Om-Kas-Toe by Horsefeathers10 (1A)*

Om-Kas-Toe is a Indian boy from the Blackfeet tribe. He discovers many things that help his people, including the hot springs, food when his people need it most, and the amazing Wise Bird who helps find the baby and the bull. He also saves Om's life. Om's tribe moves from place to place year round. Women and children carry packs on their back and half wild dogs pull a travois with a harness that straps on the dog under their belly and over their back. It is made of animal hide that the women sew together with small bones.

Until Twin Girl and Om-Kas-Toe find an elkdog--that is, today's horse--the Blackfeet people have never seen such a magnificent animal. They are amazed by its size and yet it does not react when it sees people like elk and buffalo do. The elkdog helps the people in many different ways. It pulls its own travois that is much bigger than the dogs and it makes hunting buffalo much easier and safer. The hunters soon find more elkdogs and Om-Kas-Toe gets the elkdog of his dreams, which he names Big Black for its beautiful color and size.