Pushing Up the Sky - A Snohomish Legend

The Creator and Changer first made the world in the East. Then he slowly came westward, creating as he came. With him he brought many
languages, and he gave each one to each group of people he made.

When he reached Puget Sound, he liked it so well that he decided to go no further. But he had many languages left, so he scattered them all around
Puget Sound and to the north. That's why there are so many different Indian languages spoken there.

These people could not talk together, but it happened that none of them were pleased with the way the Creator had made the world. The sky was so
low that the tall people bumped their heads against it.

Sometimes people would do what was forbidden by climbing up high in the trees and, learning their own words, enter the Sky World.

Finally the wise men of all the different tribes had a meeting to see what they could do about lifting the sky. They agreed that the people should get
together and try to push it higher.

"We can do it," a wise man of the council said, "if we all push at the same time. We will need all the people and all the animals and all the birds when
we push."

"how will we know when to push?" asked another of the wise men.

"Some of us live in this part of the world, some in another. We don't all talk the same language. How can we get everyone to push at the same time?"

That puzzled the men of the council, but at last one of them suggested that they use a signal. "When the time comes for us to push, when we have
everything ready, let someone shout 'Ya-hoh.' That means 'Lift together!' in all our languages."

So the wise men of the council sent the message to all people and animals and birds and told them on what day they were to lift the sky. Everyone
made poles from the giant fir trees to use in pushing against the sky.

The day for the sky lifting came. All the people raised their poles and touched the sky with them. Then the wise men shouted, "Ya-hoh!" Everybody
pushed, and the sky moved up a little."Ya-hoh," the wise men shouted a second time, and everybody pushed with all his strength. The sky moved a
few more inches. "Ya-hoh," all shouted, and pushed as hard as they could push.

They kept on shouting "Ya-hoh" and pushing until the sky was in the place where it is now. Since then, no one has bumped his head against it, and no
one has been able to climb into the Sky World.

Now, three hunters had been chasing four elks during all the meetings and did not know about the plan. Just as the people and animals and birds
were ready to push the sky up, the three hunters and the four elks came to a place where the earth nearly meets the sky. The elks jumped into the Sky
World, and the hunters ran after them. When the sky was lifted, elks and hunters were lifted too.

In the sky World they were changed into stars, and at night even now you see them. The three hunters form the handle of the Big Dipper. The middle
hunter has his dog with him -- now a tiny star. The four elks make the bowl of the Big Dipper.

Some other people were caught up in the sky in two canoes, three men in each of them. And a little fish also was on its way up into the Sky World
when the people pushed. So all of them have had to stay there ever since. The hunters and the little dog, the elk, the little fish, and the men in the two
canoes are stars, even though they once lived on earth.

We still shout "Ya-hoh!" when doing hard work or lifting something heavy like a canoe. When we say "Hoh! " all of us use all the strength we have.
Our voices have a higher pitch on that part of the word, and we make the 'o' very long -- "Ya-hooooh!"

"Mis palabras están unidas
a las grandes montañas,
a las grandes rocas,
a los grandes árboles,
unidas a mi cuerpo
y a mi corazón.
¡Todos me ayudáis
con fuerza sobrenatural,
y tú, día,
y tú, noche!
¡Todos me veis

unido a este mundo!"

Corn Mother - A Penobscot Legend

When Kloskurbeh, the All Maker lived on earth, there were no people yet. But one day when the sun was high, a youth appeared and called him,
"Uncle, brother of my mother."

This young man was born from the foam of the waves, foam quickened by the wind and warmed by the sun. It was the motion of the wind, the
moistness of the water, and the sun's warmth which gave him life -- warmth above all, because warmth is life.

The young man lived with Kloskurbeh and became his chief helper.

Now, after these two powerful beings had created all manner of things, there came to them, as the sun was shining at high noon, a beautiful girl. She
was born of the wonderful earth plant, and of the dew, and of warmth. Because a drop of dew fell on a leaf and was warmed by the sun, and the
warming sun is life, this girl came into being -- from the green living plant, from moisture, and from warmth.

"I am love," said the maiden. "I am a strength giver, I am the nourisher, I am the provider of men and animals. They all love me."

Then Kloskurbeh thanked the Great Mystery Above for having sent them the maiden.

The youth, the Great Nephew, married her, and the girl conceived and thus became the first mother. And Kloskurbeh, the Great Uncle, who teaches
humans all they need to know, taught their children how to live.

Then he went away to dwell in the north, from which he will return sometime when he is needed.

Now the people increased and became numerous. They lived by hunting, and the more people there were, the less game they found. They were
hunting it out, and as the animals decreased, starvation came upon the people.

First Mother pitied them.

The little children came to First Mother and said, "We are hungry. Feed us."

But she had nothing to give them, and she wept. She told them: "Be patient. I will make some food. Then your little bellies will be full." But she kept
weeping.

Her husband asked: "How can I make you smile? How can I make you happy?"

"There is only one thing that can stop my tears."

"What is it?" asked her husband.

"It is this: you must kill me," she said.

"I could never do that," he said.

She said, "You must, or I will go on weeping and grieving forever."

Then the husband traveled far, to the end of the earth, to the north he went, to ask the Great Instructor, his uncle Kloskurbeh, what he should do.

"You must do what she wants. You must kill her," said Kloskurbeh.

Then the young man went back to his home, and it was his turn to weep.

But First Mother said: "Tomorrow at high noon you must do it. After you have killed me, let two of our sons take hold of my hair and drag my body
over that empty patch of earth. Let them drag me back and forth, back and forth, over every part of the patch, until all my flesh has been torn from
my body.

"Afterwards, take my bones, gather them up, and bury them in the middle of this clearing. Then leave that place." She smiled and said, "Wait seven
moons and then come back, and you will find my flesh there, flesh given out of love, and it will nourish and strengthen you forever and ever."

So it was done. The husband slew his wife and her sons, praying, dragged her body to and fro as she had commanded, until her flesh covered all the
earth. Then they took up her bones and buried them in the middle of it. Weeping loudly, they went away.

When the husband and his children and his children's children came back to that place after seven moons had passed, they found the earth covered
with tall, green, tasseled plants. The plants' fruit, corn, was First Mother's flesh, given so that the people might live and flourish.

And they partook of First Mother's flesh and found it sweet beyond words. Following her instructions, they did not eat all, but put many kernels back
into the earth. In this way, her flesh and spirit renewed themselves every seven months, generation after generation.

And at the spot where they buried First Mother's bones, there grew another plant, broad leafed and fragrant. It was First Mother's breath, and they
heard her spirit talking: "Burn this up and smoke it. It is sacred. It will clear your minds, help your prayers, and gladden your hearts."

And First Mother's husband called the first plant Skarmunal, corn, and the second plant utarmur-wayeh, tobacco.

"Remember," he told the people, "and take care of First Mother's flesh, because it is her goodness become substance. Take good care of her breath,
because it is her breath turned into smoke. Remember her and think of her whenever you eat, whenever you smoke this sacred plant, because she has
given her life so that you might live. Yet she is not dead, she lives in undying love she renews herself again and again."

Of the girl who married Mount Katahdin and How all the Indians brought about their own rain - A Penobscot Legend

Of the old time. There was once an Indian girl gathering blueberries on Mount Katahdin. And, being lonely, she said, "I would that I has a husband!" 
And seeing the great mountain in all its glory rising on high, with the red sunlight on the top, she added, "I wish Katahdin were a man, and would
marry me!"

All this she was heard to say ere she went onward and up the mountain, but for three years she was never seen again. Then she reappeared, bearing a
babe, a beautiful child, but his little eyebrows were of stone. For the Spirit of the Mountain had taken her to himself, and when she greatly desired to
return to her own people, he told her to go in peace, but forbade her to tell any man who had married her.

Now the boy had strange gifts, and the wise men said that he was born to become a mighty magician. For when he did but point his finger at a
moose, or anything which ran, it would drop dead; and when in a canoe, if he pointed at the flocks of wild ducks or swans, then the water was at once
covered with the floating game, and they gathered them in as they listed, and through that boy his mother and every one had food and to spare.

Now this was the truth, and it was a great wonder, that Katahdin had wedded this girl, thinking with himself and his wife to bring up a child who
should build up his nation, make of the Wabanaki a mighty race. And he said, "Declare unto these people that they are not to inquire of thee who is the
father of thy child; truly they will all know it by seeing him, for they shall not grieve thee with impertinence." Now the woman had made it known
that she would not be questioned, and she gave them all what they needed; yet, for all this, they could not refrain nor restrain themselves from talking
to her on what they well knew she would fain be silent. And one day when they had angered her, she thought, "Truly Katahdin was right; these people
are in nowise worthy of my son, neither shall he serve them; he shall not lead them to victory; they are not of those who make a great nation." And
being still further teased and tormented, she spoke and said, "Ye fools, who by your own folly will kill yourselves; ye mud-wasps, who sting the
fingers which would pick ye out of the water, why will ye ever trouble me to tell you what you well know? Can you not see who was the father of my
boy? Behold his eyebrows; do ye not know Katahdin by them? But it shall be to your exceeding great sorrow that ever ye inquired. From this day ye
may feed yourselves and find your own venison, for this child shall do no more for you."

And she arose and went her way into the woods and up the mountain, and was seen on earth no more. And since that day the Indians, who should
have been great, have become a little people. Truly it would have been wise and well for those of early times if they could have held their tongues.

This remarkable legend was related to me by Mrs. Marie Sakis, a Penobscot, a very clever story-teller. It gives the Fall of Man from a purely Indian
standpoint. Nothing is so contemptible in Indian eyes as a want of dignity and idle, loquacious teasing; therefore it is made in the myth the sin which
destroyed their race. The tendency of the lower class of Americans, especially in New England, to raise and emphasize the voice, to speak continually
in italics and small and large capitals, with a wide display, and the constant disposition to chaff and tease, have contributed more than any other
cause to destroy confidence and respect for them among the Indians.

Since writing the foregoing paragraph, I have read The Abnakis, by Rev. Eugene Vetromile. In his chapter on the Religion and Superstition of these
Indians he gives this story, but, as I think, in a corrupted form. Firstly, he states that Pamola (that is, Bumole), who is the evil spirit of the night air,
was the Spirit of Mount Katahdin. Now these are certainly at present two very distinct beings, which are described as being personally quite unlike.
Secondly, in Vetromile's story the mother and child disappear in consequence of the child having inadvertently killed an Indian by pointing at him. It
will be seen that this feeble, impotent conclusion utterly spoils the manifest meaning of the whole legend.

Of this story Vetromile remarks that "it is, of course, a superstitious tale, made up by the prolific imagination of some Indians, yet we can perceive in it
some vestiges of the fall of the first man in having transgressed the command of God, and how it could be repaired only by God. We can also trace
some ideas of the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mixed with fables, superstitions, and pagan
errors. The appearance of God to Moses in the Burning Bush may be glimpsed in Pamole appearing to the Indian on Mount Katahdin, and so forth."

The pilgrims in Rabelais did not point out scriptural coincidences with greater ingenuity than this. It is deeply to be regretted that the reverend
father's entire knowledge of the mythology of the Abenakis was limited to this single story. (Vide Bumole, in chapter on Supernatural Beings.) It may
be, however, observed, that if the name Bumole or Pamola really means "he curses on the mountain," or curse on mountain, it was natural that the
evil spirit should be supposed to be on the mountain. Pamola was perhaps at an early period the spirit of lightning, and thus be very easily confused
with Katahdin.

Blue Jays Skinny Legs- Flathead Legend

It happened a long time ago, before the arrival of the White brothers/sisters. There was a chief who had a very beautiful daughter. He wanted to
make sure that she married a strong and healthy man. As the young men began to come around to flirt with his daughter, he became worried. He
decided to reduce the odds by having a race. He informed all the young men that the one with the strongest legs could marry his daughter.

Coyote was crafty and a good runner with a lot of power, so he came first. He showed how long his legs were and how fast he could run. Then deer
came, a very handsome and strong buck. He showed how powerful his legs were at jumping, although they were somewhat knotted up. Then Grizzly
Bear came along. Bear stood up and growled so everyone could see that he had very powerful and strong legs. So he claimed the girl.

But blue Jay hollered that it was not fair, that others should still be considered. While the others were showing their legs, he hid behind an old log,
where he had gathered a lot of tree moss and used clay to pack it around his legs. they looked larger and stronger than anyone's, even bigger than
Grizzly Bears. But to sweeten the pot, Blue Jay also offered all kinds of beautiful feathers he had obtained from all of his different bird relations.

The old chief was fooled by this and let his daughter go with him. Blue Jay had to carry his new wife across the stream in order to reach his tepee on
the other side. As he began the hard journey, the water softened the moss and clay, so they fell from his legs.

When he climbed up on the other side of the stream bank, everyone began to laugh. Grizzly Bear came down and claimed his prize, and with his
strong legs carried his new wife up the side of the mountain. Anytime he tries to come back and visit, the Blue Jay will start sqyawking all over the
forest, and he makes a terrible noise. He does this because he is jealous and doesn't like to be laughed at.

Here is the same story, told slightly differently.

The chief had a daughter who was old enough to marry. He informed the young men that the one with the strongest legs could have her. Coyote
showed how long and fast he could run and claimed the girl. Bear flexed his leg muscles to show how big and strong they were, and he claimed the
girl. Jay sneaked off into the woods where he gathered some black moss that hangs from trees. He wrapped the moss around his legs to make them
look large. The chief was fooled by his trick and proclaimed him the winner. Jay had to carry his new wife across a stream in order to reach his
tepee, and the water softened the moss so it fell off his legs. When he climbed the bank on the opposite side of the stream, everyone saw his little
skinny legs and they all laughed.

Artwork By Charles Frizzell

Elder’s Meditation of the Day August 17

“If a child hasn’t been given spiritual values within the family setting, they have no familiarity with the values that are necessary for the just and peaceful functioning in society.” –Eunice Baumann-Nelson, Ph.D, PENOBSCOT

When we are born, we start with a beautiful empty mind ready to be given our beliefs, attitudes, habits and expectations. Most of our true learning comes from watching the actions of others. As we watch our family or relatives, whatever their actions and values are, so will be the children’s values and acts. If we see our families living a just and peaceful way of life, so then will the children. If we see our family shouting, arguing, and hateful, so will it be for the children. The cycle of life – baby, youth, adult and Elder is all connected. If the older ones have good values, it will be connected to the children.

Oh my Creator, if there are values I have missed, it is not too late. I can get them from You. Teach me today Your spiritual values. Respect, trust, giving, honesty, wisdom – teach me these.

By: Don Coyhis

If you have been handed a difficult situa-
tion, stand firm. Change can shake you, but it can't
tear you down. Common sense will come in to cre-
ate a safety zone--a haven for a time to adjust.
This is decision time. Speak gently to
yourself and never say you should have known.
Don't lie down and quit and don't go to pieces. You
have spiritual strength whether you know it or
not--rely on it.
This is a time to declare your strength to
use your head, your heart, and your spirit. It is your
right and privilege--so let no one talk you out of it.

The great sea has sent me adrift, it moves me as the
weed in a great river.
UVAVNUK
ESKIMO

The Big White Dog and The Sacred Pole - A Chickasaw Legend

In a time long since past, there lived somewhere in the West a tribe of Indians constantly warred upon by a powerful enemy. Because of the never
ending attacks, the people of this tribe enjoyed little of the peace and comfort for which they so deeply yearned.

In time, the families who lived nearest the enemy and who, over the years, had borne the brunt of enemy assaults, became so wear and heavy-hearted
that they appealed to their wise prophets to find a solution to the problem.

The men of wisdom held a special consultation. They sat around the council fire and deliberated for many hours, and most important, they sought
guidance from Ubabeneli, The Creator of all things, who sat above the clouds and directed the destiny of all.

At last, the prophets concluded their deliberations. They summoned their fellow tribesmen and told them of the decision they had reached.

The people, said the wise men, would seek a new home where they could find peace and happiness. Their guide to the new land would be a kohta
falaya (long pole). This kohta falaya, though was no ordinary pole. It was something extra special, for it had been made sacred by Ubabeneli.

At the end of each day's journey, the prophets explained, the sacred pole would be stuck into the ground so that it stood perfectly straight. Each
morning the pole would be carefully examined, and in whatever direction it was leaning, that would be the direction of travel.

That procedure was to be repeated until the kohta falaya leaned no more. And when that happened, the people would know it was a divine sign from
Ubabeneli that their journey was over, and their new home had been reached.

Then the prophets told them the people would be split into two groups to make traveling safer and easier and that the brave young chief called
Chickasaw would lead one party and his equally brave brother Choctaw, also a chief, would lead the other.

The people listened intently. They like what they heard. The words of optimism which fell from the tongues of the wise men lifted their spirits
immeasurably; and when the talks ended, the elated people started dancing and singing, and they continued to rejoice until the early hours of
morning.

During the next few days, the families busied themselves packing their meager belongings and making other necessary preparations for the journey.
At last, the eve of departure arrived.

That evening the prophets stuck the kohta falaya into the ground and then retired for the night; the next morning, at the break of day, the long pole
was closely inspected and found to be leaning toward the east.

So with Chief Chickasaw at the head of one of the parties and Chief Choctaw heading the other, the two-headed colony bade farewell to the remainder
of the tribe and set out in the direction of the rising sun.

It was a sight to behold, this great Indian caravan: Old men and old women, boys and girls, young braves and young maidens, husbands and their
wives -- some with newborn babies, others with babies yet unborn -- all moving along on foot with their few worldly possessions and each knowing
with certainty that somewhere a new homeland awaited them, and by-and-by the sacred long pole would lead them to it.

Far in front of this procession of red people ranged a large white dog. He darted to the right, then to the left; he was everywhere, always on the alert.
The people loved the big creature very dearly. He was their faithful guard and scout, and it was his duty to sound the alarm should enemies be
encountered.

Travel was slow and laborious. Every evening found the migrating Indians only a short distance from where they had commenced that day's
journey. Even so, each day's walk took the people farther and farther from their old homeland, until in time they found themselves passing through
the homelands of other red people -- red people who eyed them with suspicion and considered them intruders.

Sometimes the weary travelers were allowed to pass unmolested through these foreign domains, but more ofter than not they were set upon by the
jealous guardians of their ancestral lands and forced to fight their way through.

Sickness was a constant companion of marchers, and the tribal doctors stayed busy digging into their medicine bags. But when sinti, the snake,
struck any one of them, the big white dog was quickly summoned and had only to lick the wound to make the victim well again.

Yet, even with the extraordinary healing powers of the medicine men and the beloved white dog, the ugly hand of death reached down into the
double-headed colony of red people and took away loved ones at will.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and months into years. And then one day, just as the sun was sitting, the two parties of Indians came
upon a scene beyond their imagination. It was a great river, the likes of which they had never seen before, and the unexpected sight overwhelmed
them.

For a long time the astonished people stood on the riverbank and stared in awe at the mighty watercourse. They called the giant river misha sipokoni
(beyond all age); today, that great river is known far and wide as the Mississippi.

That night the families sat around their campfires and talked joyfully to one another. Many of the people believed the promised land had been reached
and felt certain the sacred long pole would confirm their belief at daybreak.

But at sun up the next day, the homeless people saw that the kohta falaya still leaned toward the east, and they knew that "home" was somewhere on
the other side of the wide, wide river before them.

The tribesmen hurriedly set about constructing rafts, and soon the crossing was underway. Almost immediately a serious mishap occurred which left
the Indians very sad. The raft carrying their beloved white dog came to pieces in the middle of the river, and though all the people were quickly
rescued, the big dog, which managed to climb onto a piece of broken timber, could not be reached. The people could only watch helplessly as he was
swept downstream and out of sight. That was the last the Indians ever saw of their faithful guard and scout.

Many days were required to ferry all the people and their belongings to the opposite side, but, in time, the difficult crossing was completed.

The families rested by the river several days, then packed up and continued their eastward march. Some weeks later they camped at a certain place,
which later became known as Nanih Waya, in what is now Winston County, Mississippi. At daylight the following morning, the people found the
kohta falaya wobbling around crazily, leaning first in one direction and then another.

The migrants became somewhat excited -- and uneasy, too -- for they had never before seen the sacred long pole behave in such a strange manner. At
last the kohta falaya grew very still and stood perfectly straight.

At this point, the two brothers -- Chief Chickasaw and Chief Choctaw -- had their first difference of opinion. Chief Choctaw, as well as some of the
prophets, was quite satisfied that the perfectly erect pole was the divine sign from Ubabeneli that their new home had been reached. Chief Chickasaw
on the other hand, was not at all pleased with the way the sacred pole had wobbled around, and he felt certain the promised land lay farther toward
the rising sun.

Discussions on the matter were held by the two chiefs and the prophets, but at the end of several hours, opinions remained unchanged. Seeing that
talking was getting them no place, Chief Chickasaw pulled the sacred long pole from the ground and commanded all those who believed the promised
land lay farther to the east to pick up their packs and follow him.

That was the beginning of the Chickasaw and Choctaw Indian Nations. From that day on Chief Chickasaw's followers, who were relatively few
compared to the great number who remained in camp, were referred to as Chickasaws, and those who stayed with Chief Choctaw were called
Choctaws.

After leading the Chickasaws farther eastward to various parts of what are now states of Alabama and Georgia, the kohta falaya reversed its
direction and guided the people westward to a place in the vicinity of the present-day towns of Pontotoc and Tupelo, Mississippi; and there, less than
a hundred miles north of where the Choctaws had settled, the sacred long pole stood straight as an arrow. The Chickasaw people then knew with
certainty that at last they had found their new homeland and that their long journey was at an end.

“The best teachers have shown me that things have to be done bit by bit. Nothing that means anything happens quickly – we only think it does.” –Joseph Bruchac, ABENAKI

There are no short cuts. Every tree must grow according to the growth plan of the Creator. Every flower must grow according to the plan of God. The moon must make its trip around the earth according to God’s plan. Every human being must grow according to the plan of the Creator. Sometimes we look at ourselves and we think we are not growing but we are always growing. Because we cannot see it with our mind does not mean it is not happening. We must be patient with ourselves and let the Creator direct our growth.

My Creator, let me be patient. Let me realize that You are in charge of all things. Let me realize that I must grow my roots a little at a time to become strong.

“It’s time Indians tell the world what we know… about nature and about God. So I’m going to tell you what I know and who I am. You guys better listen. You have a lot to learn. –Mathew King, LAKOTA

A long time ago the Creator came to Turtle Island and said to the Red People – “You will be the keepers of the Mother Earth. Among you I will give the wisdom about nature, about the interconnectedness of all things, about balance and about living in harmony. You Red People will see the secrets of nature. You will live in hardship and the blessing of this is you will stay close to the Creator. The day will come when you will need to share the secrets with the other people of the earth because they will stray from their spiritual ways. The time to start sharing is today.”

Oh Great Spirit, today I am ready for You to use me as a channel of Your peace. Let my walk today be visible so the people will say “There goes a Man of God.” I want to know what He knows. If they ask, I will tell them to go out into the wilderness and pray for You to guide them.

By: Don Coyhis

Men Visit the Sky A Seminole Legend

Near the beginning of time, five Seminole Indian men wanted to visit the sky to see the Great Spirit.

They traveled to the East, walking about a month. Finally, they arrived at land's end. They tossed their baggage over the end and they, too,
disappeared beyond Earth's edge.

Down, down, down the Indians dropped for a while before starting upward again toward the sky. For a long time they traveled westward. At last,
they came to a lodge where lived an old, old woman.

"Tell me, for whom are you looking?" she asked feebly.

"We are on our way to see the Great Spirit Above," they replied.

"It is not possible to see him now," she said. "You must stay here for a while first."

That night the five Seminole Indian men strolled a little distance from the old woman's lodge, where they encountered a group of angels robed in
white and wearing wings. They were playing a ball game the men recognized as one played by the Seminoles.

Two of the men decided they would like to remain and become angels. The other three preferred to return to Earth. Then to their surprise, the Great
Spirit appeared and said, "So be it!"

A large cooking pot was placed on the fire. When the water was boiling, the two Seminoles who wished to stay were cooked! When only their bones
were left, the Great Spirit removed them from the pot, and put their bones back together again.

He then draped them with a white cloth and touched them with his magic wand. The Great Spirit brought the two Seminole men back to life! They
wore beautiful white wings and were called men-angels.

"What do you three men wish to do?" asked the Great Spirit.

"If we may, we prefer to return to our Seminole camp on Earth," replied the three Seminoles. "Gather your baggage together and go to sleep at once,"
directed the Great Spirit.

Later, when the three Seminole men opened their eyes, they found themselves safe at home again in their own Indian camp.

"We are happy to return and stay Earthbound. We hope never to venture skyward again in search of other mysteries." they reported to the Chief of
the Seminoles.