The Rock That Ran

Many of the rocks that form the Foothills Erratics Train lie fractured in the prairie sun. What caused the quartzite to split? Geologists attribute this to natural processes. The famous ethnographer George Grinnell recorded a Blackfoot story in the 1800s that offers another explanation:

One hot summer day, Napi – the supernatural Trickster of the Blackfoot – say upon the Rock to rest. Because it was so hot, Napi threw his robe over the Rock saying “Here, I give you my robe, because you are poor and have let me rest on you. Keep it always.” Napi walked on, and it began to rain. Napi returned to the rock and took back his robe, saying “I am cold and wet, I need my robe.” As he walked away he heard a loud noise – the Rock was chasing him!

Napi was scared and ran. His friends – the buffalo, the deer, and the antelope tried to stop the Rock but were crushed. Nearly exhausted, Napi called upon some bats for help. the bats dove at the Rock and one hit in the middle and split it in two.

The Blackfoot legend reveals not only how the Rock was split, but also why bats have “smashed” faces. There is also a moral: Do not take back what you have given away!