carry me to my people at the head of the river, and I will take you for my younger brother." As Crane was taking Bear, Wolf called out to Bear saying, "Bear take me also as a younger brother, for I am alone." This is how Crane and Wolf became younger brothers to Bear; but as Wolf afterward permitted Anaem (Dog) and Apaehsos (Deer) to join him, these three are now recognized as a phratry, Wolf still being entitled to a seat in council on the north side and with the Bear phratry.

The Thunderers decided to visit the Bear village and ask the Bear to join them. They promised to give corn and fire in return for wild rice which was the property of the Bear and Sturgeon. From this time on the families united into an organized body for mutual benefit.

Also according to the legends, the Menominee came into possession of wild rice at the very inception of their tribal organization. When the Bear clan and Eagle clan got together to form the Tribe it was with the help of Maeqnapus. To the leader of the Bear clan Maeqnapus said, "I give these things to you, and you shall always have them -- the river, the fish, the wild rice, and the sugar trees." This promise was remembered by the elders when they moved to the present Reservation. When they were pressured by an Indian agent to plant the rice they refused. They said, "If the Great Spirit wants them to have it, it will grow of itself." Neopit, leader of the tribe, told the agent that when they came to their present home wild rice grew only in scattered stalks in Shawano Lake. In about ten years it was plentiful, and has been their annual harvest field since. He also stated that it has nearly died out in the vicinity of Lake Winnebago, where previously they gathered it in great quantities. When the old chief was asked "why?" his only answer was a smile.