| Today's Visits: | 0 |
| Previous Visits: | 0 |
| Total Visits: | 0 |
Versions of this unusual story have been noted among the Creek and the Koasati of the southeastern United States. The tale is similar to an old European story type known to folklorists as "Why Dogs Sniff at One Another" or "Why Dogs Look at One Another Under the Tail"—a variant of which is told by the modern Maya of Guatemala.
[Ed.] I have read another similar story from the Brule [Sioux], also. By the way, this story is rated PG—parental guidance suggested. The American Indian had a much more open view toward sexuality and bodily functions than the Judeo-Christian peoples that supplanted them.
There is another story about dogs, but I don't know if I should tell it. Maybe for children's ears it wouldn't sound so good.
[LISTENER INTERRUPTS:] "But you heard it as a child."
Yes they told the same story to me as a child. You know, you see dogs, they smell each other when they meet. Well, they're looking for something.
Once there was a group of dogs—they were all related to wolves at one time. The dogs all lived together, and one day they sent one of the dog after some firewood. They were getting very cold.
Well, this dog went to the camp of the Delawares to steal fire sticks, but the people became very fond of him and started to pet him and feed him.
Well, he just decided to stay with the people and not take the firewood back. Meantime the wolves and the dogs waited and waited, and he did not ever show up with the fire sticks. Finally they realized he'd just forsaken the dogs and wolves. And then after a while, they separated—the dogs and the wolves—because this dog lied to the wolves, and they became enemies.
So they called a council one day, the dogs did, and said, "We will hold this council to see what we can do about he wolves; they fight us every time they see us. So since our council house is clean and holy, we can't bring anything unclean into the council house. From now on, all of your dogs must detach your kekunëmëwoo and put them into the basket by the door."
So they all did. They threw them into the basket and went into the council house and took their seats.
Now the long dog, we call him chëmingw, a long dog dog with a long shape—he's said to be the smartest of all dogdom—he made his opening remarks. He stood up on his hind legs and said, "Well, mwekanewtuk"—that means fellow dogs—"I want to hear from each one of you. What have you to say about the wolves?"
When he closed his speech he sat back down and the other dogs got up from time to time and made their remarks.
Then, during one of the speeches, a huge wolf stuck his head in the door of the council house. The dogs became so frightened that they all ran out of the council house, knocking each other down as they bumped into each other. The whole place was in confusion as they all tried to squeeze out of the doorway.
Now, as they went by the basket, each one tried to grab his own kekunëmëwoo. But because of the confusion each one took the first one he could grab. As they ran off into the woods they put these back on, but it was pretty certain that some of the dogs had gotten the wrong one.
That's why, to this day, the dogs are still looking around for their own kekunëmëwoo. Old people insist that it's the reason dogs smell each other. Each one thinks the other may have his kekunëmëwoo.
— Nora Thompson Dean, Oklahoma
|
| GuestBook |
|
Copyright(s) © 1991-2012: Lenni Lenape Phoenix, Native American Embassy, Mandy & NATIVE ENIT, Native American Holocaust Museum, Inc., Minister Jessie Renee (Von Noaker) ThunderWolfe, Priscylla Belle Venticello, Von Noaker Family Publishing Group International North American Homeless Ombudsman Council
Copying in any form or medium is strictly forbidden without prior written permission: Illegal copying (Taking Possession of) anything within this Web Domain contitutes "Criminal Theft of (Intelectual) Property & will be treated as such! |
|
|
|
|
|
VISITOR STATISTICS: TREEPAD
|
|
CONTACT INFORMATION: NATIVE AMERICAN EMBASSY 1413 Union Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15132 USA PHONE: [VOICEMAIL ONLY HOTLINE (News, Reports, etc.)]: (412) 436-3866 Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Office: (412) 689-9051 Pennsylvania, Johnstown Office: Private: Auto Transfers To Hawaiian Office HAWAIIAN OFFICE & MAIN NORTH AMERICAN (U.S.) OFFICE: (808) 445-6576 CANADIAN OFFICE (British Columbia): (250) 900-0405 NEW YORK OFFICE: (631) 913-3475 OKLAHOMA OFFICE: (405) 225-6124 |
|