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Many Native American myths could equally be called folktales: they seem to be about ordinary
people, not gods. However, the Native American attitude is that Whereas Greek myths were shaped and ordered by classical authors, few Native American myths were written down before the late
19th century. Thus the apparent inconsistencies of the right-brain oral |
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Among all tribes there is a strong sense that behind all individual spirits and personifications of the divine, there is a single
creative life-force, sometimes called ‘the Great Mystery’, which
expresses itself throughout the universe, in every human, animal, tree
and grain of sand. Every story, too, is a working out of this
life-force.
An aspect of this outlook is the major role played in the stories by animals, who often speak to humans and assist them. Most
tribes thought of individual members of a species as expressions of the
spiritual archetype of that species, which in turn embodied a particular
spirit power.
Another key feature of the Native American spiritual outlook is found in the powers ascribed to the Four Directions, which
occur either literally or in symbolic form throughout the stories. These
are often represented by particular colours, or by animals.
The Four Directions have to be in balance for all to be well with the world, and often a central point of balance is identified
as a fifth direction; for example, four brothers represent the outer
directions, and their sister the centre.
Native American myths include all the types found worldwide, such as stories of creation, and of heroic journeys. However,
they are particularly rich in ‘trickster’ myths. Notable examples are
Coyote and Iktome. The trickster is an ambiguous figure who demonstrates
the qualities of early human development (both cultural and
psychological) that make civilization possible, and yet which cause
problems. He is an expression of the least developed stage of life,
which is dominated by physical appetites.
The story below is of another type, that of the ‘culture deity’, a key figure who brings a tribe its major ceremonies, customs and spiritual insights.
Lakota dancer › |
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In the days before the Lakota had horses on which to hunt the buffalo, food was often scarce. One summer when the Lakota nation had
camped together, there was very little to eat. Two young men of the
Itazipcho band – the ‘Without-Bows’ – decided they would rise early and
look for game. They left the camp while the dogs were still yawning, and
set out across the plain, accompanied only by the song of the yellow
meadowlark.
After a while the day began to grow warm. Crickets chirruped in the waving grass, prairie dogs darted into their holes as
the braves approached, but still there was no real game. So the young
men made towards a little hill from which they would see further across
the vast expanse of level prairie. Reaching it, they shielded their eyes
and scanned the distance, but what they saw coming out of the growing
heat haze was something bright, that seemed to go on two legs, not four.
In a while they could see that it was a very beautiful woman in shining
white buckskin.
As the woman came closer, they could see that her buckskin was wonderfully decorated with sacred designs in rainbow-coloured
porcupine quills. She carried a bundle on her back, and a fan of
fragrant sage leaves in her hand. Her jet-black hair was loose, except
for a single strand tied with buffalo fur. Her eyes were full of light
and power, and the young men were transfixed.
Now one of the men was filled with a burning desire. ‘What a woman!’ he said sideways to his friend. ‘And all alone on the prairie. I’m going to make the most of this!’
‘You fool,’ said the other. ‘This woman is holy.’
But the foolish one had made up his mind, and when the woman beckoned him towards her, he needed no second invitation. As he
reached out for her, they were both enveloped in a great cloud. When it
lifted, the woman stood there, while at her feet was nothing but a pile
of bones with terrible snakes writhing among them.
‘Behold,’ said the woman to the good brave. ‘I am coming to your people with a message from Tatanka Oyate, the buffalo nation.
Return to Chief Standing Hollow Horn and tell him what you have seen.
Tell him to prepare a tipi large enough for all his people, and to get
ready for my coming.’
The young man ran back across the prairie and was gasping for breath as he reached his camp. With a small crowd of people already
following him, he found Standing Hollow Horn and told him what had
happened, and that the woman was coming. The chief ordered several tipis
to be combined into one big enough for his band. The people waited
excitedly for the woman to arrive.
After four days the scouts posted to watch for the holy woman saw something coming towards them in a beautiful manner from
across the prairie. Then suddenly the woman was in the great lodge,
walking round it in a sunwise direction. She stopped before Standing
Hollow Horn in the west of the lodge, and held her bundle before him in
both hands.
‘Look on this,’ she said, ‘and always love and respect it. No one who is impure should ever touch this bundle, for it contains the sacred pipe.’
She unrolled the skin bundle and took out a pipe, and a small round stone which she put down on the ground.
‘With this pipe you will walk on the earth, which is your grandmother and your mother. The earth is sacred, and so is every step
that you take on her. The bowl of the pipe is of red stone; it is the
earth. Carved into it and facing the centre is the buffalo calf, who
stands for all the four-leggeds. The stem is of wood, which stands for
all that grows on the earth. These twelve hanging feathers from the
Spotted Eagle stand for all the winged creatures. All these living
things of the universe are the children of Mother Earth. You are all
joined as one family, and you will be reminded of this when you smoke
the pipe. Treat this pipe and the earth with respect, and your people
will increase and prosper.’
The woman told them that seven circles carved on the stone represented the seven rites in which the people would learn to use the
sacred pipe. The first was for the rite of ‘keeping the soul’, which she
now taught them. The remaining rites they would learn in due course.
The woman made as if to leave the lodge, but then she turned and spoke to Standing Hollow Horn again. ‘This pipe will carry
you to the end. Remember that in me there are four ages. I am going now,
but I will look on your people in every age, and at the end I will
return.’
She now walked slowly around the lodge in a sunwise direction. The people were silent and filled with awe. Even the hungry
young children watched her, their eyes alive with wonder. Then she left.
But after she had walked a short distance, she faced the people again
and sat down on the prairie. The people gazing after her were amazed to
see that when she stood up she had become a young red and brown buffalo
calf. The calf walked further into the prairie, and then lay down and
rolled over, looking back at the people.
When she stood up she was a white buffalo. The white buffalo walked on until she was a bright speck in the distant prairie,
and then rolled over again, and became a black buffalo. This buffalo
walked away, stopped, bowed to the four directions of the earth, and
finally disappeared over the hill.
A lone bull buffalo in the Badlands
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Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries had its humble beginnings as an idea of a few artisans and craftsmen who enjoy performing with live steel fighting. As well as a patchwork quilt tent canvas. Most had prior military experience hence the name.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries.
Vendertainers that brought many things to a show and are know for helping out where ever they can.
As well as being a place where the older hand made items could be found made by them and enjoyed by all.
We expanded over the years to become well known at what we do. Now we represent over 100 artisans and craftsman that are well known in their venues and some just starting out. Some of their works have been premiered in TV, stage and movies on a regular basis.
Specializing in Medieval, Goth , Stage Film, BDFSM and Practitioner.
Patchwork Merchant Mercenaries a Dept of, Ask For IT was started by artists and former military veterans, and sword fighters, representing over 100 artisans, one who made his living traveling from fair to festival vending medieval wares. The majority of his customers are re-enactors, SCAdians and the like, looking to build their kit with period clothing, feast gear, adornments, etc.
Likewise, it is typical for these history-lovers to peruse the tent (aka mobile store front) and, upon finding something that pleases the eye, ask "Is this period?"
A deceitful query!! This is not a yes or no question. One must have a damn good understanding of European history (at least) from the fall of Rome to the mid-1600's to properly answer. Taking into account, also, the culture in which the querent is dressed is vitally important. You see, though it may be well within medieval period, it would be strange to see a Viking wearing a Caftan...or is it?
After a festival's time of answering weighty questions such as these, I'd sleep like a log! Only a mad man could possibly remember the place and time for each piece of kitchen ware, weaponry, cloth, and chain within a span of 1,000 years!! Surely there must be an easier way, a place where he could post all this knowledge...
Traveling Within The World is meant to be such a place. A place for all of these artists to keep in touch and directly interact with their fellow geeks and re-enactment hobbyists, their clientele.
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