Interresting stuff

Below are three of many stories on the site at the bottom. I hope you enjoy! First paragraph isn't much of a story, but I liked it. Much Love.

COYOTE (Trickster)

Different tribes assign different meanings to each animal, but the association
of the Trickster to that of the coyote is by far the most predominant
popularized today. Studying the traits, habitats, and surroundings of any
animal can give one an insight into its spiritual significance. Coyote is said
to trick the learner into the lesson, almost giving one the notion that things
are not as they seem, until the lesson is done and the wisdom gained. Coyote
medicine is powerful. In moving from one disaster to the next, Coyote tricks
himself into moving through spiritual quests in such a way that lessons learned
from his antics cannot be ignored. It has been said that humor is a great
medicine, maybe that is why it is associated with Coyote. If we can learn to
laugh at ourselves, then we have indeed been blessed with understanding Coyote
medicine.

Iktomi and the Coyote

Afar off upon a large level land, a summer sun was shining
bright. Here and there over the rolling green were tall bunches of coarse gray weeds. Iktomi in his fringed buckskins walked alone across the prairie with a black bare head glossy in the sunlight.

He walked through the grass without following any well-worn footpath. From one large bunch of coarse weeds to another he wound his way about the great plain. He lifted his foot lightly and placed it gently forward like a wildcat prowling noiselessly through the thick grass.

He stopped a few steps away from a very large bunch of wild sage. From shoulder to shoulder he tilted his head. Still farther he bent from side to side, first low over one hip and then over the other. Far
forward he stooped, stretching his long thin neck like a duck, to see what lay under a fur coat beyond the bunch of coarse grass.

A sleek gray-faced prairie wolf! his pointed black nose tucked in between his four feet drawn snugly together; his handsome bushy tail wound over his nose and feet; a coyote fast asleep in the shadow of a bunch of grass!--this is what Iktomi spied. Carefully he raised one foot and cautiously reached out with his toes.

Gently, gently he lifted the foot behind and placed it before the other. Thus he came nearer and nearer to the round fur ball lying motionless under the sage grass.

Now Iktomi stood beside it, looking at the closed eyelids that did not quiver the least bit. Pressing his lips into straight lines and nodding his head slowly, he bent over the wolf.

He held his ear close to the coyote's nose, but not a breath of air stirred from it. "Dead!" said he at last. "Dead, but not long since he ran over these plains! See! there in his paw is caught a fresh feather. He is nice fat meat!" Taking hold of the paw with the bird feather fast on it, he exclaimed, "Why, he is still warm! I'll carry him to my dwelling and have a roast for my evening meal. Ah-ha!" he laughed, as he seized the coyote by its two fore paws and its two hind feet and swung him over head across his shoulders.

The wolf was large and the teepee was far across the prairie. Iktomi trudged along with his burden, smacking his hungry lips together. He blinked his eyes hard to keep out the salty perspiration streaming down his face. All the while the coyote on his back lay gazing into the sky with wide open eyes. His long white teeth fairly gleamed as he smiled and smiled.

"To ride on one's own feet is tiresome, but to be carried like a warrior from a brave fight is great fun!" said the coyote in his heart. He had never been borne on any one's back before and the new experience delighted him. He lay there lazily on Iktomi's shoulders, now and then blinking blue winks.

Did you never see a birdie blink a blue wink? This is how it first became a saying among the plains people. When a bird stands aloof watching your strange ways, a thin bluish white tissue slips quickly over his eyes and as quickly off again; so quick that you think it was only a mysterious blue wink.

Sometimes when children grow drowsy they blink blue winks, while others who are too proud to look with friendly eyes upon
people blink in this cold bird-manner. The coyote was affected by both sleepiness and pride. His winks were almost as blue as the sky. In the midst of his new pleasure the swaying motion ceased.

Iktomi had reached his dwelling place. The coyote felt drowsy no longer, for in the next instant he was slipping out of Iktomi's hands. He was falling, falling through space, and then he struck the ground with such a bump he did not wish to breathe for a while. He wondered what Iktomi would do, thus he lay still where he fell. Humming a dance-song, one from his bundle of mystery songs,
Iktomi hopped and darted about at an imaginary dance and feast. He gathered dry willow sticks and broke them in two against his knee. He built a large fire out of doors. The flames leaped up high in red and yellow streaks. Now Iktomi returned to the coyote who had been looking on through his eyelashes.

Taking him again by his paws and hind feet, he swung him to and fro. Then as the wolf swung toward the red flames, Iktomi let him go. Once again the coyote fell through space. Hot air smote his nostrils. He saw red dancing fire, and now he struck a bed of cracking embers. With a quick turn he leaped out of the flames.

From his heels were scattered a shower of red coals upon Iktomi's bare arms and shoulders. Dumbfounded, Iktomi thought he saw a spirit walk out of his fire. His jaws fell apart. He thrust a palm to his face, hard over his mouth! He could scarce keep from shrieking.

Rolling over and over on the grass and rubbing the sides of
his head against the ground, the coyote soon put out the fire on his fur. Iktomi's eyes were almost ready to jump out of his head as he stood cooling a burn on his brown arm with his breath.

Sitting on his haunches, on the opposite side of the fire from where Iktomi stood, the coyote began to laugh at him. "Another day, my friend, do not take too much for granted. Make sure the enemy is stone dead before you make a fire!" Then off he ran so swiftly that his long bushy tail hung out in a straight line with his back.

The Tree

Once upon a time two brothers were hunting and gathering in the deep forest. On this day they ventured further than they had ever gone before. They came upon a tree, the likes of which they had never seen. It was unique among the other trees in the forest, remarkable in its size and very beautiful. There was a lovely fragrance that surrounded it and it bore luscious fruit in prodigious amounts. Some of the ripe fruit had fallen from the tree, so the brothers gathered some of the fruit and sat down to rest under the shade of the tree to sample its taste. The fruit was more delicious than any they had ever eaten and its nutritious value was felt very quickly.

And so they gathered some more of the ripened fruit and made the journey back to their families, to share with the others what they had discovered. After the others had tasted the fruit and heard the brother's accounts of that magnificent tree, they all agreed that they would gather their belongings and follow the brothers to the location of the tree and establish their dwellings there. And they did so.

And so, after many generations the two families had grown into many very large clans, all the families living in the area of the beautiful and magnificent tree. There was always more than enough fruit to satisfy each and every person and they lived in harmony, all enjoying the sustenance that the tree provided.

Over the years differing legends and stories developed over how the brothers had discovered the tree, and which brother first saw it and whose decision it was to move the families to the location of the tree. Also, over time, different names for the tree and its fruit were established among the various clans. Even though the tree had always provided more than enough fruit for all, suspicions and fear grew among the various clans, each fearing that the others would gather too much fruit and that there would not be enough to go around. Arguments arose and boundaries were set by the differing clans, so that no one should go into another's area and take fruit or build lodgings that might infringe on the protected boundaries. But among the clans the boundaries were disputed and there were arguments and fighting over what was the true boundary and what was the true and correct name of the tree. Over time the disagreements became increasingly hostile and people were hurt and even killed over the disputes over boundaries and over the correct and true name of the tree and its fruit. And so the wonderful harmony, peace and cooperation that were once enjoyed were now, seemingly, hopelessly, lost.

After many years of devastation, in the attempt to restore at least some civility, delegations were formed by the various clans and they tried to meet, in the attempt to find some resolution. But it was almost impossible to agree on where and when they would meet and many of the clans would not meet unless the other clans would agree with them, on what was the true name and nature of the tree. Each holding firm that the name by which they called the tree was the only true and correct name and unless the other clans adopted their special name for the tree they could never find a peaceful resolution and furthermore they did not want to risk polluting the truth with the other's ideas and errors, for each was convinced that it was their allegiance to the correct name of the tree that satisfied the requirements necessary to continue to receive the benefits the tree offered, there were even a few within each clan that didn't think the tree so special and thought it should be cut down, and so the hostility and fighting continued.

But there was one that remained unchanging in the midst of all the hostility and confusion. It still continued to give its beauty, its shade, and its fruit to all, indiscriminately, The Tree.

Tim Cassidy

Origin of Buffalo (Cheyenne)

Long ago, a tribe of Cheyenne hunters lived at the head of a rushing stream, which eventually emptied into a large cave.
Because of the great need for a new food supply for his people, the Chief called a council meeting.

"We should explore the large cave," he told his people. "How many brave hunters will offer to go on this venture? Of course, it may be very dangerous, but we have brave hunters." No one responded to the Chief's request.

Finally, one young brave painted himself for hunting and stepped forth, replying to the Chief, "I will go and sacrifice myself for our people." He arrived at the cave, and to his surprise, First Brave found two other Cheyenne hunters near the opening, where the stream rushed underground.

"Are they here to taunt me," First Brave wondered? "Will they only pretend to jump when I do?"

But the other two braves assured him they would go.

"No, you are mistaken about us. We really do want to enter the cave with you," they said.

First Brave then joined hands with them and together they jumped into the huge opening of the cave. Because of the darkness, it took some time for their eyes to adjust. They then discovered what looked like a door. First Brave knocked, but there was no response. He knocked again, louder.

"What do you want, my brave ones?" asked an old Indian grandmother as she opened her door.

"Grandmother, we are searching for a new food supply for our tribe," First Brave replied. "Our people never seem to have enough food to eat."

"Are you hungry now?" she asked.

"Oh, yes, kind Grandmother, we are very hungry," all three braves answered.

The old grandmother opened her door wide, inviting the young braves to enter.

"Look out there!" she pointed for them to look through her window.

A beautiful wide prairie stretched before their eyes. Great herds of buffalo were grazing contentedly. The young hunters could hardly believe what they saw!

The old grandmother brought each of them a stone pan full of buffalo meat. How good it tasted, as they ate and ate until they were filled. To their surprise, more buffalo meat remained in their stone pans!

"I want you to take your stone pans of buffalo meat back to your people at your camp," said the old grandmother. "Tell them that soon I will send some live buffalo."

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, kind Grandmother," said the three young Cheyenne braves.

When the young hunters returned to their tribe with the gifts of buffalo meat, their people rejoiced over the new, good food. Their entire tribe ate heartily from the old grandmother's three magic pans, and were grateful.

When the Cheyennes waked at dawn the next day, herds of buffalo had mysteriously appeared, surrounding their village! They were truly thankful to the old Indian grandmother and to the Sky Spirits for their good fortune.

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