The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons in Living

Story Summary: “The Story of the Deer Woman”

The author says he has never seen the Deer Woman, but his grandmother knew a man who did. According to this story, this man ignores his wife because he is always looking for the Deer Woman. This man, whom the author calls “Koskalaka,” Lakota for “young man” (38), lives with his grandmother after his grandfather died. He helps his grandmother with chores, and she tells him stories. One story relates to the Deer Woman. She tells him that this creature can harm his spirit and that her husband had seen the Deer Woman a long time ago. She warns that men who hunt alone are prey to this beautiful woman. The Deer Woman beckons men into her lodge and lies with them as if she is their wife, but then she steals their spirit and disappears. Try as they might, they can never find her again.

The young man grows up to be a successful hunter. After his grandmother dies, he goes hunting with three other hunters. Returning home, he sees a beautiful woman with a soothing voice who invites him into her lodge. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, and she has a fire burning in her lodge.