Medicine Story-How Rose Got Her Thorns

   How Rose Got Her Thorns 

(As taken from The Herbal Home Remedy Book by Joyce A. Wardwell)

When the world was young, Rose had no thorns. Her stems were as smooth as a beetle's shell-and all the animals loved Rose. Rabbit loved Rose. He loved to nibble on her leaves. He could hardly wait until the new spring shoots burst forth. Rose's leaves were best when young and tender.

  Deer loved Rose. When the snows were deep, Deer browsed on Rose's twigs. And as the snow melted in the Maple Syrup Moon, Deer browsed Rose to the ground. But Rose was hardy. She grew back her roots.

  Mouse loved Rose. He loved to make his nests in her tangled shelter. He loved her bark. It kept his family fed through the winter. But the shoots that Mouse gnawed on died. Rose grew new shoots, but it took a lot of energy.

  Birds loved Rose. They loved to eat the seeds hidden in her fruity hips. They ate a lot to keep strong through the winter. Everyone loved Rose so much that soon there was hardly anything left of her. Her branches were broken, her roots chewed, her flowers fallen, and her seeds gone. She knew she was doomed.

  And when Nanaboozhoo (who is the son of the West Wind and a mortal woman) came to visit Rose, he was surprised to there were no flowers left. Rose cried out, "Won't you help me? They won't let me grow. They are going to kill me!"

  Nanaboozhoo went to the animals and begged them to leave Rose be, but the animals hesitated. How could they promise not to eat what was right in front of them or hide where there was shelter? Nanaboozhoo knew the animals were right, but it was clear that Rose's delightful flowers would disappear forever unless he intervened. So he told Rose, "I can't make the animals stop, but maybe I can help you protect yourself." He covered Rose with sharp thorns-everywhere but on her beautiful flowers. This is why Rose has thorns. She reminds us not to love her too well.

This story is recorded in Legends of Green Sky Hill by Louise J. Walker. Versions of this story are common among the Anishinaabe peoples of the Three Fires: Ojibway, Ottawa, and Potawatomi.