The Ojibwe Tale of Paul Bunyan

Having spent four summers working at the Trees of Mystery in Klamath, Cal., as Paul Bunyan’s voice, welcoming visitors to the tourist attraction, I have collected several Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox stories from around the nation. Here is one that you cannot find in traditional books.

In Ojibwe folklore, a story exists about Paul Bunyan, who, contrary to popular tales, met his match in the northern woods of Minnesota. According to the legend, Paul Bunyan, known for his massive blue ox Babe and logging, ventured into the area now known as Red Lake.

His arrival threatened the forests of the Ojibwe people. Nanaboozhoo, determined to protect his homeland, confronted Bunyan in a battle that lasted three days.

The turning point came when Nanaboozhoo picked up a giant walleye and used it to slap Paul Bunyan with such force that he fell into a mud puddle. The impact was so powerful that an imprint of Bunyan’s buttocks was left in the wet ground, creating Red Lake.

Though not found in mainstream books, the tale is cherished among the Ojibwe and taught to children by their elders. It explains the unique shape of Red Lake and the presence of the Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues in Bemidji.

Historically, a sign at the reservation line recounts the story, though it often faced opposition from outsiders. Despite this, the legend is kept alive through the oral traditions of the Ojibwe people.