Long ago, the Oneida were a small tribe and their age-old enemies the Mingos were a much larger tribe, with many more warriors.
One year, the Mingos attacked in force. This time they didn’t just want to win a few minor battles with the Oneida. This time they wanted to destroy the tribe. The Mingos drove the Oneida from their villages, killed most of the men and captured many of the women and children.
The survivors found a hiding place in the high rocks and cliffs of the mountains, following secret paths known only to their tribe, but they knew they were not safe forever.
“The Mingos are still searching and will find our trail eventually,” the elders said, as they sat in council. “And our food is running out, so we may starve before they find us.”
“We don’t need to wait here to die,” said a young girl called Aliquipiso. “I have an idea. We are sheltering at the top of a high cliff, we are surrounded by sharp and heavy rocks. If we can get the Mingo warriors to gather at the foot of the cliff, we can throw the rocks down and crush them. If they lose their warriors, the tribe will go home and leave us in peace.”
“But how can we get them all to stand in the right place, just where we can aim rocks at them?” asked the elders.
“I will go down and lure the warriors to the perfect spot, then I will shout when it is time for you to throw the rocks.”
“But Aliquipiso, if you lure them into position and you shout for the rocks, then you will be crushed too.”
“I know. But I would rather die down there taking my enemies with me, than wait for death up here, watching my tribe dying around me.”
The elders praised Aliquipiso’s wisdom and blessed her courage, they hung precious shell necklaces round her neck, and they promised she would never be forgotten.
Then Aliquipiso said good-bye and she crept down the secret path from the cliffs to the land below.
As she wandered towards the smouldering remains of her village, looking lost and confused, she was spotted by Mingo scouts, who captured her and took her to their chief.
“Do you know where your people are hiding, girl?” he yelled at her.
“I will never tell you,” said Aliquipiso.
“So you do know! And you will tell me.”
“No, I will never betray my tribe,” she said.
“Yes, you will, if you want to live.”
The Mingo chief leant over to whisper threats and promises in her ear, until Aliquipiso sobbed and begged for mercy. “Please don’t hurt me! If you don’t hurt me, I’ll show you the secret path to the hiding place.”
They laughed at her weakness and her cowardice, and they let her lead them, the whole warrior band, to the foot of the cliffs.
Aliquipiso put her finger to her lips and signalled them to be quiet. She whispered, “Come close and I will tell you the secrets of my tribe and show you the hidden path to our sanctuary.”
The warriors drew closer to the girl.
She whispered more softly and beckoned them closer.
They crowded in nearer and nearer to hear her.
When the Mingo warriors were all gathered round her, in a tight close circle, Aliquipiso shouted “Now!”
The Oneida threw hundreds of heavy sharp rocks down on the heads of their enemies, and crushed them.
The rocks also crushed the girl who had led her enemies into the trap.
The rocks killed Aliquipiso.
But her plan worked. The Mingo tribe was so weakened by the loss of their young men that they left the Oneida in peace.
The Oneida went home and rebuilt their villages, and the tribe grew and prospered.
And because the elders had blessed Aliquipiso’s cleverness and courage, and the tribe had promised she would never be forgotten, Aliquipiso became part of the land: her long hair became the tendrils of the woodbine and her red blood became the flowers of the honeysuckle.
The Oneida still tell the story of the girl who saved their tribe, grandparents passing on the story to children round the campfire. Aliquipiso’s story will be passed on with pride and gratitude for as long as there are Oneida on this earth, and as long as woodbine and honeysuckle grow out of this earth.