Wargin Kathy-jo About the Legend of the Lady’s Slipper A legend is a piece of folklore which means it is a story that belongs to everyone Each time a story such as this is retold by a different storyteller it becomes a unique version of folklore belonging to that individual person I heard the legend of the lady’s slipper which is sometimes called the moccasin flower many times as a young girl growing up in northern Minnesota I recall the first time I heard it I was 8 or 9 years old and sitting beside a glowing campfire at the edge of a small northern lake The forest nearby was filled with lady’s slippers and I knew that they were delicate and beautiful creations Each flower seemed to be handmade by Mother Nature herself Although this story has several variations it is believed that the Ojibwe people of the northern Great Lakes region were the first to tell it I hope you enjoy my telling of the legend and enjoy retelling it someday in your own words But most of all I hope this story makes you smile
Showy Lady’s Slipper Cypripedium reginae
Long ago in a lush forest of green and gold there was a small village In the center of the vil lage was one large fire with heavy kettles hang ing above it and nearby were several houses made of wood and bark It was a village of peace and its people lived a beautiful and simple way of life
