“Long ago when the trees stood tall and waters ran clear, two Indian tribes lived on the shores of Loon Lake. The tribes were called the Oyiesas and the Tawankas. For many moons the two tribes lived in peace and friendship. The evil spirits came among the Oyiesas and the Tawankas. Many were the battles fought. The dead numbered greater than the ripples of their beloved Loon Lake.”
“One of the greatest braves of the Tawanka tribe was Chief Thunder Cloud, so named because on the night of his birth the thunder rolled and clouds were fierce and black. Though only a young chief, her was respected by all and the tales of his strength and skill in battler were told far and wide.”
“While walking through the forest one day, Thunder Cloud came upon a young squaw picking berries. She was as beautiful as the first flowers of spring and as gentle as a summer breeze. As he watcher her, Thunder Cloud’s heart raced as that of a deer’s heart when it flees the hunters.”
“As he walked into the clearing the young girl stared at him in terror. Thinking to ease the fear, Thunder Cloud said that he meant no harm to her. He asked her name. Here then is the tragedy of our legend. For, the beautiful girl was Princess Maqua, daughter of the chief of the Oyiesas. Because their tribes were at war the two young people could have nothing to do with each other. Yet, already it was too late to stop the spirits of fate, for the two had fallen in love.”
“At the end of the day, both returned to the tepees of their fathers, each to plead for peace between the two nations. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as deaf as the rocks in the fields. Princess Maqua’s father forbid his daughter to ever set foot in the forest, for fear that Thunder Cloud would steal her away.”
“Finally the two young people could stand to be apart no longer. Stealing from her father’s teepee one night, Princess Maqua met Thunder Cloud by the shores of the lake. He placed her in the bow of his canoe and began to paddle swiftly away fromt the shores of the Oyiesa tribe. But, the spirits of evil were against them. The chiefs of both tribes, discovering their children missing, set out in search of them.”
“As Thunder Cloud paddled swiftly, the canoes from the Tawanka and Oyiesa villages began to overtake them. Approaching the far shore it seemed that their capture was near. Suddenly, the lake opened and the two young Indians in their canoe sank from sight. Long and hard did their fathers search, but they found no trace of them. The Great Spirit, seeing their tragic plight, had taken pity on them.”
“It is said that they went safely to the Happy Hunting Ground of their people. Our camp rests on the spot where Princess Maqua joined Thunder Cloud on the night of their escape. On still nights, one can see the spirits of Princess Maqua and Thunder Cloud come slowly across the lake in their canoe.”
(Unknown author of this legend from the archives)