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You
can not visit Thunder Bay without seeing the beautiful
Kakabeka Falls. A remarkable work of nature. More
interesting is the story of the heroism of a lovely
Native Princess. The peace-loving grand old leader
of the Ojibway tribe, Chieftain White Bear, was
interested only in the safety of his people.
 Chief
White Bear was greatly disturbed to learn that large
numbers of the Sioux were approaching his tribe's encampment
at the mouth of the Kaministiquia River, with the intention
of destroying his tribe. Too old to go to battle himself
and not knowing how to stop the enemy, the old Chief
was worried. Seeing her father's dilema, Princess Green
Mantle came up with a plan. She hurriedly left the camp
and paddled up the Kaministiquia River. She had been
up the river in a canoe with her brother many times
and knew of the Great White Falls. She left her canoe
at the bottom of the falls and ran until she was well
above the waterfall.
Soon she was within sight of the Sioux Camp.
She
walked into the camp of her tribes biggest enemies.
They
pounced upon her and captured her. Pretending to have
lost her way, she fooled them into thinking she was
very scared. Green Mantle
was taken before the Sioux Chieftains and they decided
kill her. Bargaining with them she continued her plan
and told them that if they would spare her life she
would take them to her father's
camp.
 The
Sioux Chiefs were happy with this and the following
morning the Princess was placed in her canoe and the
Sioux followed in theirs. Green Mantle had suggested
the Sioux should tie their canoes together to form a
chain so that they would not get separated. But, she
had not told them about the falls and as they turned
the bend of the river, they plunged headlong into the
great gorge, killing all.
Princess
Green Mantle of course lost her life but all of her
tribe were saved from the hands of the most feared of
all Native tribesmen. The Great Manitou looked kindly
upon the brave little maiden, and if you take the trouble
to walk down the viewing pods, the figure of Green Mantle
can be observed in the mist, standing as a monument
to the memory of the Princess who gave her life for
her people.
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