The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SLEEPING BEAR POINT

A MOTHER BEAR AND TWO CUBS, SEEKING LUSCIOUS BERRIES ON THE
OPPOSITE SHORE, ATTEMPTED THE LONG SWIM ACROSS THE LAKE.
AS THE MAINLAND CAME INTO VIEW, THE CUBS BECAME EXHAUSTED. THEIR
MOTHER COULD NOT HELP THEM AND THEY SANK. UPON THE LEELANAU
SHORE CRAWLED THE MOTHER BEAR, THERE TO WAIT FOR THE CUBS TO
REAPPEAR. THEY DID NOT RETURN AS SUCH, BUT THE GREAT SPIRIT,
TO REWARD HER FOR HER VIGIL, CAUSED THE CUBS TO COME OUT OF THE
DEEP IN THE FORM OF TWO BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS, AFTERWARD NAMED SOUTH
AND NORTH MANITOU. ON THE MAINLAND, WHITE SANDS COVERED THE
MOTHER BEAR AND A GREAT DUNE GREW WHERE SHE HAD WAITED.

Submitter comment: THIS IS AN INDIAN LEGEND THAT EXPLAINS HOW SLEEPING BEAR POINT
IN LEELANAU COUNTY, MICHIGAN CAME INTO EXISTENCE. THE POINT
WAS NAMED FOR THIS LEGEND.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIBRARY ; DETROIT ; DETROIT PUBLIC LIBRARY

Date learned: NOT GIVEN