Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a popular video game available on the Nintendo 3DS platform. The game follows the adventures of the protagonist, Shantae, a half-genie, half-human character with the ability to transform into various animals. In this installment of the series, Shantae finds herself teaming up with a group of pirates to battle an evil pirate queen who is wreaking havoc on the world. To defeat the pirate queen, Shantae must retrieve various relics scattered throughout the game's world. The gameplay of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a mix of platforming, exploration, and puzzle-solving. Players control Shantae as she moves through different levels, defeating enemies and collecting items.
Witch Tree: The Spirit Little Cedar Tree on Lake Superior
Appearing to grow out of bare rock along the Lake Superior shoreline east of Grand Portage is a sentinel-like small gnarled tree with twisted branches. Known as the Spirit Little Cedar Tree—Manidoo-giizhikens (various spellings) is the Ojibwe name, while others have called it The Witch Tree — it is held sacred by the Ojibwe people and lives on their tribal sacred ground on the tip of Hat Point, looking out over the waters of Lake Superior as it has for 300-400 years.
The earliest written record of this sacred tree first appeared in the 1731 writings of French-Canadian fur-trader/explorer Sieur de la Verendrye (1685-1749), who at the time noted it was a mature cedar. The iconic weathered Spirit Tree has survived gales, ice floes and blizzards, and today is considered Minnesota’s oldest living landmark.
Why is the Spirit Tree twisted, stunted and gnarled? The ancient tree is a northern white cedar ( Thuja occidentalis ) that seems to have begun life centuries ago inside a crack in the granite rocks. At some point, something damaged the tree’s crown leaving it with the distinctive bonsai-like stunted branches. Then, the original trunk became entwined by a root sprout, giving it that twisted aged look. And in time, the tree’s roots reached down to the lake through the crack. Spirit Tree barely reaches 15 feet in height, while northern white cedar trees normally grow 50 to 80 feet tall.
There’s legends and lore about the Spirit Little Cedar Tree. According to one Ojibwe legend, a hawk-like bird spirit is trapped inside and can wreak havoc to canoes and paddlers if there is no gift offering of tobacco. Another tale tells of an evil spirit that once resided in the tree, but was frightened away by the guns of arriving Europeans. Then there’s the story that the Spirit Tree was a woman who, following a vision, went to Hat Point as a lookout to look for some kind of change that was to come from Lake Superior.
Many believe the Spirit Tree has healing and mystical powers. And for centuries, the ancient tree has been sacred and of spiritual significance to the Ojibwe people of Grand Portage. Over the years it has also been a silent witness to the history of Minnesota’s North Shore and served as a landmark to paddlers passing by.
So, how did Spirit Little Cedar get the nickname, Witch Tree? Minnesota-born artist Dewey Albinson lays claim to first using the designation “Witch Tree” in 1922 after painting the iconic tree. He is quoted in the article “The Artist as Chronicler” by Mary Towley Swanson as saying it was “incredible that this wind-twisted old cedar can have braved the elements for perhaps four hundred years. In the old days, the Indians would portage across the point back to a gully to avoid passing the tree and the Evil Spirit that lives in it and dared only approach in large groups, drumming and singing, and bearing gifts of tobacco to appease the Evil Spirit.”
Traditionally, to help ensure safe passage on the waters of Lake Superior, which could suddenly turn wickedly turbulent, people made offerings to the Spirit Tree. In his book Minong -The Good Place , author Timothy Cochrane explains the Spirit Little Cedar Tree is the “traditional place to bring prayers and offers for a safe crossing and fishing success. Offerings of reverence and tobacco and ribbon—and earlier, vermilion—were left at the foot of the tree.” Cochrane also warned paddlers about the underwater lynx Mishipizhea, who supposedly had an “aquatic lair” in the nearby waters.
The Spirit Tree has inspired artists like the distinguished Ojibwe modernist George Morrison (1919-2000), a member of the Grand Portage band. In an essay by W. Jackson Rushing III, he writes, “Morrison was interested in magic (as an Indigenous medicinal practice) and the magic of nature, which would explain part of his attraction to the fierce beauty of the tree.”
Morrison’s former wife, artist Hazel Belvo, painted a series of paintings of the Spirit Tree, which writer Mary Abbe in an article in the Duluth Star Tribune (2013) described as “portraits of an ancient soul wrapped in a carapace of living wood.”
Stunning images of the tree have been captured by photographers like Travis Novitsky of the Grand Portage Anishinabe Nation and Bryan Hansel in Grand Marais. And the Spirit Tree / Witch Tree is featured as one of the world’s 50 historical trees in the recent book Wise Trees by Diane Cook and Len Jenshel.
Since 1989, when the Grand Portage Band purchased the property on which the Spirit Tree lives, access to the site has been closed to the public to protect the tree. Hiking down to the tree is prohibited unless accompanied by a tribal member of the Grand Portage Band.
The Spirit Tree
The Spirit Tree is located in Grand Portage, 35 miles (56.3km) northeast of Grand Marais in Minnesota’s Cook County. Also known as Little Cedar Spirit Tree or Manidoo-giizhikens, this tree grows twisted and gnarled from bare rock on the shore of Lake Superior. There are records of this tree presence dating back over 300 years. It is considered sacred by the Ojibwe Indian Tribe who traditionally leave tobacco at this ancient tree as an offering. There are records of this tree presence dating back over 300 years. The tree is considered off limits due to it’s hallowed nature and past vandals. The only way to visit the tree is by being accompanied by a local band member. The trail to the Spirit Tree is easy and well maintained with stairs that lead down to an observation deck.
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Finding Minnesota: North Shore's 'Witch Tree'
GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. (WCCO) -- A twisted, gnarly old cedar tree has inspired centuries of wonder and mystery in far northeastern Minnesota.
The solitary tree, which locals nicknamed, "The Witch Tree," has long been growing out of a rock on tribal land along the rugged shoreline of Lake Superior.
Many of the tree's roots are exposed along the side of the rock, while one root burrowed deeply into a crack appears to hold the tree in place.
Native Americans consider it a spiritual symbol, and leave offerings of tobacco to give thanks. They use the traditional name, "Manido Gizhigans," which means, "Spirit Little Cedar Tree."
John Morrin, a historian with the Grand Portage Reservation Tribal Council, says native people first spotted the tree several centuries ago and recognized the symbolism.
"This was something significant," Morrin said. "This was something not normal."
Morrin says it has become a peaceful place for people to unload their personal burdens.
"It's for all people who want to rejuvenate their spiritual path," he said.
Travis Novitsky is a tribal member and professional photographer who has long been fascinated by the unusual sight.
"You've got this tree that's growing out of the rock for at least 400 or 500 years," Novitsky said. "And just to stand in the presence of something that's living, that's that old, to me is mind-boggling."
Novitsky has been capturing images of the tree for years, along a rugged shoreline that is often battered by extreme weather.
"I think it has to be pretty tough to not only be growing where it is, right out of the rock, but to be so exposed to the elements here," he said. "My favorite thing is to come down at night, whether it's for lightning, northern lights, stars, moonlight, star trails."
Many native people see symbolism in the fact that the tree has clearly had a rough existence, off on its own, apart from the others.
"It's hard to walk that road, that straight road," Morrin said. "And I think that's what it's trying to tell us, that it's going to be very hard. You've really got to hold on to your sacred ways."
Morrin says there is no official documentation of the year that native people first spotted the tree. But there are reports that a French explorer wrote about it in the 1730s, describing it at the time as a mature tree.
"As long as we honor it, take care of it, respect it, we believe it'll always be here for us," Morrin said.
The tribal council used to allow open access to the site before there were problems with vandalism. Some people even tried to take a piece of the tree, apparently thinking it would bring them good fortune.
To arrange for a guide to take you to the tree, call 218-475-2277.
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Players control Shantae as she moves through different levels, defeating enemies and collecting items. The game also features several boss battles, which test the player's skills and strategy. One of the unique features of this game is Shantae's ability to transform into different creatures.
Each transformation grants her new abilities and skills that are necessary to access new areas and defeat certain enemies. For example, she can transform into a monkey to climb walls or a crab to navigate underwater passages. The graphics of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse are colorful and charming, with a pixel art style reminiscent of classic 2D platformers. The game's soundtrack is also well-received, complementing the gameplay and adding to the overall atmosphere. Overall, Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a highly praised installment in the Shantae series. The game offers a fun and engaging platforming experience with a unique twist. With its memorable characters, challenging gameplay, and beautiful art style, it is a must-play for fans of platformers and action-adventure games..
Reviews for "Immerse Yourself in the Colorful and Creative World of Shantae and the Pirate's Curse for Nintendo 3DS"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I was really excited to play "Shantae and the Pirates Curse" on my 3DS, but I ended up being disappointed. The controls were clunky and unresponsive, making it difficult to navigate through the levels. The graphics were also subpar, with pixelated images and a lack of detail. Additionally, I found the gameplay to be repetitive and boring after a while. Overall, it didn't live up to the hype for me.
2. Mike - 1/5 - I honestly regret purchasing "Shantae and the Pirates Curse" for my 3DS. The gameplay was extremely frustrating, with unfair enemy placement and cheap deaths. The soundtrack was repetitive and annoying, making me want to turn off the sound completely. The storyline was lackluster and failed to engage me in any way. Overall, it was a waste of money and I would not recommend it.
3. Tim - 2/5 - "Shantae and the Pirates Curse" did not live up to my expectations. The levels were poorly designed, with confusing layouts and frustrating obstacles. The combat system was also lackluster, with limited moves and unsatisfying attacks. I found myself getting bored quickly and losing interest in the game. Overall, it was a forgettable experience for me.
4. Sarah - 3/5 - While "Shantae and the Pirates Curse" had its moments, it ultimately fell short for me. The controls were difficult to master, leading to many frustrating moments. The story was forgettable, and the characters lacked depth. However, I did enjoy the art style and the variety of levels. It had potential, but it didn't quite deliver.