Native American Stories
| How
Squirrel Learned To Glide --a Seneca Nation story--  A very long time ago, Squirrel looked out from his nest and saw Bird fly by. Now Squirrel thought Bird was the most perfect creature ever and said "Bird, "I wish I could fly and sing as you do". "Why thank you", said Bird to this wonderful compliment. So Squirrel tried chirping, but he could not. "It will take much practice" Squirrel said to himself. And then Squirrel tried to glide. Squirrel worked very, very hard trying to glide and sing and then one day Squirrel finally mastered both. And to this very day, flying squirrels can glide and chirp. Squirrel teaches us that if you don't succeed at your task immediately, and you keep trying, you can do just about anything! ===============================
The Animal Ball Game,
or How Bat & Flying Squirrel
Got Their Wings
--a Cherokee Nation legend, version 1-- Long ago, the animals sent a message to the birds. "Let us have a big ball game. We will defeat you in a big ball game." The birds answered, "We will meet you. We will defeat you in a big ball game." So the plans were made. The day was set. At a certain place, all the animals gathered, ready to throw the ball to the birds in the trees. On the side of the animals were the bear, the deer, and the turtle. The bear was heavier than the other animals. He was heavier than all the birds put together. The deer could run faster than the other animals could. The turtle had a very thick shell. So the animals felt sure that they would win the game. The birds, too, felt sure that they would win. On their side were the eagle, the hawk, and the great raven. All three could fly swiftly. All three had far seeing eyes. All three were strong and had sharp beaks that could tear. In the treetops the birds smoothed their feathers. Then they watched every movement of the animals on the ground below them. As they watched, two small creatures climbed up the tree toward the leader of the birds. These two creatures were but a little bigger than mice. "Will you let us join in the game?" they asked the leader of the birds. The leader looked at them for a moment. He saw that they had four feet. "Why don't you join the animals?" he asked them. "Because you have four feet, you really belong on their side." "We asked to play the game on their side," the tiny creatures answered. "But they laughed at us because we are so small. They do not want us." The leader of the birds felt sorry for them. So did the eagle, the hawk, and the other birds. "But how can they join us when they have no wings?" the birds asked each other. "Let us make wings for the little fellows," one of the birds suggested. "We can make wings from the head of the drum," another bird suggested. The drum had been used in the dance the night before. Its head was the skin of a groundhog. The birds cut two pieces of leather from it, shaped them like wings, and fastened them to the legs of one of the little fellows. Thus they made the first bat. The leader gave directions. He said to the bat, "When I toss the ball, you catch it. Don't let it touch the ground." The bat caught it. He dodged and circled. He zigzagged very quickly. He kept the ball always in motion, never letting it touch the ground. The birds were glad they had made wings for him. "What shall we do with the other little fellow?" asked the leader of the birds. "We have used up all our leather in making the wings for the bat." The birds thought and thought. At last one of them had an idea. "Let us make wings for him by stretching his skin," suggested the eagle. So eagle and hawk, two of the biggest birds, seized the little fellow. With their strong bills they tugged and pulled at his fur. In a few minutes they stretched the skin between his front feet and his hind feet. His own fur made wings. Thus they made the first flying squirrel. When the leader tossed the ball, the flying squirrel caught it and carried it to another tree. From there he threw it to the eagle. Eagle caught it and threw it to another bird. The birds kept the ball in the air for some time, but at last they dropped it. Just before it reached the ground, the bat seized it. Dodging and circling and zigzagging, he kept out of the way of the deer and other swift animals. At last, the bat threw the ball at the goal and scored. And so he won the game for the birds! =============================== The Animal Ball Game, or How Bat & Flying Squirrel Got Their Wings --a Cherokee Nation legend, version 2-- The animals once challenged the birds to a great ball play. The wager was accepted, all the details were arranged, and at last the contestants assembled at the appointed spot. The Animals on the ground, while the Birds took position in the tree-tops to await the throwing up of the ball. On the side of the Animals were the Bear, whose ponderous weight bore down all opposition; the Deer, who excelled all others in running; and the Terrapin, who was invulnerable to the stoutest blows. On the side of the Birds were the Eagle, the Hawk and the Great Tlániwă - all noted for their swiftness and power of flight. While the latter were preening their feathers and watching every motion of their adversaries below, they noticed two small creatures, hardly larger than mice, climbing up the tree on which was perched the Leader of the Birds. Finally they reached the top and humbly asked the Captain to be allowed to join in the game. The Captain looked at them a moment, and, seeing that they were four-footed, asked them why they did not go to the Animals where they properly belonged. The little things explained that they had done so, but had been laughed at and rejected on account of their small size. On hearing their story, the Bird Captain was disposed to take pity on them, but there was one serious difficulty in the way - how could they join the Birds when they had no wings? The Eagle, the Hawk and the rest of the Birds now crowded around, and after some discussion it was decided to try and make wings for the little fellows. But how to do it? All at once they thought of the drum which was to be used in the dance. The head was made of groundhog hide, and perhaps a corner could be cut off and be made into wings. No sooner suggested than done! Two pieces of hide taken from the drumhead were cut to shape and attached to the legs of one of the small animals, and thus originated the Bat. The ball was tossed up and Bat was told to catch it. His skill in dodging and circling about, keeping the ball constantly in motion, and never allowing it to fall to the ground soon convinced the Birds that they had gained a most valuable ally. They next turned their attention to the other little creature - a much more difficult task, they thought! All their hide had been used in making wings for Bat, and there was no time to send for more. It was suggested that perhaps wings might be made by stretching out the skin of the tiny animal itself. So two large Birds seized the little animal from opposite sides with their strong bills, and by tugging and pulling at his fur for several minutes, succeeded in stretching the skin between the fore and hind feet until at last it was done - and there was the Flying Squirrel in all his glory. Then the Bird Captain, to see what Flying Squirrel could do, threw up the ball into the air. Flying Squirrel, with a graceful bound, sprang off the limb and, catching the ball in his teeth, carried it effortlessly through the air to a tree-top over a hundred feet away! When all was ready, the game began. At the very beginning, Flying Squirrel caught the ball and carried it up a tree, then threw it to one of the Birds, who passed it to each other and kept it in the air for some time. It eventually was dropped, but just before it reached the ground, Bat seized it. With his dodging and bobbing flight, Bat kept it out of the way of even the swiftest of the Animals, until he finally threw it at the goal, scored, and thus won the game for the Birds. =============================
Why Women Should Eat The Flying Squirrel Without Knowing They Are Eating It --an Ainu (Japanese Aboriginal) story-- The Flying Squirrel was made by God and sent down to this world. The meaning of the name "At Kamui" means Prolific One, and the reason for this name being given it is said to be as follows: This animal is exceedingly prolific, and the young it bears are very numerous indeed. One squirrel has been known sometimes to bear as many as thirty young at once. Therefore it is called "At Kamui", or the Divine Prolific One. When a woman has no children, her husband should go to the mountain and hunt for one of these animals. Should he be successful in killing one, he should carry it home secretly. Upon arrival he should cut the flesh up into small pieces, boil it, and when cooked, carefully place it upon a tray. He should then offer Inao to the head and skin (Inao are ceremonial totems made of whittled willow sticks), and pray thus: "O thou very prolific one, I have sacrificed thee for one reason only, and that is, that I may use thy flesh as a medicine for procuring children. Henceforth please cause my wife to bear me a child." After this prayer has been said, he should take the meat, tell his wife that it is the flesh of some kind of bird (by no means letting her know that it is a flying squirrel), and give it her to eat. If this be properly done, the woman will be certain to bear some very fine children. (editor's note - The Ainu people occupy the Japanese island of Hokkaido, the least-developed of Japan's four main islands. Of mongolian descent, the Ainu received the status of "former aboriginals" during the Meiji Period (1868-1912). |