The Challenge of We-sa-kay-chak

Written and told by Albert A. Harper
Wasagamack, MB

One day, We-sa-kay-chak was walking across the ice from the Northern store. As he was walking, he noticed the ice was very firm and hard under him. We-sa-kay-chak asked the ice: How long will you be hanging around?. The ice told We-sa-kay-chak: Do not worry about me. I will be here for quite awhile yet. We-sa-kay-chak could not help himself and told the ice: Oh yeah? I bet I can stick around longer than you, any day. I will bet you 1000 dollars that I can sit here longer than you can. The ice said: OK then ... it is a bet.

We-sa-kay-chak thought for awhile wondering what he could do to win this bet and then he had an idea. You know, if I turn myself into a big rock, I can sit here forever ... there are no rules on what you can or cannot do. I will ask my brother the boulder if I can use his hulking body for this bet. The boulder said: Ok, but you have to give me half of your winnings.

We-sa-kay-chak went on the ice and said: Okay, I am ready to start, but since there are no rules, I am going to turn myself into a big boulder. The ice looked up at We-sa-kay-chak and said: I guess so, but you have to sit in the middle of the ice. During the spring of 2010, there was a big rock boulder sitting in the middle of the ice between the Northern and the mainland. Someone said: That is We-sa-kay-chak ... I think he is trying to win a bet.

A couple of weeks later, the boulder was nowhere to be seen. It had gone through the ice, but the ice was still there. The ice had won the bet.

Back to Newsletter