The Spirit Bride

An Algonquin Legend

There was once a young warrior whose bride died on the eve of their
wedding. Although he had distinguished himself by his bravery and
goodness, the death left the young man inconsolable.
He was unable to eat or sleep. Instead of hunting with the others,
he just spent time at the grave of his bride, staring into the air.
However, one day he happened to overhear some elders speaking about
the path to the spirit world. He listened intently and memorized
the directions to the most minute detail. He had heard that the
spirit world was far to the south. He immediately set out on his
journey. After two weeks, he still saw no change in the landscape
to indicate that the spirit world was near.
Then he emerged from the forest and saw the most beautiful plain
he had ever seen. In the distance was a small hut where an ancient
wise man lived. He asked the wise man for directions.
The old man knew exactly who the warrior was and whom he sought.
He told the lad that the bride had passed by only a day before.
In order to follow her, the warrior would have to leave his body
behind and press on in his spirit. The spirit world itself is an
island in a large lake that can be reached only by canoes waiting
on this shore. However, the old man warned him not to speak to his
bride until they were both safely on the island of the spirits.
Soon the old man recited some magic chants and the warrior felt
his spirit leave his body. Now a spirit, he walked along the shore
and saw a birch bark canoe. Not a stone's throw away was his bride,
entering her own canoe. As he made his way across the water and
looked at her, he saw that she duplicated his every stroke. Why
didn't they travel together? One can only enter the spirit world
alone and be judged only on one's individual merits.
Midway through the journey, a tempest arose. It was more terrible
than any he had ever seen. Some of the spirits in canoes were swept
away by the storm-these were those who had been evil in life. Since
both the warrior and his bride were good, they made it through the
tempest without incident and soon the water was as smooth as glass
beneath a cloudless sky.
The island of the blessed was a beautiful place where it was always
late spring, with blooming flowers and cloudless skies, never too
warm or too cold. He met his bride on the shore and took her hand.
They had not walked ten steps together when a soft sweet voice spoke
to them-it was the Master of Life.
The Master told them that the young warrior must return as he came;
it wasn't his time yet. He was to carefully trace his steps back
to his body, put it on, and return home. He did this and became
a great chief, happy in the assurance that he would see his bride
once again.

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Honeyed words can't sweeten Evil

An Algonquin Legend

Big Blue Heron was standing in the marsh looking at his reflection
in the water. He raised his black-crested head to listen.

Two little White Weasels had come along to the river. They were
mother and son. When they saw Blue Heron, they stopped to look.
'What a beautiful big bird-person!' said the son.
'He is called Blue Heron. He carries his head high!'
'Yes, Mother, he is tall as a tree. Were I so tall, I could carry
you across this swift river.'

Blue Heron was pleased to hear himself so praised. He liked to
hear other say that he was big.
He bent down low and spoke to the two. 'I will help you go across.
Come down to where you see that old tree lying in the stream. I
will lie down in the water at the end and put my bill deep into
the bank on the other side. You two run across the tree. Then use
my body as a bridge and you will get to the other side.'

They all went to the old tree lying in the water. Blue Heron lay
down in the water at the end and stuck his bill deep into the bank
on the other side. Mother and son White Weasel ran lightly and quickly
across the log, over Blue Heron, and were safe and dry on the other
side. They thanked Blue Heron and said they would tell all the persons
in the woods how fine Blue Heron was. Then they went on their way.
Old Wolf had been standing on the riverbank watching how the weasels
had gotten across.
'What a fine way it would be for me to cross the river. I am old
and my bones ache.'

When Blue Heron came back to the marsh, Wolf said to him, 'Now
I know why you Blue Herons are in the marsh - so you can be a bridge
for persons to cross the river. I want to go across, but I am old
and my bones hurt. Lie down in the water for me so I can cross.'

Blue Heron was angry. He didn't like being called a bridge. Old
Wolf saw he had spoken foolish words and decided to use honeyed
words.
'You are big and strong, Blue Heron, and that is why your body is
such a fine bridge. You could carry me across like a feather.'
Blue Heron smiled at Wolf and said, 'Old Wolf, get on my back and
I'll carry you across.
Wolf grinned from ear to ear thinking how easily he had tricked
Blue Heron.
He jumped on the bird's back and Heron went into the rushing river.
When he got to the middle, he stopped.

'Friend Wolf,' said Blue Heron, 'you made a mistake. I am not strong
enough to carry you across. For that you need two herons. I can
carry you only halfway. Now you must get another heron to carry
you the rest of the way.'
He gave his body a strong twist and Wolf fell into the water.

'You wait here, Wolf, for another heron to come and carry you to
the other side.' Then he flew into the marsh.
The water ran swiftly. No heron came, so where did Wolf go ? To
the bottom of the river...
Since that day, no wolf has ever trusted a heron.

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The Story of the Drum

An Abenaki Legend

It is said that when Creator was giving a place for all the spirits

to dwell who would be taking part in the inhabitance of Mother Earth,

there came a sound, a loud BOOM, from off in the distance.

As Creator listened, the sound kept coming closer and closer until

it finally it was right in front of Creator. "Who are you?"

asked Creator. "I am the spirit of the drum" was the reply.

I have come here to ask you to allow me to take part in this wonderful

thing." "How will you take part?" Creator questioned."

I would like to accompany the singing of the people. When they sing

from their hearts, I will to sing as though I was the heartbeat

of Mother Earth. In that way, all creation will sing in harmony.

"Creator granted the request, and from then on, the drum accompanied

the people's voices.

Throughout all of the indigenous peoples of the world, the drum

is the center of all songs. It is the catalyst for the spirit of

the songs to rise up to the Creator so that the prayers in those

songs reach where they were meant to go. At all times, the sound

of the drum brings completeness, awe, excitement, solemnity, strength,

courage, and the fulfillment to the songs. It is Mother's heartbeat

giving her approval to those living upon her. It draws the eagle

to it, who carries the message to Creator.

It changes people's lives!

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Cherokee~ How the Deer got his Horns

How the Deer got his Horns

A Cherokee Legend

In the beginning the Deer had no horns, but his head was smooth

just like a doe's. He was a great runner and the Rabbit was a great

jumper, and the animals were all curious to know which could go

farther in the same time.

They talked about it a good deal, and at last arranged a match

between the two, and made a nice large pair of antlers for a prize

to the winner.

They were to start together from one side of a thicket and go through

it, then turn and come back, and the one who came out first was

to get the horns.

On the day fixed all the animals were there, with the antlers put

down on the ground at the edge of the thicket to mark the starting

point. While everybody was admiring the horns the Rabbit said: "I

don't know this part of the country; I want to take a look through

the bushes where I am to run."

They thought that all right, so the Rabbit went into the thicket,

but he was gone so long that at last the animals suspected he must

be up to one of his tricks. They sent a messenger to look for him,

and away in the middle of the thicket he found the Rabbit gnawing

down the bushes and pulling them away until he had a road cleared

nearly to the other side.

The messenger turned around quietly and came back and told the

other animals. When the Rabbit came out at last they accused him

of cheating, but he denied it until they went into the thicket and

found the cleared road. They agreed that such a trickster had no

right to enter the race at all, so they gave the horns to the Deer,

who was admitted to be the best runner, and he has worn them ever

since.

They told the Rabbit that as he was so fond of cutting down bushes

he might do that for a living hereafter, and so he does to this

day.

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