Illustration of Grandmother and small girl outside their lodge. Grandmother is weaving a basket.
Cultural Background

The characters in this tale are Iroquois, a native people from New York state. The grandmother is making a basket with thin strips of ash wood. The strips are called splints. The characters speak Mohawk, one of several Iroquois languages.

Before You Move On

  • 1. Explain Why does Grandmother want to stay outside longer?

  • 2. Character’s Point of View Why does Grandmother want to tell her granddaughter stories about Sky Bear?