Otto's Tales: Legend of the Corn Husk Doll | PragerU Kids

[Music] [Applause] [Music] welcome to Otto's Tales story time brought to you by prageru kids I'm Jill and today I'm reading a story based on a legend from the great Native American Iroquois people Otto what are you hiding behind there corn husks hey these are from corn stocks right can I have one I want to look at it oh these are cool uh are you maybe working on a project with these yes I have a feeling I know what it is do you maybe want to get started so that we can show everyone what you make with these all right good boy have fun you're gonna love it let's read the corn husk doll Once Upon a Time in the wilderness land of the Iroquois people there lived a great spirit and three sisters the sisters were corn beans and squash and they were called the sustainers of Life they provided nourishment for the devoted natives who lived there and they were very important corn was very tall and very beautiful and she was grateful to be one of the precious sustainers tribes depended on her and she loved them just as much as they loved her one day corn approached the great spirit with a question she'd been thinking about for a long time great spirit I am very happy with the job I have here but is there anything more that I may do to serve our people the great spirit was pleased yes you may use your husk to make a doll to entertain the children and bring joy to The Villages corn was thrilled and got straight to work she made the doll from her husk just as the great spirit instructed and gave the doll a most lovely friendly face the doll then began traveling from Village to Village playing with all the children the land became happier and so did corn and the great spirit everywhere the doll went young and old told her how beautiful she was her tall stature her golden gown her kind eyes and smile the corn husk doll soon started to become curious about what she looked like so while making her way to a village one morning she stopped by a river to see her reflection she looked down into the clear blue water and gasped she was beautiful so enchanted by her appearance she spent all day at the river looking at her reflection and admiring herself she she forgot all about playing with the children that day at Sunset the great spirit called to her cornhusdal what did you do today the doll knew she made a mistake for forgetting about the children who were waiting for her that day great spirit I'm sorry I spent all day looking at my reflection in the river I really am beautiful I didn't get to the Village today the great spirit warned her you have a responsibility cornhusk doll to bring joy to the children being beautiful is a gift and with that gift comes responsibility you must remember your purpose the next day the doll arose and started to make her way to the Village again but she stumbled upon the river and couldn't help herself I'll just stop for a bit she thought I am too beautiful to not be able to admire my reflection I'll go to the village and entertain the children later the cornhus doll was beginning to think of herself as more important than everyone else because of her great Beauty Sunset came the second day and the doll never made it to play with the children the great spirit called to her again corn husk doll what did you do today great spirit time passed too quickly I did not make it to the Village I'm just too beautiful so I spent the day admiring my beauty the children can wait another day the great spirit warned her again remember your purpose corn husk doll if you keep thinking you're better than everyone else a terrible punishment will come to you this is your last chance I won't remind you again the next morning corn husk doll began her journey to the Village just as the great spirit reminded her to do but she stopped at the river again and spent the whole day there smiling at her own reflection Sunset arrived and so did the great spirit I warned you corn husk doll you are beautiful but you must not forget your purpose we all have a purpose and yours is to bring joy to the children and then the great spirit turned the corn husk doll's beautiful face invisible her kind eyes and friendly smile could no longer be seen by others or herself the corn husk doll learned a great lesson that day she made a promise to remember her purpose she traveled from Village to Village and brought joy to all the Iroquois children across the land and ever since that time the Iroquois people do not put a face on their corn husk dolls when they make them to remind us all that none of us are better than anyone else and that we each have an important purpose no matter how beautiful someone might be the end well I didn't expect the story to end that way but wow what a great lesson learned Native American tribes have so many inspiring stories that teach us to be honorable and do the right thing and you know Otto speaking of doing the right thing many history experts say that the Oneida tribe part of the Iroquois people traveled from their land to deliver corn to George Washington's Army when they were hungry and needed food so that they could fight the British isn't that amazing uh what do you have behind your back there [Music] the lent work well thank you for watching Otto's Tales check out some of our other stories too keep reading keep watching and always remember your purpose [Music] thank you for watching you know we've got more episodes right watch the whole series And subscribe at prageru kids.com