as told by the Eklutna Indians of Alaska. Susitna and her lover lived on what is now called Cook inlet in Alaska. At that time Alaska was a land of tall trees and flowers. The land was rich and warm. The Saber-toothed tiger and the woolly mammoth roamed as well as other animals. Susitna and Nekatla were very much in love. Susitna was loved by all of her village and Nekatla was one of the best warriors. One day Nekatla was called to war to defend the village. The village was very sad to see their men called to war. Many days and nights passed and Susitna grew very tired waiting for Nekatla to return , she no longer picked berries or wove baskets. One day she lay down to rest and sleep. Word came that her lover and many other men has died in battle. When the women of the tribe went to tell Susitna of what had happened they couldn't bring themselves to waken her and tell her of the loss. They wove a blanket of grass and sprinkled it with flowers to cover her. They prayed to the gods that she would not awaken and find out what had happened to her lover and the others. The prayers of the women reached the heavens and were answered. The land was changed, Susitna went into a deep sleep and the air grew cold and the land that would become Alaska had its first snow storm, that covered the sleeping Susitna. The maiden still sleeps beside Cook Inlet, but it is said that when the warring people of the world change, and the whole world is at peace, Nekatla will return to awaken his Sleeping Lady - Susitna." (Drawing of Susitna and Nekatla by Mildred Jacobsson) 
"Mount Susitna - Sleeping Lady was my favorite place in Alaska. The mountain is seen across Cook Inlet from Anchorage.
When I first visited my Colorado land I was amazed to see a mesa across from the property that is also called Sleeping Lady 
- it looks so much like Mount Susitna that I named my property Susitna South in honor."
ROBERT: "A tribute to the Star People who came here to live among us, teach us the ways of ceremony and right living. This dance tells of the passing of the last of these teachers."
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