Native American Legends
Skunk Origin Myth
A Winnebago (Hotcâk) Legend
In a village long ago a woman gave birth to a girl with pure white
hair. She grew up to be beautiful beyond compare, and because of
her white hair, she was thought to be very holy. Men would often
court her, but she showed no interest in them, preferring to gaze
at her own reflection in still waters. She loved the smell of flowers
and would rub their perfumed petals on her skin and hair.
One day a strange looking man showed up and was very keen to court
her. She laughed at him, scolding him for his ugliness -- yet he
was not a mere man, but one of the great spirits, Turtle. Turtle
shed his wrinkled outer skin and appeared in all his glory. He decreed,
"Since you rejected one of the great spirits, you shall be
transformed into a lowly animal! When people see you, they will
turn away from your repulsive odor." She began to shrink, and
she became covered with little black hairs. The only trace left
of her beautiful white hair was the furry white stripe down her
back. She became the first of her race, the race of skunks (gûcge)
who live to this day.
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