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Glacial Lakes and Prairies Tourism Association
P.O. Box 244
Watertown, SD 57201
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1-800-244-8860 |
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(605) 886-7305 |
Contact@sdglaciallakes.com
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Maiden's IsleBeautiful Minnecotah, who lived on the banks of Lake Kampeska, captured the hearts of many young braves from her tribe. But the heart of Minnecotah belonged to a brave hunter who lived in the Wahpeton country.
One day, when the tribal men told her to choose among them instead of waiting for the wandering hunter, Minnecotah said she would marry whoever could throw a stone farthest into the lake. For waterworks 7.jpg (6978 bytes)three days, the men threw pebbles, rocks, and boulders into Lake Kampeska, battling for the hand of Minnecotah. They threw so many stones that an island formed in the lake. They made waves great enough to overturn the canoes in which old men chosen as judges had been riding. The old men could not say which warrior cast a stone farthest. The young men grew angry.
Seeing the throwers' anger, the old men seized Minnecotah, put her on the island of stone, and told her she would stay there until she made a choice or died of hunger. Minnecotah stayed on the island, remaining faithful to her lover. She fed on small portions of fish taken from the pouch of a mother pelican carrying food to her young.
One night, Minnecotah's lover paddled his canoe to the island and rescued her. In the morning, the men of Minnecotah's tribe saw that she was gone. The island of stones can still be seen in Lake Kampeska, near Watertown, South Dakota.
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