The Number of people who have been warmed by my fire
In the days before horses a poor orphan boy lived among the Blackfoot. Because he was so poor he knew that he could never obtain the things he wanted without the secret power of the gods. One day he left his camp to seek a vision that would tell him what he must do. He slept alone on a high mountain, he prayed near some great rocks, he fasted beside a river, but no vision came to him, no voice spoke to him. He traveled beyond the Sweetgrass Hills to a large lake, and because no sign of any kind had come to him he bowed down and wept.
In that lake lived a powerful Water Spirit, a very old man, and he heard the crying of the poor orphan boy. The Water Spirit sent his young son to find the boy and ask why he was crying. The son went to the weeping boy and told him that his father who lived in the lake wished to see him.
"But how can I go to him if he lives under the lake?" the poor boy asked.
"Hold on to my shoulders and close your eyes," replied the Water Spirit's son. "Don't look until I tell you to do so."
They started into the water. As they moved along, the Water Spirit's son said to the boy: "My father will offer you your choice of the animals in the lake. When he does so, be sure to chose the oldest mallard of the ducks and all its young ones."
As soon as they reached the underwater lodge of the Water Spirit, the son told the boy to open his eyes. He did so, and found himself standing before an old man with long white hair. "Sit beside me," the Water Spirit said, and then asked: "My boy, why do you come to this lake crying?"
"I am a poor orphan," the boy replied. "I left my camp to search for secret powers so that I may be able to make my way in the world."
"Perhaps I can help you," the Water Spirit said. "You have seen all the animals in this lake. They are mine to give to whom I wish. What is your choice?"
Remembering the advice of the Water Spirit's son, the boy replied: "I should thank you for the oldest mallard of the ducks and all its young ones."
"Don't take that one," the Water Spirit said, shaking his head. "It is old and of no value."
But the boy insisted. Four times he asked for the mallard, and then the Water Spirit smiled and said: "You are a wise young man. When you leave my lodge my son will take you to the edge of the lake. After it is dark he will catch the mallard for you. But when you leave the lake don't look back."
The boy did as he was told. The Water Spirit's son gathered some marsh grass from the edge of the lake and braided it into a rope. With this rope he caught the old mallard and led it ashore. He placed the rope in the boy's hand and told him to walk on, but not to look back until sunrise. As the boy walked on toward his camp in the darkness, he heard the duck's feathers flapping on the ground. Later he could no longer hear that sound. Instead he heard the sound of heavy feet pounding on the earth behind him, and from time to time the strange cry of an animal. The braided marsh grass turned into a rawhide rope in his hand. But he did not look back until dawn.
At daybreak he turned around and saw a strange animal at the end of the rope, a horse. A voice told him to mount the animal and he did so, using the rawhide rope as a bridle. By the time he reached camp, he saw many other horses following him.
The people of the camp were frightened by these strange animals, but the boy told them to have no fear. He dismounted and gave everybody horses from the herd that had followed him. There were plenty for everyone, and he had a large number left over for himself.
Until that time, the people had only dogs for carrying their packs and dragging their travois. The boy now showed them how to use the horses for packing, how to break them for riding, and he also gave the horses its Blackfoot name, elk dog. One day the men asked him: "These elk dogs, would they be of any use in hunting buffalo?"
"Yes, let me show you," the boy replied, and as soon as they were mounted he led them out to a buffalo herd where he showed them how to chase buffalo on horseback. He also showed them how to make bridles, saddles, hackamores, and other gear for their horses. Once when they came to a river, the men asked him: "These elk dogs, are they of any use to us in water?"
He replied: "That is where they are best. I got them from the water." And he showed them how to use horses in crossing streams.
When the boy grew older, his people made him a chief, and since that time every Blackfoot chief has owned many horses.
Long ago the buzzard was the most beautiful of all the birds. On his head was the most beautiful crown. and his feathers where golden and all the birds love the buzzard for he was most kind and generous.
In these time the world was new and growing, and the sun was growing hotter and hotter. All the animals and birds where getting scared. No one new what to do. So they called a meeting of all the animals and the birds.
They came from all over the world.
They all where saying "what can we do someone has to stop the sun from comeing closer are we will all die."
No one stepped up with a answer.
So, they ask the eagle "Eagle we all know you fly high do you think you can help us." Well the eagle thought on this for a while and said, "The sun well burn me I don't know that I can help you, but I will try." So the eagle set out to try but could not get close enough to do any good. And it took all the color from his feather on the top of his head that is why the eagle is white on his head.
So, they where looking around to see who esle could fly so high. They saw the owl and ask the owl if could try for he was a strong flyer too. So the owl said yes and set out to try. But the sun was so bright it blinded him to day light and that is why the owl only flys at night.
So everyone was getting sad and more scrared, for they could feel the sun moreing closer and closer.
So, the Buzzard stepped up. And all the birds and animal looked to him. "I will try for my crown will protect my head and eyes." So the buzzard flew up to the sun and just as he thought his crown protected him. But he push and push. And he moved the sun. And by the time he got the sun where it should be all his crown was gone, and his beautiful feathers where black like sut.
And he hid in shame.
All the animals and all the birds laughed at him, for his head was red and ugly and his feathers that once where so beautiful looked like black ash. They had forgotten what he had done because they where safe now.
But the buzzard love the world, the animals and the other birds, so much that in his shame he said "I will still do my part and I will keep the world clean. So when you die I will eat the remains for diseases won't spread, and I well stay to myself for you will not see me much."
So to this day that is what he does. But he has never nor will ever hurt a living thing because he loves all living things, man inclued.
(In Loving Memory: This story was told to me at age 6 or 7 by my grandfather because I was scared of the buzzard, I was never afraid after this story. And look to the buzzard for he does clean the world and makes it safe..)
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