Anpetuwi and Hanwi~The Sun and the Moon

This is in no way a real Native American story, well at least I don't think it is. It is just my take on an age old story that has breached the walls of time. It has been told throughout cultures in many different ways and may be close to a Native American story. But this is My version. I hope you enjoy.

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Ehani… Long ago, there was a great Ahiyu, or chase. Hanwi, the moon was always chasing Anpetuwi, the sun. 

Hanwi was a great warrior for Wakan Tanka, The Great Spirit. He defended the night for Wakan Tanka.

Anpetuwi was the daughter of Wakan Tanka and was a beautiful hinziwin, a yellow hair woman. Hanwi thought she was gorgeous. She shined her light. 

One day, at dusk, the ahiyu, chase, began. Hanwi would try to kiss Anpetuwi thus making her blush and run away. Anpetuwi became fond of Hanwi and Hanwi became fond of her as well. It became a game with them. Heyuka, frost, Hanwi's best friend told them to be careful. Love may find a way into their hearts. Anpetuwi said they were just having fun.

After many days and nights of this. Anpetuwi told Hanwi "Tecihila" or ”I love you." My light shines only for you. You defend the night from taking my light. You are a part of me now. They laid in the grass, watching the clouds. Hanwi fell asleep on her shoulder. He was tired from defending her from the night.

Anpetuwi told Wakan Tanka about their love. Wakan Tanka did not like this. Hanwi was not good enough for his own Cuwitku, daughter. He was only a warrior. Wakan Tanka set out to put a stop to this.

Wakan Tanka told Hanwi that Anpetuwi was in love with Heyuka, frost. Heyuka was standing right there, but before he could speak, Wakan Tanka gave him a glare of "do not say anything or it will be your life." Heyuka was appalled that Wakan Tanka would tell Hanwi something like that to his own daughter. 

Heyuka did not want to be a part of that so he left. That kept the days hot. Without Heyuka, there would be no cold. He told only one person of his departure and that was the wind. He knew he could confide in her and she would keep his secret.

Hanwi's anger got the better of him. He was furious and decided to set out to prove Anpetuwi's love for Heyuka. 

Anpetuwi was approached by Hanwi. He asked her why she wasn't doing her normal thing by shining her light. She told Hanwi that she was searching for Heyuka. That his frost was gone so something was wrong. This made Hanwi angry and he believed what Wakan Tanka had told him. 

He accused Anpetuwi of betraying him and so they argued, but Hanwi would not believe her. His words were so harsh to Anpetuwi. It gave her great bo-ton-ton, confusion and made her ceye, cry. She defended herself and told Hanwi that she was only concerned for Heyuka since his frost was gone. She thought he needed help. Hanwi told her he did not love her anymore. His heart sank and he left. It destroyed him.

 His words devastated Anpetuwi and she ran to Wakan Tanka who hugged her and smiled tremendously. His goal was accomplished. She did not see this of course, since she was crying into her fathers shoulder. Wakan Taka told her it was ok, she didn't have to shine her light anymore if she didn't want to.  

So there he was, Hanwi, stuck without his cante skuye, sweetheart, and without his friend Heyuka. 

His cante, heart, was broken. He spent his days trying to glahomni, convince, Anpetuwi just how much he loved her. But no matter what, she believed her father who had told her that Hanwi loved the wind. She believed that because the wind was still there, comforting Hanwi. 

Heyuka decided it had been long enough, the perpetual night. He was tired of being away from his friend and he missed the Wind. He tried to find Anpetuwi to tell her what Wakan Tanka had done. But searching for her was impossible. The palace was too massive to be able find her plus Wakan Tanka needed to be distracted. 

He decided to go find Hanwi. Maybe telling him would be enough. He found Hanwi in the arms of the wind. It was kind if a hit to his heart, but he knew why she was there. She was concerned that if Anpetuwi did not come back to Hanwi, that he would die of a broken heart. So Heyuka and The Wind told him what Wakan Tanka had done. 

Hanwi was furious. He went to confront Wakan Tanka, but Wakan Tanka would not have it. So Hanwi challenged Wakan Tanka. Wakan Tanka was distracted by Hanwi and that gave Heyuka a chance to sneak into the great palace and find Anpetuwi and try to convince her of what her father had done. 

Hanwi was about to defeat Wakan Tanka when Anpetuwi came running. She was shouting no don't to Hanwi. He looked at her suspiciously and asked why. 

Anpetiwi told him that Heyuka found her and explained. Heyuka brought the wind with him. She told Anpetuwi that she was very fond of… Heyuka. 

Wakan Tanka sank to the floor in defeat. Anpetuwi wanted to know why he would do such a thing. Wakan Tanka told her that she was his only daughter, and he didn't want to lose her.

Anpetuwi gave her father a huge hug and vowed to him that would never happen. She expected to live her days shining her light with her true love defending her from the night. They got to dance with each other twice each day when Anpetuwi was going to bed and when Hanwi was basking in her light just before the night.

Hanwi gathered all the animals and also invited the wind to alowan, sing a song of praise to Anpetuwi. Heyuka and The Wind joined as well. Her light had never been so bright.

They became two perpetual couples that never gave up on love.

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Lakota words and their translations throughout this story.

hanwi…. moon

anpetuwi(ahn-pay-too-wee)… “the sun” literally the day sun

AHIYU/       Chase(to)/ah-hee-yue

alowan(ah-low-wan)…. singing a song of praise

bo-ton-ton(bo-toon-toon)…. confusion

Tecihila (pronounced tay-chee-hee-lah), though, which means simply "I love you."

CANTE SKUYE/Sweetheart/chahn-day skue-yea

CANTE / Heart/ chahn – Day

CEYE / Cry/ chay – yea

EHANI/Long ago/ay-hahn-nee

GLAHOMNI / Convince/ glah – hoh – mnee

Hanhepi wi…. the night sun [moon]/ hahn – hay – pee

HEYUKA / Frost/ gh – ay – yuen – kah

hinziwin…. yellow hair woman

Wakan Tanka…. great spirit

CUWITKU / Daughter/ chuh – wee – dkue