Névé'novôhe'étanóme mâsęhánééstóva, onésetó'ha'éeta netáhoestovevoo'o, onésęhestóxévétáno mâsęhánééstóva!
Don't race in craziness, try to stop your mounts, try to come in last in terms of craziness!
From Cheyenne historian, John Stands In Timber -- Its essential meaning is "Don't live a hurried life!"
I. Treat the Earth and all that dwell thereon with respect. A. To Take Care of Mother Earth and the other 3 colors of Man. B. To Respect this Mother Earth and Creation. C. To Honour All life, and to support that Honour. D. To be Grate-ful from the heart for All life. It is through life that there is Survival. Thank the Creator at All times for All life. E. To Love and express that love. F. To be Humble: Humility is the gift of wisdom and understanding. G. Kindness: To be Kind with one-self and with others. H. Sharing: The Sharing of feelings and personal concerns and commitments. I. Honesty: To be Honest with one-self and with others.
In the first days a powerful being named Humpback owned all the buffalo. He kept them in a corral in the mountains north of San Juan, where he lived with his young son. Not one buffalo would
Humpback release for the people on earth, nor would he share any meat with those who lived near him. Coyote decided that something should be done to release the buffalo from Humpback's corral. There was an old lady, from the "Cree" tribe, named "Eyes of Fire", who prophesied that one day, because of the white mans' or Yo-ne-gis' greed, there would come a time, when the fish would die in the streams, the birds would fall from the air, the waters would be blackened, and the trees would no longer be, mankind as we would know it would all but cease to exist. The tasks of these "Warriors of the Rainbow" are many and great. There will be terrifying mountains of ignorance to conquer and they shall find prejudice and hatred. They must be dedicated, unwavering in their strength, and strong of heart. There was a ghost who was immensely tall, with arms and legs of colossal length. He had two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward, and for this reason he was called the Double-faced Ghost. He was not too bad-for a gh ost, that is. He was so big that be could step over the widest rivers, and over hills too. He was also a mighty hunter, since he could catch any game that came in sight with his wonderfully long arms. But in spite of his talents, Double-Face was not happy because be could not find himself a suitable wife. What could the three people do? Though very much afraid, they sat down. The ghost towered over them. Naturally the father was not willing to give her to the ghost, and the daughter would not have gone even if her father had asked it. After all, what girl wants a husband ten times taller than she, with one face looking forward and one backward? On the other hand, the father did not want to make this giant angry.
II. Remain close to the Great Spirit, in all that you do.
III. Show great respect for your fellow beings.
(Especially Respect yourself)
IV. Work together for the benefit of all Mankind.
V. Give assistance and kindness wherever needed.
VI. Do what you know to be right.
(But be careful not to fall into self-righteousness)
VII. Look after the well being of mind and body.
VIII. Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good.
IX. Be truthful and honest at all times.
(Especially be truthful and honest with your self.)
X. Take full responsibility for your actions
The Sacred Instructions given by the Creator to Native people at the time of Creation were as follows:
To be Responsible for those Sacred Instructions and to administrate those Instructions to other Nations.
How the Buffalo Were Released on Earth
He called the people to a council. "Humpback will not give us any buffalo," Coyote said. "Let us all go over to his corral and make a plan to release them."
They camped in the mountains near Humpback's place, and after dark they made a careful inspection of his buffalo enclosure. The stone walls were too high to climb, and the only entrance was through the back door of Humpback's house. After four days Coyote summoned the people to another council, and asked them to offer suggestions for releasing the buffalo. "There is no way," said one man. "To release the buffalo we must go into Humpback's house, and he is too powerful a being for us to do that." "I have a plan," Coyote said. "For four days we have secretly watched Humpback and his young son go about their daily activities. Have you not observed that the boy does not own a pet of any kind?"
The people did not understand what this had to do with releasing the buffalo, but they knew that Coyote was a great schemer and they waited for him to explain. "I shall change myself into a
killdeer," Coyote said. "In the morning when Humpback's son goes down to the spring to get water, he will find a killdeer with a broken wing. He will want this bird for a pet and will take it
back into the house. Once I am in the house I can fly into the corral, and the cries of a killdeer will frighten the buffalo into a stampede. They will come charging out through Humpback's
house and be released upon the earth."
The people thought this was a good plan, and the next Morning when Humpback's son came down the path to the spring he found a killdeer with a crippled wing. As Coyote had foreseen, the boy
picked up the bird and carried it into the house. "Look here," the boy cried. "This is a very good bird!" "It is good for nothing!" Humpback shouted. "All the birds and animals and people are rascals and schemers." Above his fierce nose Humpback wore a blue mask, and through its slits his eyes glittered. His basket headdress was shaped like a cloud and was painted black with a zig-zag streak of yellow to represent lightning. Buffalo horns protruded from the sides.
"It is a very good bird," the boy repeated. "Take it back where you found it!" roared Humpback, and his frightened son did as he was told. As soon as the killdeer was released it returned to
where the people were camped and changed back to Coyote. "I have failed," he said, "but that makes no difference. I will try again in the morning. Perhaps a small animal will be better than
a bird."
The next morning when Humpback's son went to the spring, he found a small dog there, lapping at the water. The boy picked up the dog at once and hurried back into the house. "Look here!" he
cried. "What a nice pet I have." "How foolish you are, boy!" Humpback growled. "A dog is good for nothing. I'll kill it with my club." The boy held tight to the dog, and started to run away
crying. "Oh, very well," Humpback said. "But first let me test that animal to make certain it is a dog. All animals in the world are schemers." He took a coal of fire from the hearth and brought it closer and closer to the dog's eyes until it gave three rapid barks. "It is a real dog," Humpback declared. "You may keep it in the buffalo corral, but not in the house."
This of course was exactly what Coyote wanted. As soon as darkness fell and Humpback and his son went to sleep, Coyote opened the back door of the house. Then he ran among the buffalo, barking as loud as he could. The buffalo were badly frightened because they had never before heard a dog bark. When Coyote ran nipping at their heels, they stampeded toward Humpback's house and entered the rear door. The pounding of their hooves awakened Humpback, and although he jumped out of bed and tried to stop them, the buffalo smashed down his front door and escaped.
After the last of the shaggy animals had galloped away, Humpback's son could not find his small dog. "Where is my pet?" he cried. "Where is my little dog?" "That was no dog," Humpback said sadly. "That was Coyote the Trickster. He has turned loose all our buffalo." Thus it was that the buffalo were released to scatter over all the earth.
Prophecy
There would come a time when the "keepers of the legend, stories, culture rituals, and myths, and all the Ancient Tribal Customs" would be needed to restore us to health.
They would be mankinds’ key to survival,they were the "Warriors of the Rainbow". There would come a day of awakening when all the peoples of all the tribes would form a New World of Justice, Peace, Freedom and recognition of the Great Spirit.
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would spread these messages and teach all peoples of the Earth or "Elohi". They would teach them how to live the "Way of the Great Spirit".
They would tell them of how the world today has turned away from the Great Spirit and that is why our Earth is "Sick".
The "Warriors of the Rainbow" would show the peoples that this "Ancient Being" (the Great Spirit)is full of love and understanding, and teach them how to make the "Earth or Elohi" beautiful again.
These Warriors would give the people principles or rules to follow to make their path right with the world. These principles would be those of the Ancient Tribes. The "Warriors of the
Rainbow" would teach the people of the ancient practices of Unity, Love and Understanding. They would teach of Harmony among people in all four comers of the Earth.
Like the Ancient Tribes, they would teach the peoples how to pray to the Great Spirit with love that flows like the beautiful mountain stream, and flows along the path to the ocean of life.
Once again, they would be able to feel joy in solitude and in councils. They would be free of petty jealousies and love all mankind as their brothers, regardless of color, race or religion.
They would feel happiness enter their hearts, and become as one with the entire human race. Their hearts would be pure and radiate warmth, understanding and respect for all mankind, Nature, and the Great Spirit.
They would once again fill their minds, hearts, souls, and deeds with the purest of thoughts. They would seek the beauty of the Master of Life - the Great Spirit! They would find strength and beauty in prayer and the solitudes of life.
Their children would once again be able to run free and enjoy the treasures of Nature and Mother Earth. Free from the fears of toxins and destruction, wrought by the Yo-ne-gi and his practices of greed. The rivers would again run clear, the forests be abundant and beautiful, the animals and birds would be replenished. The powers of the plants and animals would again be respected and conservation of all that is beautiful would become a way of life.
The poor, sick and needy would be cared for by their brothers and sisters of the Earth. These practices would again become a part of their daily lives. The leaders of the people would be chosen in the old way - not by their political party, or who could speak the loudest, boast the most, or by name calling or mud slinging, but by those whose actions spoke the loudest.
Those who demonstrated their love, wisdom, and courage and those who showed that they could and did work for the good of all, would be chosen as the leaders or Chiefs. They would be chosen by their "quality" and not the amount of money they had obtained.
Like the thoughtful and devoted "Ancient Chiefs", they would understand the people with love, and see that their young were educated with the love and wisdom of their surroundings. They would show them that miracles can be accomplished to heal this world of its ills, and restore it to health and beauty.
They will find willing hearts and minds that will follow them on this road of returning "Mother Earth" to beauty and plenty - once more. The day will come; it is not far away. The day that we shall see how we owe our very existence to the people of all tribes that have maintained their culture and heritage.
Those that have kept the rituals, stories, legends, and myths alive. It will be with this knowledge, the knowledge that they have preserved, that we shall once again return to "harmony" with Nature, Mother Earth, and mankind. It will be with this knowledge that we shall find the.....
Warrior Nation Trilogy
(Cheyenne)
1
from the mountains we come
lifting our voices for the beautiful
road you have given
we are the buffalo people
we dwell in the light of our father son
in the shadow of our mother earth
we are the beautiful people
we roam the great plains without fear
in our days the land has taught us oneness
we alone breathe with the rivers
we alone hear the song of the stones
2
oh ghost that follows me
find in me strength to know the wisdom
of this life
take me to the mountain of my grandfather
i have heard him all night
singing among the summer leaves
3
great spirit
make me whole
i have come this day with my spirit
i am not afraid
for i have seen in vision
the white buffalo
grazing the frozen field
which grows near the full circle
of this
world
Lance Henson
One day he came upon a tent standing all by itself in the middle of the prairie. In it lived a man, his wife, and their daughter, who was young and beautiful. Hiding behind a hill, the Double-faced Ghost saw the girl from afar and immediately fell in love with her. He said to himself: "I must have her for my wife!
Of course, she might not want me, and her father too might think that she and I are ill-matched. So I'll start by supplying this family with so much good, fat meat that they'll see what a fine husband I'd make."
The ghost went hunting and caught a lot of game with his long arms. Every morning in the darkness before dawn, he brought a great load of meat and left it in front of the tipi. The parents and the girl were delighted and wondered what hunter was giving them all this fine red meat. The father said: "I must find out who is doing us this kindness," but he never caught a glimpse of the Double-faced Ghost.
Yet morning after morning there was a new load of meat stacked up before the tipi - more than the three people could eat, even if the dogs also had their fill.
At last the father dug himself a hole behind a clump of bushes, crept into it on a moonlit night, and stayed awake to watch. Before dawn he saw the Double-faced Ghost come, leave his load of meat, and go away. The man went back to his family trembling with fear. He told his wife and daughter to strike the tent and pack up, because it was a terrible monster who had been bringing the meat.
The three got away as fast as they could, and the next morning Double-Face found the tent gone. He waited until it was light and then followed their tracks. With his long legs he soon overtook them.
"Wait wait, good people," Double-Face shouted. "I mean you no barm. I have only kind feelings toward you." In a few more strides be came level with the fleeing family. "Stop! stop!" he cried. "Let's sit down and talk!"
"You were kind to leave all that meat," the man said. "But what do you want from us?"
"I am in love with your daughter," said the Double-Faced One. "I want her for a wife."
So he said: "You are indeed kind and handsome, and a mighty hunter too. Who wouldn't want a man like you for his daugbter's husband? What daughter wouldn't be happy to have you? Now, I'm sure you know the custom of my people in such matters." "What custom?" asked the Double-Faced Ghost.
"Well, we always play hide-the-plumpit. If the suitor wins, he gets the girl. If he doesn't, he gives something of value." "Really?" said the ghost. "I never heard of this custom. It sounds unusual." "Not at all," said the father. "We've had it since the world began, and we must stick to it or suffer great misfortunes." "Well, in that case let's play." "You are a wise and accommodating man," said the father.
"As I said, if you win I will give you my daughter, but if you lose you will go on leaving a pile of meat for us in the morning - tbough maybe only every other day." What the Double-faced Ghost didn't know was that the father was the best hidden-plumpit player in the world.
They played, The father's hands were so quick that the ghost could not follow them and locate the pit. On top of that, the girl and her mother drummed and sang funny songs, which distracted him. So the father won easily. Double-Faced Ghost accepted his loss and went on bringing meat as long as the people lived, even after the daughter married. As I said, he wasn't bad-for a ghost.
-From a tale reported by Alfred L. Kroeber in 1900.
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