In a nomad camp in the far North lived an old man with his three daughters. A fierce, endless blizzard threatened their survival. The father believed the storm was sent by Kotura, Lord of the Winds, and the only way to appease him was to send him a wife from their clan.
He sent his eldest daughter first, giving her a sled and strict instructions: face the north wind, let the sled lead, do not stop to tie her coat or shake snow from her shoes until reaching a hilltop, be kind to a little bird, and then ride to Kotura's tent. She disobeyed, stopping early and shooing the bird away. At Kotura's tent, she ate his food without permission, lied about delivering meat to his neighbor (the Snow Woman), and made poor garments from hides. Enraged, Kotura flung her into the night to freeze.
The storm worsened. The father sent his second daughter. She also disobeyed the instructions, shooed the bird away, and failed her tasks similarly. Kotura flung her to her death as well.
As the blizzard redoubled, the heartbroken father sent his youngest, last daughter. She followed all instructions faithfully: she did not stop prematurely, gently caressed the little bird that perched on her shoulder, and let it guide her to Kotura.
At his tent, she waited patiently, cooked meat as asked, and obediently delivered a portion to the Snow Woman, guided by the bird. The Snow Woman gave her tools in return. The next day, when tasked with making clothes from hides, the youngest daughter helped the Snow Woman remove a speck from her eye. In gratitude, the Snow Woman let four maids from her ear help complete the perfect garments.
Kotura was pleased. He revealed the Snow Woman was his mother and the maids his sisters. He praised the youngest daughter's obedience, courage, and skill, asking her to be his wife. The moment he spoke, the storm ceased, saving her people.