Post by Okwes on Jul 24, 2007 10:14:11 GMT -5
Eagle War Feathers - Cheyenne
A long, long time ago the Cheyenne warriors had not learned yet how to use
eagle for their war ornaments. One of their men climbed a high mountain;
there he lay for five days, crying, without food. Some powerful being, he
hoped, would see him and come to him, to teach him something great for his
people.
He was glad when he heard a voice say, "Try to be brave, no matter what
comes, even if it might kill you. If you remember these words, you will
bring great news to your people, and help them." After a time he heard
voices, and seven eagles came down, as if to fly away with him. But he was
brave, as he had been told, though he continued to cry and keep his eyes
closed. Now the great eagles surrounded him. One said "Look at me. I am
powerful, and I have wonderfully strong feathers. I am greater than all
other animals and birds in the world." This powerful eagle showed the man
his wings and his tail, and he spread all his feathers as wide as possible.
He shows him how to make war headdresses and ornaments out of eagle
feathers.
"Your people must use only eagle feathers, and it would be a great help to
them in war and bring them victories," eagle said. Since no loose feathers
were about, the seven eagles shook themselves, and plenty of feathers fell
to the ground. The Cheyenne picked them up and gratefully took them home to
his tribe.
On that day, eagle feathers were seen for the first time by the Cheyenne and
they knew where they came from. The man showed his people how to make war
ornaments from the eagle feathers, as he had been told. From that day
onward, the man became a great warrior in his tribe, and their leader in war
parties. He became so successful his people named him Chief Eagle Feather
and he wore his Eagle Feather Warbonnet, as he led the Cheyenne's with
dignity and pride.
www.indigenouspeople.net/eaglewar.htm
A long, long time ago the Cheyenne warriors had not learned yet how to use
eagle for their war ornaments. One of their men climbed a high mountain;
there he lay for five days, crying, without food. Some powerful being, he
hoped, would see him and come to him, to teach him something great for his
people.
He was glad when he heard a voice say, "Try to be brave, no matter what
comes, even if it might kill you. If you remember these words, you will
bring great news to your people, and help them." After a time he heard
voices, and seven eagles came down, as if to fly away with him. But he was
brave, as he had been told, though he continued to cry and keep his eyes
closed. Now the great eagles surrounded him. One said "Look at me. I am
powerful, and I have wonderfully strong feathers. I am greater than all
other animals and birds in the world." This powerful eagle showed the man
his wings and his tail, and he spread all his feathers as wide as possible.
He shows him how to make war headdresses and ornaments out of eagle
feathers.
"Your people must use only eagle feathers, and it would be a great help to
them in war and bring them victories," eagle said. Since no loose feathers
were about, the seven eagles shook themselves, and plenty of feathers fell
to the ground. The Cheyenne picked them up and gratefully took them home to
his tribe.
On that day, eagle feathers were seen for the first time by the Cheyenne and
they knew where they came from. The man showed his people how to make war
ornaments from the eagle feathers, as he had been told. From that day
onward, the man became a great warrior in his tribe, and their leader in war
parties. He became so successful his people named him Chief Eagle Feather
and he wore his Eagle Feather Warbonnet, as he led the Cheyenne's with
dignity and pride.
www.indigenouspeople.net/eaglewar.htm