The Legend of Minnesota

The origin of the word "Minnesota" is often attributed to the Dakotah word for "sky-tinted water". This book tells another story about the Ojibwe word for the north woods. The word Mah-nu-sa-tia, also spelled Maanizaadi was used to describe the wooded land west of Lake Superior. This book, written by Kathy-jo Wargin, illustrated by David Geister, tells the story of an Ojibwe maiden and a Dakotah boy who encouter one another in the woods. He is ill and she nurses him back to health. Later when people in her village become ill, she also saves them. As a result, she earns the name Mah-nu-sa-tia.