Monday, October 26, 2009

Comparison of Neosho and Chanuka

Chanuka and Neosho are both Indian boys who, because of an accident, became friends. Chanuka and Neosho were both exploring the land in between the Dakota and the Ojibway tribes. Even though the Ojibway and the Dakota hate each other and are constantly at war, Chanuka and Neosho are friends. Both children are very appreciative of one another. Chanuka appreciates Neosho because Neosho practically saved Chanuka's life. Neosho appreciates Chanuka because Chanuka helped him after a moose ran him over.
Chanuka and Neosho come from very diverse cultures. Chanuka is from the Ojibway tribe while Neosho is from the Dakota tribe. Chanuka is more friendly, and Neosho is more of an explorer. Chanuka and Neosho don't speak the same language so they do not communicate to one another. Chanuka wants to take Neosho back to the Ojibway as a warrior, but Neosho doesn't want that to happen. Because the two children wear different moccasins, Neosho gave Chanuka his to wear to save his life. Neosho was the only one who made and effort to communicate to Chanuka, but Chanuka didn't listen. Even though the Ojibway and Dakota hate each other, Chanuka and Neosho are friends at heart.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Summary


Chanuka wants to go on the hunt with the other Ojibway hunters, but he is too young. Seeing as how Chanuka can't go on the hunt, he goes exploring in "no mans" land. "No mans" land is the land between the Ojibway and Dakota tribes. While he was exploring, he stopped at the side of the river to explore on land. While he was on land, he saw a young Indian boy who was barely alive. The boy was under a dugout canoe, and looked severely hurt. Chanuka took pity on the boy and tried to revive him. Chanuka eventually got the boy back to conscientiousness. Chanuka stayed with the boy and helped him. While Chanuka was helping the boy, the boy tried to communicate with Chanuka. Chanuka only ignored the Dakota Indian, and made no effort to communicate with him. The Ojibway Indian had thoughts running through his head about taking back a Dakota warrior to the Ojibway tribe. He thought he would get a huge reward for bringing an enemy's warrior back to his tribe. The Dakota boy finally communicated with Chanuka and the Dakota's name was Neosho. Neosho and Chanuka gradually become friends even though their tribes were enemies. Neosho wants to go back to his Dakota tribe. So, Chanuka, out of friendship, gave Neosho a ride in his canoe back to the Dakota tribe. After Chanuka droppes off Neosho, he goes back to his Ojibway tribe. While he is on his way, he thought that he was going to get in trouble for being gone for so long. When he got back to his Ojibway tribe, he is summoned to the chief. The chief gives him an assignment to do, Chanuka is to go and see if the Dakota Indians had a successful hunt. If the Dakotas had a successful hunt, the Ojibway would not go to war with them. So Chanuka went back to the Dakota tribe's location and hides in the bushes. Suddenly, the Dakota warriors return home from their hunt with tons of buffalo. Seeing as how they had a good hunt, Chanuka knew that they were going to have a celebration. That celebration was called the buffalo dance. Chanuka wants to take something from the Dakota chief because the Ojibway Indians always said, "never come home empty-handed." Chanuka slips into the Dakota tribe and he rummages through the teepees while the Dakotas are getting ready for the buffalo dance. When Chanuka was about to go into the chief's teepee, he hears voices like a foot away. Chanuka hides behind some firewood, and Neosho appears to him. Neosho quickly gives Chanuka his costume that he was going to wear during the buffalo dance. Neosho also gives Chanuka his moccasins at the last moment. Then, Chanuka dances in the buffalo dance. After the celebration, he quickly returns home and tells the chief that the Dakotas had a successful hunt and there was no need for war.