Traditional Values
All planning and vision is driven by values. Tribes transmit values from generation to generation through stories.
A Wa She Shu Story
The Maker of All Things was counting out seeds that were to become the different tribes. He counted them out on a big winnowing tray in equal numbers. West Wind, the mischievous wind, watched until the Maker had divided the seeds into equal piles on the basket. Then he blew a gust of wind that scattered the seeds to the east. Most of the seeds that were to have been the Washo people were blown away. That is why the Washo are fewer in number than other tribes.
Excerpt from "Project Willow : Understanding Native American Culture through Environmental Education "
A Numa Owl Story ...
Screech Owl was married to Barn Owl. Screech Owl liked to go hunting at night. Barn Owl like to sleep with her husband at night; but Screech Owl always went after rabbits. So Barn Owl got mad at him, just disgusted.
One night she cut up a rabbits' bones real small. They were sharp little pieces . She put them on the porch like thumb tacks. When Screech Owl was ready to go out that night he stepped onto the porch and got a piece of rabbit bone in his foot. He went back into the house. He had to stay home. Screech Owl told his wife to look at his foot. Take a look at it.
She looked at it and saw it there. But she pushed the bone in more. She made sure he wasn't going to go out that night. He stayed home that night. But, after a while infections started and poor Screech Owl died. And Barn Owl still slept alone every night.
Excerpt from "After the Drying Up of the Water", 1977
A Newe Story - We Are All Related ...
Long ago ...the whole world was under water except one mountain...When waves came they would touch the tails of the birds. Sun said, "I don't like to see water around here, I want it to dry up. When it dries up, all kinds of animals shall come to the world and use the Indian language". One can see where the water once touched the mountain. Sun said, "I'll send something down to Job's Peak". She sent the messenger, saying, "Go to the mountains and stay there. Anything that comes to the world after the drying up of the water shall be your relative."
Wovoka ...
The eagle flies close to God and his feathers bring down to earth part of God's power for Indians' personal use. Wovoka used the eagle feathers and red paint in a sacred manner, by blessing them both. A peaceful and dedicated man, Wovoka said this ...
Be good and behave always. No hurt anybody. Do not harm, or fight. It will give you satisfaction in your life. Jesus is on the ground, he just like a cloud. Everybody is alive again. I don't know when he will be here. When the earth shakes, do not be afraid. It will not hurt you. When it happen, there will be no sickness and return young again. I want you to make dance for six weeks.
Excerpt from "Life Stories of Our Native People", 1974
