Magpie's Voice

             And this is what they said;

             The Nations were very busy preparing for Winter.
             Everyone was scurrying around gathering food, building and preparing shelters and keeping the Fire.
             Everyone, except Magpie.
             Now Magpie wanted to be a storyteller.  He wanted to keep History, to enchant children with wonderful stories of bravery and virtue.
             While others worked hard at providing for their families, Magpie stood apart.  Flying to the Old Ones, bringing tobacco, he would say,  "Please Grandfather, tell me how we came to be", or "Please Grandmother, tell me why things are as they are."  And they would tell him what they remembered.
             He traveled to every part of the land gathering stories, and perfecting his craft.  The Elders appreciated his attentiveness and concern for preserving the events of their lives and of those gone before.
             But the younger People resented him, saying, "Magpie never does any work to help support us.  All he wants to do is sit and listen to stories.  We wish we could just sit around doing nothing.  He doesn't do his share of the work."
             Still,  Magpie's orange glowing lodge was a popular place on dark evenings and was usually full of People waiting to be entertained with a story.
             Winter came, and the long snowbound hours brought even more People to his campfire.  Since they knew he had nothing they brought him small gifts of food, kept his firewood stack full, and sewed him warm feathered capes for the coldest nights.
             Yet they grumbled behind his back and gave him little respect in council.
            When spring came, the new shoots pushed their way through the melting snows, and the People spent more time outside hunting, gathering and dancing.  Now Magpie had few visitors. Often he went hungry at night.  Only the Old Ones paid him respect, for he never came to visit without a small gift or a story.
              Many of the younger men chided the Elders, "Why encourage that lazy Magpie?  You were once great hunters and gatherers; true warriors for your People!  Magpie is a tag-a-long.  He should wait to be a storyteller until he is grown old, like yourselves.  Today he should be concerned with supporting himself."
              But the Old Ones made no reply, they just nodded respectfully and went about their business.
              Seasons passed.  One hot summer, a sick wind passed over the land, infecting many Nations.  The Old Ones passed on to the next world quickly and easily, but the young lingered and suffered.  The Peoples were not prepared for this great tragedy.  It was only their deep roots and their relationship with the Earth that helped them keep their balance and survive their grief.  But when the sickness finally ended, all of the Old Ones, the teachers and counselors, were gone.
             Buffalo called a great council, and each Nation told of their loss.  Eagle was asked to go and find someone who would step forward to teach the children their heritage, to give them a past, so they could dream a future.  But no one stepped forward.  Many could remember bits and pieces, but they were unsure of the exact words or their correct order, so they could not be true spokesmen.
              Another council was called, to be held by a great Lake, fed by many rivers and streams, so even Those-Who-Swim could be there.   With Peoples great and small attending, they asked their most widely traveled members if they could take up the responsibilities of the Elders, now passed.  Eagle and Salmon both declined, as did all the other great journeyers, saying that they had not been adequately prepared to remember all they had seen.
             The Peoples felt desperation in their hearts, envisioning the end of their World.  A great cry went up.
            "Who among us will step forward?"
             After a moment, under the light of a full Moon and a black sea of Stars, a small bird stepped into the center of the Circle.  With a bowed head, he spread his wings and danced.  He tossed a few Tobacco leaves in the fire and watched the smoke carry his prayers higher and higher, for he could hear much grumbling among the Peoples.  Words like "lazy" and "lay-about" jabbed his ears. But he lifted his head proudly and spoke in a powerful voice.
              "It is true that my body is small, but my mind is great and my memory even greater.  When I was only a chick, Grandfather gave me a Vision. I have gone hungry and suffered insults to live my Vision.  I disciplined myself to hear all the words correctly and remember.  If I had spent my time working beside you, this would not have been possible.
             From our Old Ones I have gathered the Past, and offer it to you now, the Present.  I am only a small and humble bird-- will you let me carry their Voice?  I can make their mouths speak, even though they have gone to the next world.  Hear me."
            And Magpie began telling the First Stories.  For hours and hours he filled the night with pictures of history and virtue.  The Nations sat entranced by the the power and mastery of his storytelling.  When he finished the First Stories, many People were crying with Pride for his discipline.
            Buffalo was next in the circle.  He gave his Tobacco to the Fire and offered his prayer silently.  Then he spoke with a thundering voice.
            "I have been challenged with the leadership of my People.  Often I have privately admonished my younger Brother for not doing his share to support us.  But now I am ashamed.  This Vision of Magpie's was not a selfish one after all.  He has not used it to increase his wealth or position but has given it freely, accepting without complaint what was given in return.  Let us continue to hear his Voice, and to cherish it, for all time.
            After that the People accepted the ways of those-who-stand-apart, realizing that not everyone has the same qualities, strengths, or Vision.  And they gifted Magpie a much larger lodge, which was always full of guests bringing food and presents.  Magpie gave away most of the gifts, and distributed the extra food to those who needed it.  He also continued to travel, telling stories everywhere to the young and old.  Eventually others came to him to learn the disciplines of memory and words.
             So when you hear Magpie chattering in the trees, be comforted.   He is repeating the words out loud so that he will remember them correctly and not forget-- stories that carry the tradition, power, and heart of the First Peoples.
               May it continue to be so.
 
 

Salmon's Vision
 
 

And this is what they said;

          One season, First-Salmon was returning from the Sea to bring forth her young.  She had climbed up the Rivers relentlessly but was becoming very tired.  Coming to a short falls it was obvious there would be no easy passage.  It would require a great leap for her to continue her Journey.
           She was resting in a shallow eddy, when Bullfrog yelled, "I would not stay there too long.  This is the favorite fishing place of Black Bear, and she will be along any time."
           Sure enough Black Bear ambled out of the woods at that very moment.  Pushing her way through the rushes and tulies to water's edge, she glimpsed Salmon.
          "Oh, you will be a wonderful dinner for my young cubs."  As Bear waded out into the water, Salmon leaped from her pool out toward the center of the rushing rapids.  Again and again she attempted the great falls jump.  Bear sat down on a rock to wait.
           Seeing Bullfrog, she said-  "Salmon is beautiful and brave-- but those falls are too high-- soon she will be too tired to jump-- then my children will eat her and take her strength and beauty for themselves."
           BullFrog said quietly, "Perhaps."
           Pretty soon Black Bear became bored watching Salmon trying over and over to make the improbable leap. She stood and waded out of the water.
           "I'll be back later," she said to Frog.  "Salmon cannot jump forever but I see a patch of berries I want to visit."
            Time passed.  BullFrog could hear Bear thrashing around in the vines, eating her fill of the fat sweet fragrant berries.  Salmon was now resting between jumps.  She was discouraged by her failures and was becoming afraid that her Vision of reaching the headwaters to bring forth pink new swimmers might not come to pass.
             Bear finally ate her fill of fruit and came lumbering back down the bank.
            "Salmon is still trying?  How admirable, yet foolish.  She can see there is no hope, why does she not reconcile herself to fate.  Evening is coming and the shadows have grown long."
             Black Bear splashed around a bit, growling impatiently.  She lifted her muzzle into the breeze, sniffing all the wonderful smells of the river. Suddenly her head jerked as she smelled something she didn't like, something that made her uneasy-- something Human.
             "I have been away from my cubs too long," she snorted to BullFrog, "it is time for them to eat."  She turned and waded forcefully toward the rapids and First-Salmon.
              "Hurry Cousin," shouted BullFrog, "Ask the Grandfathers for help and fulfill your Vision!"
              First-Salmon stilled her body in the water, dreamed of the Creator, chanted to the Four Grandfather Winged Spirits, gathered herself into her Vision and leaped up above the falls, her skin radiant as rainbow in the orange afternoon light.
              Bear stood in wonder as the current washed the hair on her legs.
            "That was indeed, a most inspiring jump," she said. "I was foolish to wait so long-- but that's fishing!"
              She walked from the River, shook herself dry, then ran for the woods chasing her tumbling cubs.
              BullFrog called after her- "There's always plenty of berries...."
               Ever since then, the Salmon have made their journeys, followed their Vision and made those jumps.  Some succeed, some go into the bellies of Bears, but always they try.  It is in their blood.
              If you have a Vision, remember -- be a Salmon.
 
 
 

Speaking For Fire
 
 

And this is what they said;

         The Thunders came over the mountains throwing spears of lightning.  They tried to see who could come closest to a target without actually hitting it.  One bolt got away and struck a dry pine.  Fire was born.  It burned the entire mountain until nothing was left.  The Peoples were very angry and sent the Eagle, Reaches Higher, to speak to the Grandfathers, who sit in the clouds at the Four Directions of the World.
           "Ask them to send Fire away from us", they said.
           Reaches-Higher flew as high as she could, whistling their request in her sharp and piercing voice.
          One Grandfather noticed and spoke to Eagle.
           "Tell those who live on the Earth to come together.  If no one speaks for Fire, Fire will be no more."
           A great Council gathered with all of the Spokesmen offering their opinions.  No one seemed in favor of keeping Fire.
           "He is too dangerous and unpredictable," said some.
           "It does not mater that Fire is beautiful," said others, "he is too destructive."
            The Rock, Old-Hard-One, said nothing.  Neither did Clear-Water, or Fresh-Air, who were cousins to Fire, and would not speak against him.
           Finally it seemed that no one would speak for Fire. Reaches-Higher, her heart burdened with responsibility, decided to fly over the ashen mountain one more time.  She was soaring high above the burnt forest when suddenly she heard a tiny voice calling out from beneath the soft grey ash.  Coming closer she could just make out what the tiny voice was saying.
            "I will," the voice said.
             Eagle perched on a burned tree stump.
            "You will what?", she asked.
            "I will speak for Fire."
             Reaches-Higher glided down to the charred ground,  and began brushing away the ash with her great wings.  Finally she uncovered the mother of the voice.  It was the small blackened PineCone, Hides-Her-Children.
             Reaches-Higher whistled to her relatives.
            "Go tell the Peoples that someone has spoken for Fire."
             Soon a great crowd had gathered on the barren mountain.  They jostled each other disrespectfully, trying to get close enough to see what outrageous relative had spoken for this dangerous newcomer.
             The Grizzly Bear, Hump-On-His-Back, was first to speak.
             "I lost relatives in the blaze.  Who is it that speaks for this monster that eats everything?"
              Hides-Her-Children spoke in a soft voice that grew steadily louder.
             " I have spent many seasons lying where the Earth covers the roots of my mother, seeing the newborn of my Relatives and their newborn after them.  But being hard and closed,  I have been unable to give back new life to the Earth.  I dreamed that it was my fault, and that loneliness was my punishment.  But then Fire washed over me and I was opened.  Life sparked inside my seeds.  Now I share in the circle of life.  Fire is my Husband.  I speak for Him."
           And indeed, everyone could see that the Hides-Her-Children had opened, like the petals of a spring flower, and the new seeds, her children, were falling onto the Earth.  The Owl, Horns-On-His-Head, sang in a loud voice.
            "Hides-Her-Children is no more.  Her new name is Plants-Them-All."
           The Peoples nodded in agreement and went away humbly.  Fire was allowed to remain among us.
           Seasons passed.  The rains fell and new shoots of green grass sprouted from the blackened earth.  Tiny pine trees pushed up too, wiggling their wobbily new trunks in the sunlight.  Wild flowers opened themselves so everyone could enjoy their color and hummingbirds searched for nectar.  Everywhere the land was fruitful.  The earth became richer and more fertile.  Most of the heavy brush had burned away and it was easier for all the Nations to hunt there and find food.  Even the  charred tree stumps became new homes for the Winged Ones and Those That Crawl.  The Magpie, Talks-In-A-Shout, flew toward every direction, spreading the story.
          Human Beings, hearing stories about a piece of Sun upon the Earth, sent a young man to gather some of this "Sun".  He  took with him a hollow bison horn filled with tree moss and while Fire slept, he scooped up some of its coals into the horn and carried them back to his Nation.  There the People began to use Fire to cook their food, warm their lodges and give light to a moonless night.  They even learned to burn the tall-grass prairie so their Grandmother Earth could be renewed.
           So now, when we gather around those welcome flames, which burn at the center of our Nations, we are grateful to the Pine Cone, Plants-Them-All; for it was
she who spoke for Fire.