Native American Stories

[SilverWolf]

Long ago, when the world was still quite new, there were no winds at all, neither the gentle breeze of summer nor the fierce winter gale. Everything was perfectly still. Nothing disturbed the marsh grass on the shore and, when snow fell, it fell straight to earth instead of blowing and swirling into drifts as it does now.

At that time, in a village near the mouth of the Yukon River, there lived a couple who had no children. This made them very sad. Often the woman would sigh and say, 'How happy we would be if only we had a child!'

Her husband would sigh too and answer, 'Yes, if we had a son, I would teach him to stalk bears and seals over the ice-floes, and to make traps and snares. What will become of us in our old age with no one to provide for us ? Who will give festivals for our souls when we are dead?'

These thoughts troubled them deeply and on many a long winter evening they sat in the flickering firelight, imagining how different life might be if they had a child.

One night the woman had a strange dream, in which she saw a sled pulled by three dogs, one brown, one white and one black, draw up outside her door. The driver leaned from his seat and beckoned her. 'Come,' he said. 'Sit here by me. I will take you on a journey.'

Wondering and fearful, the woman did as she was told. No sooner had she seated herself than the driver cracked his whip and the sled rose high into the air. Through the night-black sky they flew, faster and faster, past stars sparkling like hoar-frost. The woman was no longer afraid for she knew that this must be Igaluk, the Moon Spirit, who often comes to comfort those in distress.

Suddenly the sled stopped and the panting dogs lay down to rest. On all sides, as far as the eye could see, lay a great plain of smooth ice, the glittering expanse broken only by one small stunted tree.

Igaluk pointed and said, 'You who so desire a child, look at that tree over there. Make a doll from its trunk and you will find happiness.'

Before she could learn more, the woman awoke. So vivid was her dream that she at once roused her husband. She told him what she had seen and begged him to find the tree.

The man rubbed the sleep from his eyes. 'What would be the point?' he grumbled. 'It would only be a doll, not a real child.' But the woman persisted and finally, for the sake of peace, the man shouldered his ax and set out to look for the tree.

At the edge of the village where the snow lay thick and untrodden, he saw a bright path stretching far into the distance. It was now full day, yet the path shone like moonlight and the man knew that this was the direction which he must take. For many hours he journeyed along the path of light until at last, on the horizon, he saw something shining very brightly. As he came nearer he saw that it was the tree of which his wife had spoken. The man cut it down with his ax and carried it home.

That evening, while he carved the figure of a small boy from some of the wood, his wife made a little suit of sealskin and, when the doll was finished, she dressed it and set it in the place of honor on the bench opposite the door. From the remaining wood the man carved a set of toy dishes and some tiny weapons, a spear and a knife, tipped with bone. His wife filled the dishes with food and water and set them before the doll.

Before going to bed, the couple sat and gazed at the doll. Although it was no more than six inches high, it was very lifelike, with eyes made from tiny chips of ivory.

'I cannot think why we have gone to all this trouble,' said the man gloomily. 'We are no better off than before.'

'Perhaps not,' replied his wife, 'but at least it will give us some amusement and something to talk about.'

During the night the woman awoke suddenly. Close at hand she heard several low whistles. She shook her husband and said, 'Did you hear that? It was the doll!'

They jumped up and, by the glow of their hastily lit lamp, they saw that the doll had eaten the food and drunk the water. They saw it breathe and its eyes move. The woman picked it up in her arms and hugged it. They played with the doll for some time until it grew sleepy. Then they carefully returned it to the bench and went back to bed, delighted with their new toy.

In the morning, however, when they awoke, the doll had gone. Rushing outside, they saw its footprints leading away through the village. They followed as fast as they could, but at the edge of the village the tracks stopped and there was no trace of the doll. Sadly the couple returned home.

Although they did not know it, the doll was traveling along the path of light which the man had taken the day before. On and on he went until he came to the eastern edge of day where the sky comes down to meet the earth and walls in the light. Looking up, the doll saw a hole in the sky wall, covered over with a piece of skin. The cover was bulging inwards, as if there was some powerful force on the other side. The doll was curious and, drawing his knife, he slashed the cords holding the cover in place and pulled it aside.

At once a great wind rushed in, carrying birds and animals with it. The doll peered through the hole and saw the Sky Land on the other side, looking just like earth, with mountains, trees and rivers. When he felt that the wind had blown long enough, the doll drew the skin cover back over the hole, saying sternly, 'Wind, sometimes blow hard, sometimes soft, and sometimes not at all.' Then he went on his way.

When he came to the south, he saw another piece of skin covering an opening in the sky wall and bulging as before. Again the doll drew his knife and this time a warmer wind blew in, bringing more animals, trees and bushes. After a time the doll closed up the opening with the same words as before and passed on towards the west. There he found yet another opening like the others, but this time, as soon as the cords were cut, the wind blew in a heavy rainstorm with waves and spray from the great ocean on the other side. The doll hastened to cover up the hole and instructed this wind as he had one the others.

When he came to the north, the cold was so intense that he hesitated for some time before he dared to open the hole in the sky there. When he finally did so, a fierce blast whistled in, with great masses of snow and ice, so that the doll was at once frozen to the marrow and he closed that opening very quickly indeed.

Admonishing the wind as before, the doll now turned his steps inwards, away from the sky wall and traveled on until he came to the very center of the earth's plain. There he saw the sky arching overhead like a huge tent, supported on a framework of tall slender poles. Satisfied that he had now traveled the whole world over, the doll decided to return to the village from which he started.

His foster-parents greeted him with great joy, for they feared that he had gone forever. The doll told them and all the people of the village about his travels and how he had let the winds into the world. Everyone was pleased for with the wind came good hunting. The winds brought the birds of the air and the land animals, and they stirred up the sea currents so that seals and walrus could be found all along the coast.

Because he had brought good fortune as the Moon Spirit had predicted, the doll was honored in special festivals afterwards. Shamans made dolls like him to help them in their magic and parents also made dolls for their children, knowing that they bring happiness to those who care for them.

[SilverWolf]

A Legend of Chief Garry

As the legend goes, there were three chiefs. The old chief was a wise and revered man, respected by all until the day his son met with a tragic accident and died. The chief was overcome with pain and he blamed God for taking away his child. He questioned God's wisdom and good until the tribe could not stand it a moment longer. They feared for their children and their future should he continue. The other chiefs in the tribe asked the old chief if he thought that God was bad and that they should return to living like animals in the forest. They had worked hard to love and understand God, but would do what the chief wished.

The old chief didn't have the answer, so he set off for what is now called Mount Spokane with nothing but the clothes on his back, hoping to have a vision that would tell him. After a time with just snow to drink and no food, he did have a vision. The sky opened up and God said, "Your son is happy here with me, have faith" and went on to speak of people with white flesh coming to his people with a book. This book would have many words about God in it and the old chief should not harm these people, for the world would not end until after they had come.

The old chief returned to his tribe and told them of his vision. He left out the part about the white skinned people because he feared they would not understand.

Many years went by and the chief became older. A day came that an eruption occurred on what is known as Helena, spewing white ashes into the air and causing night to come during day. The tribe was afraid and certain that the world was ending. The old chief told them it was not, for God had promised it wouldn't until after the whites came.

The tribesman stayed by the old chief, listening to his words of God and what he had promised. The most respected chief in the tribe was named Chief Ileum, and he listened intently. He had brought his son, 5 year old Garry to hear what the man would say. Garry felt the old chief's vision was his vision, too, and he would wait anxiously for the arrival of the white skinned men.

The first whites came when Garry was 9 years old, but they did not know of God. Several years passed until priests came to visit the tribe. They carried this book of God and asked Chief Ileum if Garry might come with them to learn. The chief refused until Garry reminded him of the vision, saying that he must go with them. Chief Ileum agreed.

Garry was an eager student and loved to learn. He was whipped once for breaking the rules and bit the upperclassmen that held him steady for the punishment. The boys ear showed blood but he forgave Garry. This was when Garry knew that these were good, forgiving people.

A time came when two boys, sons of tribal chiefs, died from the measels. The priests feared that they would be blamed, but Garry made the journey to speak with his father. The priests were not blamed and Garry was welcomed. The tribe listened intently to all he had to say. They learned to pray and to worship God so intently that passerby could not disturb them, choosing instead to join them.

Other tribes sent members down to learn from Garry and his tribe. He taught at the school at Drumheller Springs for indian children. He was a peaceful man and chief, preaching acceptance and tolerance, teaching that we all have the same blood in us regardless of our skin color. Despite what the whites did to his people, the various wars against them, he always advised his tribe not to use violence.

Chief Garry died in his teepee at Indian Canyon Falls 1892 and now rests at Greenwood Cemetery under the monument bearing his name.

[SilverWolf]

Raven

This story is from a tribe in the Puget Sound area recorded in Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest

Long ago, near the beginning of the world. Gray Eagle was the guardian of the sun and moon and stars, of fresh water, and of fire. Gray Eagle hated people so much that he kept these things hidden. People lived in darkness, without fire and without fresh water.

Gray Eagle had a beautiful daughter, and Raven fell in love with her. At that time Raven was a handsome young man. He changed himself into a snow-white bird, and as a snow-white bird he pleased Gray Eagle's daughter. She invited him to her father's lodge.

When Raven saw the sun and the moon and the stars and fresh water hanging on the sides of Eagle's lodge, he knew what he had to do. He waited for his chance to seize them when no one was watching. He stole all of them, and a brand of fire also, and he flew out of the lodge though the smoke hole.

As soon as Raven got outside, he hung the sun up in the sky. It made so much light that he was able to fly far out to an island in the middle of the ocean. When the sun set, he fastened the moon up in the sky and hung the stars around in different places. By this new light he kept on flying, carrying with him the fresh water and the brand of fire he had stolen.

He flew back over land. When he had reached the right place, he dropped all the water he had stolen. It fell to the ground and there became the source of all the fresh-water streams and lakes in the world.

Then Raven flew on, holding the brand of fire in his bill. The smoke from the fire blew back over his white feathers and make them black. When his bill began to burn, he had to drop the firebrand. It struck the rocks and went into the rocks. That is why, if you strike two stones together, fire will drop out.

Raven's feathers never became white again after they were blackened by the smoke from the firebrand. That is why Raven is now a black bird.

[SilverWolf]

The Hunting of the Great Bear

There were four hunters who were brothers. No hunters were as good as they at following a trail. They never gave up once they began tracking their quarry.

One day, in the moon when the cold nights return, an urgent message came to the village of the four hunters. A great bear, one so large and powerful that many thought it must be some kind of monster, had appeared. The people of the village whose hunting grounds the monster had invaded were afraid. The children no longer went out to play in the woods. The long houses of the village were guarded each night by men with weapons who stood by the entrances. Each morning, when the people went outside, they found the huge tracks of the bear in the midst of their village. They knew that soon it would become even more bold.

Picking up their spears and calling to their small dog, the four hunters set forth for that village, which was not far away. As they came closer they noticed how quiet the woods were. There were no signs of rabbits or deer and even the birds were silent. On a great pine tree they found the scars where the great bear had reared up on hind legs and made deep scratches to mark its territory. The tallest of the brothers tried to touch the highest of the scratch marks with the tip of his spear. "It is as the people feared," the first brother said. "This one we are to hunt is Nyah-gwaheh, a monster bear."

"But what about the magic that the Nyah-gwaheh has?" said the second brother.

The first brother shook his head. "That magic will do it no good if we find its track."

"That's so," said the third brother. "I have always heard that from the old people. Those creatures can only chase a hunter who has not yet found its trail. When you find the track of the Nyah-gwaheh and begin to chase it, then it must run from you."

"Brothers," said the fourth hunter who was the fattest and laziest, "did we bring along enough food to eat? It may take a long time to catch this big bear. I'm feeling hungry."

Before long, the four hunters and their small dog reached the village. It was a sad sight to see. There was no fire burning in the centre of the village and the doors of all the long houses were closed. Grim men stood on guard with clubs and spears and there was no game hung from the racks or skins stretched for tanning. The people looked hungry.

The elder sachem of the village came out and the tallest of the four hunters spoke to him.

"Uncle," the hunter said, "we have come to help you get rid of the monster."

Then the fattest and laziest of the four brothers spoke. "Uncle," he said, "is there some food we can eat? Can we find a place to rest before we start chasing this big bear. I'm tired."

The first hunter shook his head and smiled. "My brother is only joking, Uncle." he said. " We are going now to pick up the monster bear's trail."

"I am not sure you can do that, Nephews," the elder sachem said. "Though we find tracks closer and closer to the doors of our lodges each morning, whenever we try to follow those tracks they disappear."

The second hunter knelt down and patted the head of their small dog. "Uncle," he said, that is because they do not have a dog such as ours." He pointed to the two black circles above the eyes of the small dog. "Four-Eyes can see any tracks, even those many days old."

"May Creator's protection be with you," said the elder sachem.

"Do not worry. Uncle," said the third hunter. "Once we are on a trail we never stop following until we've finished our hunt."

"That's why I think we should have something to eat first," said the fourth hunter, but his brothers did not listen. They nodded to the elder sachem and began to leave. Sighing, the fattest and laziest of the brothers lifted up his long spear and trudged after them.

They walked, following their little dog. It kept lifting up its head, as if to look around with its four eyes. The trail was not easy to find.

"Brothers," the fattest and laziest hunter complained, "don't you think we should rest. We've been walking a long time." But his brothers paid no attention to him. Though they could see no tracks, they could feel the presence of the Nyah-gwaheh. They knew that if they did not soon find its trail, it would make its way behind them. Then they would be the hunted ones.

The fattest and laziest brother took out his pemmican pouch. At least he could eat while they walked along. He opened the pouch and shook out the food he had prepared so carefully by pounding together strips of meat and berries with maple sugar and then drying them in the sun. But instead of pemmican, pale squirming things fell out into his hands. The magic of the Nyah-gwaheh had changed the food into worms.

"Brothers," the fattest and laziest of the hunters shouted, "let's hurry up and catch that big bear! Look what it did to my pemmican. Now I'm getting angry."

Meanwhile, like a pale giant shadow, the Nyah-gwaheh was moving through the trees close to the hunters. Its mouth was open as it watched them and its huge teeth shone, its eyes flashed red. Soon it would be behind them and on their trail.

Just then, though, the little dog lifted its head and yelped. "Eh-heh!" the first brother called.

"Four-Eyes has found the trail," shouted the second brother.

"We have the track of the Nyah-gwaheh," said the third brother.

"Big Bear," the fattest and laziest one yelled, "we are after you, now!"

Fear filled the heart of the great bear for the first time and it began to run. As it broke from the cover of the pines, the four hunters saw it, a gigantic white shape, so pale as to appear almost naked. With loud hunting cries, they began to run after it. The great bear's strides were long and it ran more swiftly than a deer. The four hunters and their little dog were swift also though and they did not fall behind. The trail led through the swamps and the thickets. It was easy to read, for the bear pushed everything aside as it ran, even knocking down big trees. On and on they ran, over hills and through valleys. They came to the slope of a mountain and followed the trail higher and higher, every now and then catching a glimpse of their quarry over the next rise.

Now though the lazy hunter was getting tired of running. He pretended to fall and twist his ankle.

"Brothers," he called, "I have sprained my ankle. You must carry me."

So his three brothers did as he asked, two of them carrying him by turns while the third hunter carried his spear. They ran more slowly now because of their heavy load, but they were not falling any further behind. The day had turned now into night, yet they could still see the white shape of the great bear ahead of them. They were at the top of the mountain now and the ground beneath them was very dark as they ran across it. The bear was tiring, but so were they. It was not easy to carry their fat and lazy brother. The little dog, Four-Eyes, was close behind the great bear, nipping at its tail as it ran.

"Brothers," said the fattest and laziest one. "put me down now. I think my leg has gotten better."

The brothers did as he asked. Fresh and rested, the fattest and laziest one grabbed his spear and dashed ahead of the others. Just as the great bear turned to bite at the little dog, the fattest and laziest hunter levelled his spear and thrust it into the heart of the Nyah-Gwaheh. The monster bear fell dead.

By the time the other brothers caught up, the fattest and laziest hunter had already built a fire and was cutting up the big bear.

"Come on, brothers," he said. "Let's eat. All this running has made me hungry!"

So they cooked the meat of the great bear and its fat sizzled as it dripped from their fire. They ate until even the fattest and laziest one was satisfied and leaned back in contentment. Just then, though, the first hunter looked down at his feet.

"Brothers," he exclaimed, "look below us!"

The four hunters looked down. Below them were thousands of small sparkling lights in the darkness which. they realized, was all around them.

"We aren't on a mountain top at all," said the third brother. "We are up in the sky."

And it was so. The great bear had indeed been magical. Its feet had taken it high above the earth as it tried to escape the four hunters. However, their determination not to give up the chase had carried them up that strange trail.

Just then their little dog yipped twice.

"The great bear!" said the second hunter. "Look!"

The hunters looked. There, where they had piled the bones of their feast the Great Bear was coming back to life and rising to its feet. As they watched, it began to run again, the small dog close on its heels.

"Follow me," shouted the first brother. Grabbing up their spears, the four hunters again began to chase the great bear across the skies.

So it was, the old people say, and so it still is. Each autumn the hunters chase the great bear across the skies and kill it. Then, as they cut it up for their meal, the blood falls down from the heavens and colours the leaves of the maple trees scarlet. They cook the bear and the fat dripping from their fires turns the grass white.

If you look carefully into the skies as the seasons change, you can read that story. The great bear is the square shape some call the bowl of the Big Dipper. The hunters and their small dog (which you can just barely see) are close behind, the dipper's handle. When autumn comes and that constellation turns upside down, the old people say. "Ah, the lazy hunter has killed the bear." But as the moons pass and the sky moves once more towards spring, the bear slowly rises back on its feet and the chase begins again.

[SilverWolf]

The Origins of The Lakota Peace pipe.

Long, Long ago, two young and handsome

Lakota were chosen by their band to find

out where the buffalo were. While the men

saw someone in the distance walking

toward them. As always, they were on the

watch for any enemy. So they hid in

some bushes and waited. At last the figure

came up the slope. To their surprise,

the figure walking toward them was a

woman. When she came closer, she stopped

and looked at them. They knew that she

could see them, even in their hiding

place.

On her left arm she carried what looked

like a stick in a bundle of sagebrush.

Her face was beautiful.

One of the men said, "She is more

beautiful than anyone I have ever seen.

I want her for my wife."

But the other man replied, "How dare you

have such a thought? She is wondrously

beautiful and holy -- far above

ordinary people." Though still at a

distance, the woman heard them talking.

She laid down her bundle and spoke to

them. "Come. What is it you wish?" The

man who had spoken first went up to her

and laid his hands on her as if to claim

her. At once, from somewhere above,

there came a whirlwind. Then there came

a mist, which hid the man and the woman.

When the mist cleared, the other man

saw the woman with the bundle again on

her arm. But his friend was a pile of

bones at her feet. The man stood silent

in wonder and awe.

Then the beautiful woman spoke to him.

"I am on a journey to your people.

Among them is a good man whose name

is Bull Walking Upright. I am coming

to see him especially." "Go on ahead

of me and tell your people that I am

on my way. Ask them to move camp and

to pitch their tents in a circle. Ask

them to leave an opening in the circle,

facing the north. In the center of the

circle, make a large tepee, also facing

the north. There I will meet Bull

Walking Upright and his people."

The man saw to it that all her

directions were followed. When she

reached the camp, she removed the

sagebrush from the gift she was carrying.

The gift was a small pipe made of red

stone. On it was carved the tiny outline

of a buffalo calf.

The pipe she gave to Bull Walking

Upright, and then she taught him the

prayers he should pray to the Strong

One Above. "When you pray to the Strong

One Above, you must use this pipe in

the ceremony. When you are hungry,

unwrap the pipe and lay it bare in the

air. Then the buffalo will come where

the men can easily hunt and kill them.

So the children, the men, and the women

will have food and be happy." The

beautiful woman also told him how the

people should behave in order to live

peacefully together. She taught them

the prayers they should say when praying

to their Mother Earth. She told him how

they should decorate themselves for

ceremonies.

"The earth," she said, "is your mother.

So, for special ceremonies, you will

decorate yourselves as your mother does

-- in black and red, in brown and white.

These are the colours of the buffalo

also." "Above all, also remember that

this is a peace pipe that I have given

you. You will smoke it before all

ceremonies. You will smoke it before

making treaties. It will bring peaceful

thoughts into your minds. If you will

use it when you pray to the Strong One

Above and to Mother Earth you will

be sure to receive the blessings that

you ask."

When the woman had completed her

message, she turned and slowly walked

away. All the people watched her in awe.

Outside the opening of the circle, she

stopped for an instant and then lay

down on the ground. She rose again in

the form of a black buffalo cow.

Again she lay down and then arose in

the form of a red buffalo cow. A third

time she lay down, and arose as a

brown buffalo cow. The fourth and last

time she had the form of a spotlessly

white buffalo cow. Then she walked

toward the north into the distance

and finally disappeared over a far-off

hill.

Bull Walking Upright kept the peace

pipe carefully wrapped most of the

time. Every little while he called all

his people together, untied the bundle,

and repeated the lessons he had been

taught by the beautiful woman. And he

used it in prayers and other ceremonies

until he was more than one hundred

years old.

When he became feeble, he held a great

feast. There he gave the pipe and the

lessons to Sunrise, a worthy man. In

a similar way the pipe was passed down

from generation to generation. "As

long as the pipe is used," the beautiful

woman said, "Your people will live and

will be happy. As soon as it is

forgotten, the people will perish."

[Rumba Rue]

Your stories are very nice, however this is a Pirate related site, not a Native American site.

[SilverWolf]

Okay then thanks for everything.I'll be leaving you now since there are no places here for me.Pilamaya!