How the Great Spirit Created All Things; the Story as Revealed in Traditions of the Redman - Part 2

(Cont. from last week)
(Originally published Jan. 28, 1926 & then again in the Nov. 1, 2013 issue of the Hysham Echo)

The Creation of Man
“After all of this had been done, these two spirit took off the dust of the earth, rolled it in their fingers and cast it upon the ground. Lo, it became a man who ran a few steps and groped blindly for he could not see. He had eyes but he could not open them. Then the spirits took some more dust and likewise formed a woman. In the same manner they made animals and all the other creatures that live upon the earth, male and female, but all with their eyes closed so that they were unable to see. They then opened the eyes of the man with their fingers and commanded him to do the same for the woman and all of the animals. Then all the living creatures were made and sent forth with their eyesight, and from this time forth, men and women and all animals of the earth proceeded to multiply in numbers.
“The man and woman began to live together, but as they had no house or lodge, they dwelt in hollow logs and trees. The buffalo made war upon them, beating with their hoofs upon the hollow logs in which they dwelt driving them forth. The bison became very fierce, so much so that the men were unable to withstand them. Finally a man was killed by a buffalo and all of him was devoured excepting one arm.
How the Buffalo Got His Hump
“This displeased the spirits very much and one of them made a bow and another made arrows and gave these to the first man saying: ‘It is not right that the buffalo should kill and eat you, but you should kill and eat the buffalo, for they were given you for food. Take this bow and arrows and slay and eat the flesh.’ The man did as he was commanded. He shot twice and killed two buffaloes. A third shot merely wounded a buffalo, and the herd took flight, the wounded buffalo tossing the arm of the man they had killed and eaten upon his back, and then all ran away. This arm he thus carried away, became a hump. Up to that time the buffalo had no hump upon their back, but since then all buffalo have a hump upon the back.
“After the men and women began to increase in numbers upon the earth, the spirits divided them into bands or tribes. All of the people were then called together and each band was given a different language, in such a manner that none understood the tongue of the others. They were then all directed to go and dwell in stipulated places on the land.
The White People Favored
“Remember, my sons, there were people of all grades and colors there, but it seemed that the white people stood nearest to the spirits, and these spirits said so that all could hear: ‘All people are dear to us, but the white people are dearer than all the rest and we command you to live at peace with the white people.’ Afterward one of the spirits commanded that all the people shake hands and then disperse, and the tribes spread themselves over the land.
The Spirit’s Command
“You, my sons, have all heard of “The Great Spirit that gives us our medicine which guides our fortunes and gives us health and food and shelter. It is well for you to remember that the Great Spirit has commanded that all the people live good lives. It is especially decreed that the people do not steal from members of their own tribe. It is, however, permissible for Crows to steal from tribes with which they are at war. (This concession may account for the thieving record that some of our early-day frontiersmen gave to the Crows.) To those redmen who obey the Great Spirit, long, pleasant lives are promised, and the contrary to those who do ill. Not only did the Great Spirit command this in the beginning, but occasionally he makes visits to the earth urging the people to correct their bad methods. Some of our people see the Great Spirit in dreams while others have heard His voice, although they could not see Him. The Crows, as much as we are loathe to admit it, believe that one reason they have lost many of their numbers in wars, is due to the fact, perhaps, that they have disobeyed the Great Spirit.
“It is a common belief of our people that sometime after the beginning of all things on earth, there was a great flood which destroyed most of the inhabitants of the earth. Our old men have also told us that the Great Spirit informed our fathers he would one day destroy the earth again, but in what way we do not know. This flood was the result of a heavy rain that fell for many days.
The Great Spirit
“Our Great Spirit,” the old chief continued, “is always with us, and is unlimited in his powers. By day He looks down upon us through the sun. By night, we know Him through the moon and the stars. All of nature is part of Him. Our sacrifices are made to the sun an offering to this Great Spirit. That is why, my sons, that once a year, we make our sacrifices. You have seen us place the best of our blankets, a scarlet cloth, or the skin of some animal upon a pole or tree to be left there until the elements destroy them. You know too, of our ceremonies to the sun and our dances. These are a part of our method of worship. You have noticed that when we smoke we look upon that as an act of devotion. Our tobacco is sacred. This is the reason that the planting of the tobacco in the spring is the occasion for one of our most important religious ceremonies. We believe that our good health and our fortune during the year depend upon this ceremony. Now you know why we look to the “Above People” for help in battle, or for protection from all harm.
To the Sand Hills
“Now, my sons, that I have told you of the beginning of all things and explained about the Great Spirit who planned it all, I will repeat a story which all Crows believe to be true - the story of the END of all things - “The Shadow Land.”
“Many, many moons ago, a Crow brave became very sick and died. After his spirit had taken flight from his boyd, he was for a time forgetful of everything. At length he regained his consciousness and discovered that he was traveling toward the south along a well marked and well beaten, pleasant trail, which showed the marks of only human feet. There were cuts and ravines across this trail, which were leaped with ease. Parallel to this there was another similar trail, and the brave found himself in company with a second departed spirit - a stranger to him, but who walked with a limp. They journeyed together, and finally found that the two trails upon which they traveled came together in a pass between the hills. The trail in this pass, they ascended until, going higher and higher, they reached the summit of a mountain range. From here they were able to look down upon a large river flowing peacefully through the most beautiful valley they had ever seen. This valley was clothed with sweet, long grass and shaded with an abundance of luxuriant timber. And, upon both sides of this river, showing between the trees, were to be seen numberless pure white lodges. This was the Spirit-land, and these were the homes of those who had departed. They saw a myriad forms of spirits who had gone before them walking about or reclining beneath the beautiful trees, and the whole atmosphere was pervaded with peace and happiness.
“The warrior gazed upon this scene with delight and, as his wife had precended him to the Spirit-land, he hurried forward anxious to see her once more. As they neared the immense village, a spirit came forth and directed each to the lodge appointed for him. The Crow rushed to the lodge where he was told he would find his wife. Sure enough, she was there. He approached unto her, but was met only by a stern face and this question. “Why do you come here? It is not your time. You are still a young man and our children now are without a protector. Go you back and take care of them, and when they need you no longer and you are grown old, then come to the houses of the spirits.”
He obeyed her command, and as he was slowly retracing his steps he fell into a stupor. Shortly after this he heard the sound of many voices engaged in weeping. Then hands were laid upon him and the bandages that bind the dead were carefully being removed. He found that he had been suspended to a tree in grave clothes after the manner of Crow burial. (The Crows buried their dead by handing them upon the stout limb of a tree. Other tribes used poles and a small suspended platform erected for this purpose, while still others pursued somewhat different but similar customs). He was restored to his friends and relatives an great was their rejoicing as they attentively listened to him while he narrated his experiences in the land of the spirits.
“In later years, I am told, another departed spirit was returned from the “Shadow Land” and this account was confirmed. Thus, my sons, you see, the “heaven” of the Crows, as it is called by the white men, is a place of perfect rest and peace where sorrow, pain and worry are unknown, and where the departed pass their lives in luxurious ease.
“Now, my sons, you know the answer to many things. Go you to your lodges, and again I charge you: Cherish the traditions of your fathers, and always be proud that your are Crows, and that you live in the Crow country. As our old chief, Arapooash has said, ‘The Great Spirit has put the Crow country in exactly the right place. when you are in it, you fare well; whenever you go out of it, whichever way you travel, you fare worse. * * * There is no country like the Crow county.’ Ho!”
The night wears on. These Crow youths in the lodges of their fathers, have a settled down for the night, proud in their possession of a greater knowledge and broader understanding.
The fires have died down and the silence that has settled over this great Crow camp is unmarred except for the occasional stamp of a hoof or the faint bark of a restless dog. The beautiful moon has risen high and the pale silver glow that floods the romantic scene is unbroken save for the slender shadow of lodge and tripod that dot the valley’s surface stretching far down Powder river, until they are lost to view in the vague mist that distance lends to the night picture.
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For the substance of the story of The Creation” and “The Hereafter,” I am indebted to the journal of Lieutenant James H. Bradley, a contribution to the Historical Society of Montana. These legends were told to Lieutenant Bradley by Chief Clear Face of the Crow nation. Print this post