Animals figure prominently into indigenous oral traditions, older and as deeply engrained as the morality and survival stories of the gods in Greek and Roman mythology and which were part of the foundation of Western Civilization. Badger photo courtesy Kari Cieszkiewicz/US Fish and Wildlife Service
Hello friends in the MoJo circle,
We've had alarming and sad days here on our homelands as the covid virus has hit us with a force not expected. Of course, all the government, state and tribal-approved sanctions are now in place and most, if not many, are complying.
I immediately reached for sage and cedar for prayer and cleansing. But I am also reminded of so many of our cultural stories. One day my father was notified that a farmer had run over a badger while plowing his field. My dad decided to take it to one of the grandmas.
She was very sad to see that the animal was dead, but wanted my dad to lay it on a pile of sage she pulled together. She said to lay flat on its back. She then asked him to go into the house, get her a cup of tea that was brewing on the stove then to come and sit with her. She reminded him of the story of seeing oneself in the blood of the badger. After visiting for about an hour she got up and stood over the badger and peered into the collected pool of blood.
She told my dad that she had learned this practice as a young girl and saw herself then as an old woman and was happy because she knew she would live a long, happy life. She said this ritual was usually practiced by the warriors of long ago before they went into battle.
If they saw themselves young, they would die, but if they saw themselves old, they would live to come home.
She said this ritual can and should be practiced today. "Our people will be fighting different kinds of battles in the future and should take care of their lives to they live long and happy and productive." She was concerned about how young people were using mirrors today, to just make themselves look like sica (bad) women or witco (crazy) men.
My father shared with me his conclusion of this story. We can see ourselves living long by taking care of ourselves, or see ourselves young and living short, careless lives.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Lois Red Elk is finishing up a new volume of poems that will be published in 2021. The new poem, below, will be featured in the long-waited book.
George Catlin's portrait of Buffalo Bull's Back Fat, Blackfeet leader. When a young warrior gazes into the blood of a badger, according to some indigenous stories, its reflection is a harbinger.
