Whisper n Thunder

The Whisper of Native American stories, the Thunder of stories that demand to be told.

Stories from Elders 4

Legend of the Buffalo and White Eagle

~ Priscilla Wolf storyteller-artist-author

Many years ago in a small western village in Arizona, lived a man and his family. His name was Buffalo Spirit; caretaker of the young and old. Every year the buffalo, bear, and the deer, came to the village, food was plenty. But this fall not a sight of even one animal was seen around the village. Winter came, and still no buffalo was seen.

Sitting around the fireplace, they formed a circle in prayer. The elders asked what shall we do? We will go hungry if no food is found. Buffalo Spirit saw all the sad faces as he walked back to his tent. That night his wife said to him; you must leave and find the Buffalo and ask them to return.

Buffalo Spirit left that night and walked toward the mountains. (The snow was high and more was falling.) Buffalo Spirit lost his way and found a small cave to rest in. He noticed a small, half frozen bird while gathering branches for a bed. So he picked him up and placed him inside his Buffalo robe. "I would rather die with a friend then die alone," he told the bird.

That night he had a dream where he saw himself turn into a buffalo and guide the buffalos down to the village.

In the morning he woke up to sunshine and outside on the tree branches was the little bird. He stretched out his wings and grew into a beautiful White Eagle. The Eagle spoke
to him, "For saving my
life, I have helped you bring the Buffalo back to your village; now return home."

Photograph: Bill Uminski All Rights Reserved

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