Native American Legends
The Little Deer, Awi Usdi
A Cherokee Legend
Back when the world was young, the humans and the animal people
could speak to each other.
At first they lived in peace. The humans hunted the animals only
when they needed food or skins to make clothing. Then the humans
discovered the bow and arrow. With this weapon they could kill many
animals quickly and with great ease. They began to kill animals
when they did not need them for food or clothing. It seemed as if
all the animals in the world would soon be exterminated. So the
various animals met in council.
When the bears came together and talked about what the humans were
doing, they decided they would have to fight back. "How can
we do that?" said one of the bear warriors. "The humans
will shoot us with their arrows before we come close to them."
Old Bear, their chief, agreed. "That is true. We must learn
how to use the same weapons they use."
Then the bears made a very strong bow and fashioned arrows for
it. But whenever they tried to use the bow, their long claws got
in the way.
"I will cut off my claws," said one of the bear warriors.
He did so and then he was able to use the bow and arrow. His aim
was good and he hit the mark every time.
"That is good," said Old Bear. "Now can you climb
this tree?" The bear without claws tried to climb the tree,
but he failed. Old Bear shook his head.
"This will not do. Without our claws we cannot climb trees.
Without our claws we will not be able to hunt or dig for food. We
must give up this idea of using the same weapons the humans use."
So the bears gave up their idea of fighting back against the humans
with weapons.
One by one each of the animal groups met. One by one they came
to no conclusion. It seemed there was no way to fight back. But
the last group to meet was the deer.
Awi Usdi, Little Deer, was their leader. When all were gathered
together, he spoke.
"I see what we must do," he said. "'We cannot stop
the humans from hunting animals. That is the way it was meant to
be. However, the humans are not doing things in the right way. If
they do not respect us and hunt us only when there is real need,
they may kill us all.
I shall go now and tell the hunters what they must do. Whenever
they wish to kill a deer, they must prepare in a ceremonial way.
They must ask me for permission to kill one of us. Then, after they
kill a deer, they must show respect to its spirit and ask for pardon.
If the hunters do not do this, then I shall track them down. With
my magic I will make their limbs crippled. Then they will no longer
be able to walk or shoot a bow and arrow."
Then Awi Usdi, Little Deer, did as he said. He went at night and
whispered into the ears of the hunters, telling them what they must
do.
The next morning, when they awoke, some of the hunters thought
they had been dreaming and they were not sure that the dream was
a true one.
Others, though, realized that Little Deer, Awi Usdi, had truely
spoken to them. They tried to do as he told them. They hunted for
the deer and other animals only when they needed food or clothing.
They remembered to prepare in a ceremonial way, to ask permission
before killing an animal and to ask pardon when an animal was killed.
Some of the hunters, though, paid no attention. They continued
to kill animals for no reason. But Awi Usdi, Little Deer, came to
them and, using his magic, crippled them with rheumatism. Before
long, all of the hunters began to treat the animals with respect
and to follow Little Deer's teachings.
So it is that the animals have survived to this day. Because of
Awi Usdi, Little Deer, the Indian people show respect. To this day,
even though the animals and people no longer can speak to each other
as in the old days, the people still show respect and give thanks
to the animals they must hunt.
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B