Buffalo Spirit Articles
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Welcome on our journey
Elder Joe Cardinal
- In his own words
Devalon Small Legs
- cultural advisor
A case made for unusual, thought-provoking
art
Who do you go to for advice?
Oglala Sioux man writes
to set the record straight
Phone: (780) 455-2700Fax
(780) 455-7639
Email: edwind@ammsa.com
Phone: (780) 455-2700
Fax
(780) 455-7639Email: edwind@ammsa.com
The First Horses
By Terry Lusty
As told by Eleanor Brass
The late Eleanor Brass was a Cree, originally from the Peepeekeesis Reserve in Saskatchewan. Although she was best known for her storytelling and writing, she was also a puppeteer. Like many older Indian people, Eleanor was one who shared what she knew of the Cree language, culture and history with Native and non-Native people alike.
One day, a long time ago, there was an Indian chief who had six sons. All these boys, with the exception of one, were strong young men who were known far and wide for their abilities to hunt and scout. However, the youngest in the bunch, Day Dreamer, was tiny and frail, nothing like his hardy brothers.
Day Dreamer liked nothing better than to stay back at the camp whenever the others went hunting. Sometimes, he would go for days - just sitting and dreaming. That is how he came by his name. Why, even his own family would poke fun and tease him.
One day the brothers got together and sent him off to live with his grandmother, not realizing what an impact that would someday have on their entire tribe.
Upon arriving at his grandmother's house, Day Dreamer addressed her; "Nokoom," he said, "my family has sent me to take care of you and to live with you." He told her that his father and brothers constantly teased him and said he was useless because he couldn't and wouldn't do the things they did, and, what's more, he didn't really care to.
"Nosesim (grandchild)," said Nokoom. "I am so happy you have come to live with me. I know the things your family say are not true and that one day soon you will do something really good that will make the people sit up and take notice."
Day Dreamer sat and thought about that. "Nokoom, you know what? I believe there is a special reason why I am not bigger than I am and strong like my brothers. It could be that I was meant to sit and think until I can figure out just how I can help our people to live an easier life. One particular idea that runs through my head is that there are some big animals out there somewhere. Perhaps they could be used for hunting and travel. They are larger than the dogs that we use, that's for sure."
"Good for you Nosesim," said Nokoom. "I have a lot of faith in you and I will do whatever I can to help you. You will need some things as you embark on your journey," she suggested. "So, I shall make you some moccasins and pack you some food. You will probably have to travel a long, long way to find those large animals. And, you will find them. I have every reason to believe that you will locate them. This difficult mission you are about to begin will require a great deal of stamina. Sleep, Nosesim, sleep. You will need your strength when the new light dawns on the horizon."
And so, once he had gone to bed, Nokoom sang and prayed to the Creator asking that he watch over the young man and help guide him. "His heart is pure and he only has the interests of his people in mind," she explained.
When Nosesim arose with the rising of the sun, Nokoom presented him with a beautiful new pair of hand-tanned moccasins. She also gave him food to take, then informed him that, "before the day is over, you will come across a tipi where another grandmother lives. Just like you did here," she said, "you will rest at her camp and she, too, will give you food and moccasins." The next morning Nosesim said farewell to Nokoom and was on his way.
All that day he travelled on and on until the black blanket of darkness descended upon the land. Still, with the bright light of the nearly-full moon, he was able to spot the tipi way off in the distance, at the edge of the forest. By the time he arrived at the tipi, Day Dreamer found himself extremely tired.
"Astum (come) Nosesim," said the new and other grandmother. "Api (sit). You must be tired." Tired? Why sure he was tired. The old lady then offered him some food and drink.
Nosesim was so hungry he just wolfed down everything in no time at all. Then he was content and went to sleep. Once he had, the grandmother sang and prayed to the Creator just like Nokoom had done. And, like Nokoom, she also presented him with new moccasins and food for his travels. But, before he left, she advised him to move along in the same direction that the sun travelled.
This pattern of encountering "other" grandmothers each day for several consecutive days was to become standard. Sure enough, each evening, as his day of travel came to a halt, there'd be a new grandmother, new moccasins and food. As each day passed and as he encountered what was to be the last of the "other" grandmothers, he was informed by her that he was very close to accomplishing the first stage of his mission - finding the tipi by the forest. "Just one more day," she told him.
She then informed him he would also come upon the big animals that night and that he would also encounter a great white-haired chief. She cautioned him to approach the chief with respect and caution because he was known to be quite stern. "As well," she added, "he is the person who can offer the big animals to the Indian people, but only if he judges them to be deserving of such an important gift."
Day Dreamer grew excited. At last, his dream to help his people might come to a conclusion. Still, there was the matter of the great chief. He had some reservations about how the great chief would view and receive him, especially since he was small in stature.
As the evening wore on, he finally spotted the tipi. It had beautiful animal paintings on it and there were fancy, decorated bridles and saddles on racks that ringed the outside perimeter of the huge tipi.
When the great chief tossed back the tipi flap from its doorway and emerged from within, Nosesim could only stand and stare at the stately man with the long, flowing white hair.
"What is it you want," the chief demanded to know.
The young man spoke of his special mission for his people, and the need for the big animals that could be of such great value to his people for hunting and travel.
The chief asked Day Dreamer how he had found out about the big animals. He explained what his grandmother had told him, that he had worn out many pairs of new moccasins, that the grandmothers had sang and prayed for his mission, and that he had travelled a very long way to get there.
After all was said and done, the chief motioned for the young man to follow him to a lake beyond the tipi. When they got there, he pointed to it and said, "Look at the water." Nosesim first saw ripples, then small waves. As he continued to stare, the waves took on the form of horses' heads. Gradually, as they swam closer to shore, he saw their bodies. They were simply magnificent! He could not believe his eyes. And there were all kinds of them - white ones, black ones, bays, buckskins, greys, palominos, pintos, sorrels and roans.
Day Dreamer could not contain himself. What he witnessed was truly exciting and he could not thank the chief enough. Finally, once he had, the chief told him that the horses were a prized gift from the Creator, that they must be treated well and that they were never to be hit on their heads. He was then directed to take the big animals back to his people and repeat to them the words that he had.
And so it was that a happy young man gathered up one of the decorated saddles of which the chief had presented him, saddled up his mount and rode off with the herd of big animals for his people.
His return trip went quickly. In no time at all, it seemed, he was back at his people's camp. As he rode in with the herd of magnificent horses, his people stared in utter amazement and disbelief. There was a huge celebration by the people in camp and Day Dreamer was publicly acknowledged as a great leader.
Through all the excitement, Nokoom had silently stood to the side and watched and listened. Finally, she stepped forward to proudly state that her grandchild, Day Dreamer, may have been seen as a "great dreamer," but his dreams came true and all for the good of his people.
The journey continues in May, 2000