Disease Giver Blesses Djobenâgiwíñxga - Winnebago Grandfather Djobenâgiwíñxga [was blessed] by a being who is in control of death, who dwells on the southern side, who is a great one and who among the spirits, as many as there are, controls a little more war power than the rest. He is one who controls life and he is one who controls death. He said to grandfather that he blessed him with war and life when he met him as the sun stood straight (noon). And he said, "If I should ever anticipate action, your roots (descendants), up to as far as it will have thus far been, and wherever they are, I will not tread upon them if they should get sick; I grant you they they will not get sick. And they have the means to obtain life by their mouths and by offerings of tobacco and a flute." Disease Giver did it himself, he himself made them holy (wak'â´tcañk). If they had some debilitating evil, they would obtain life; also if at the same they time made a sacrifice of offerings by mouth, by reed flutes, kettles, tobacco, feathers, and a white dog. "A holy flute I made for you, I forbade you to blow upon it, but you did. If you perform the skin offerings, you may blow upon the flute. If you do that, you will be able to lead a different kind of life. Any bad disease that has been thus far caused, you will be able to cut off. Not ever will this one have a bad disease." He himself, the one who causes bad diseases, said it would be so. That is how he blessed grandfather Djobenâgiwíñxga. Sam Blowsnake, The Warbundle Feast of the Thunderbird Clan, in Paul Radin, The Winnebago Tribe (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990 [1923]) 399-481 [426-429]. Sam Blowsnake told the following story about his forefather Djobenâgiwíñxga as part of the ritual of the Thunderbird Warbundle Feast. Come visit us at. "Keeper of Stories". http://www.newkeeperofstories.com/ or Come visit us. "Native Village" [email protected]