She:koli ... this is the moon time of Wahta/Maple when we tell the story of how maple sugar was 'discovered'. There are a variety of versions as one might expect for something as ancient as maple. One storybook I like is MAPLE MOON by Connie Brummel where a little boy goes walking in the woods and watches a squirrel sipping sap from a branch. When he also tastes it, he finds it sweeter than any water he's ever drank. He races back home to get a hatchet to try getting more water from the tree. ... I'll leave the story there for you to find out more on your own ;) ... so this photo shows the felt storyboard I've made to go with the story. Maple sap is the first medicine of the new year; it's our 'spring tonic.' We make mention of it in our Thanksgiving Address to acknowledge it as the leader of the trees.