Native American Legends
A Snake song origin myth
A Winnebago (Hotcâk) Legend
This story is told during the Medicine Rite by the spirit-impersonator
of the north.
"Ancestors, we send forth our greetings to you. I possess
a Snake Song, one that has come down to me and one that I could
use, so they told me, whenever I wished to give a life-engendering
greeting. This song was obtained from a large yellow snake by a
person who had been blessed under the fork of a tree where there
was a crow's nest. With a large portion of life was he blessed,
with herbs and grasses, beneficent grasses, those that would restore
health to a man. Yet, nevertheless, some of them, it is said could
cause a person to become weak. All these plants were to bring prestige
and honor to the possessor.
Now, in the beginning, people associated with these plants just
as if they possessed life like ourselves. They were worshipped and
honored. Not today do we do so. Yet these herbs and grasses are
still being used and are still efficacious.
This Snake Song I shall now sing. Ancestors, we greet you, we greet
you!"
[The Snake Song was omitted in the source.]
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B