The Assiniboine story of the Burr Woman is tale about marriage basically. There was a young man who was exceptionally handsome and every Indian maiden wanted to marry him. He was not impressed by any girl and thought himself above everyone because of his good looks. There was an old lady who wanted him to marry her granddaughter but he would not. So when he was leaving for a hunting trip, she ran up and hopped on his back. He did everything he could to get the old hag off his back but she would not budge. Finally the man’s father announced that whoever could pull the lady off his sons back, they would get married. Every woman in the village tried but failed. Finally two girls decided to team up and pull the woman off. After a couple tries, the man was released from the old hag. So he married the two women and ended up getting two wives.
This story shows that love and marriage didn’t always go hand in hand. It’s like a competition, a race, and whoever is the winner gets the prize, which is a mate for life. It is not about commitment, love, respect or emotions. It is a game.
"Burr Woman." Indian Mythology.
2006. 7 November 2008.
