Have you ever walked outside, seen a majestic cardinal perched in a nearby tree and thought, "Wow, that is a bird of unmatched beauty. I wonder why it's not blue or yellow?" Or maybe you saw a bear in the woods while you were camping and you noticed how in addition to not eating you, it also had an unusually short tail. Perhaps you happened to trip over a molehill and thought, "Darn those moles. Why do they have to live underground?" Well, you're not alone! Lucky for you, the Native Americans had the same questions, so you've come to the right place for answers! In this Storybook, we will go over three different Native American stories about how these animals came to have their unique characteristics. In addition to the "why," we'll also learn about the different moral messages behind each animal's story.
First off, we'll read about the poor bear who was doomed to a life with a short tail. As far as the origin of the story goes, my resources have either referenced the Ojibwe tribe or the Iroquois people. The Ojibwe people originated in Quebec and had strong ties to France through trading. "Quebec" actually comes from an Algonquin word for "where the river narrows" referencing the St. Lawrence River. The Iroquois tribe also started out in Quebec and grew to become the Iroquois League. The moral of the story is not to believe everything people tell you because some of them have only their own interests in mind. Our friend, the bear, learned that the hard way as you'll soon find out.
Our second story tells the tale of Mr. Redbird (or Cardinal) and how he acquired such a beautiful hue because he was not always red. How the Redbird Got His Color is an oral legend that comes from the Cherokee tribe. Eventually, it was transcribed by James Mooney in "Myths of the Cherokees" in 1900. He was an American ethnographer who lived with the tribe for many years, compiling their stories into one source. The Cherokee people valued harmony and balance in their lives. They believed that these two things were at the center of every relationship. The story's main goal is to teach the importance of respect, dignity, and harmony, not just with each other but with everything in life.
Our final story involves Mrs. Mole and why she chose to set up shop underground. Like Mr. Redbird, her story also comes from the Cherokee tribe. Another similarity between the two stories is their transcriber, James Mooney. He includes this work in the same collection as the story of the redbird. The mole's story is the only one of the three where the final result is due to human influence and love. The mole tried to help a human and suffered the consequences. While the Cherokee people valued harmony, they also valued the wisdom of knowing when to say no and protecting themselves. This story is a great illustration of this belief.
Overall, I'm really excited for this Storybook and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy putting it together. Hopefully, you'll connect to these animals' stories the way I did and have a new perspective the next time you see one of them. Instead of cursing when you stumble over a molehill, maybe you'll think, "I appreciate the mole's tenacity to build an entire livelihood underground." My goal is that you leave with a smile as well as some food for thought!
Image Info: Mike's Birds: Northern Cardinal