We invite you to share your story about a landscape to which you feel connected. What are the stories that reside there? As inspiration, you can think about what animals and plants live there; how the seasons affect this place; and your relationship to this landscape. Selected stories will be posted here, so check back regularly.

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10/24/07
D Scribner

I remember the air being crisp and biting on some days. Those were my favorite days. The field at the top of the hill seemed out of place. Or rather, the field at the top of the hill was the only natural thing and our small town crowding it was out of place. I recall those many trips walking up alleyways and thinking just how symbolic even the alleys were. They progressively receded to nature. My ally was paved, the next gravel, another was gravel that was crowded with grass, and finally just grass until the roads stopped all together. And at that moment I felt that much freer and the air felt that much clearer. The horses would come up and vie for attention until I would give them the pieces of apples I had brought along. I would sit there for oodles of time until the sun started to creep behind that old barn that was so close to falling apart. The world felt better at the top of the hill. It felt pure and clean and the very wind itself felt like it had a personality and a life. I‚ve moved from that small town that invaded that immense field but I remember it fondly.



7/31/07
Blue Wolf
Springdale, Arkansas

In June, me and my mother returned to our native lands. The land of the Cherokee. It was a moment that I had been longing for. My ancestor, James Smith, he was from the Chattanooga, TN area and migrated down into Northern Alabama. Thus, he escaped the plight of many who suffered on the Trail of Tears. When I arrived in Cullman, Alabama, I felt a very strong connection with Mother Earth and new immediately that I had to go to our tribal property. Me and my mother did just this and it was good.



7/31/07
Jenny Burrow
Fresno, CA

There is a small portion of my blood (1/16) Chocktaw from OK. My great grandmother was full and participated in the great walk. I have always felt a reverence, connection to the Native American people, not just because I have a small portion of this culture in my blood, but because they are and always have been proud, and honorable people. I am a school teacher preparing for a year long unit on Native Americans for gifted students. Thank you for making such a wonderful website available to add to my curriculum. The material is authentic and sensitive, and will certainly add to the beauty and understanding of the culture for my students.



10/19/06
Nick Smith
Shiprock, NM

I once heard the thunder in my sleep
I could not wake to see the lighting
but felt its presence getting closer . . .

Dreaming of desert lands and mysterious
crafts hovering above . . .
This land is sick and tired of the
poisons and pollution . . .

Take me away . . .

No! You must fight another day!



10/02/06

My name is Broken Wing. I am the last of my people. They are no more. I follow the 3 White Feathers. I am led into the wilderness. To follow the promise of my people. I have seen the Savior in a vision. He calls the lost tribes of Israel. The tribe of Joseph is the American Indian people. He soon returns to give them back their land.



8/14/06
Berta Levy Strain
San Francisco, CA

In the Makua cave in Makaha lives many spirits. Spirits of the aumakuas and kapunas who have gone before us. Recently, I took my mo'opuna (grand daugther) to this sacred place of my childhood. At first she was afraid due to the vast darkness of the cave. I held her hand and ventured inside. I told her, "do not be afraid, you are safer here then outside". As we held hands I said to her, "close your eyes and listen, tell me what you hear". I watched her sweet little face and as I knew she would, she smiled very big. She said, "Tutu, I hear voices laughing and talking". "Yes, I said, those are the voices of the ancestors, they are on the other side". We stood for a bit while she continued to hear the great spirits of those gone before us. Just as it changed my life forever, so did it change hers. She will never forget and will return to this place at different times in her life as I do, we will return together and someday she will bring her own there.

Wahine Na Koa



3/29/06
Lawna
Bitter Root Mountains

Rest Once Again

the healing road i am on is a dangerous one.
there are step clifts, bolders and shell rock all around.
this is my adventure that i must over come.

i have rolling hills and valley within my rocky
mountains to climb.
the trails are hidden and hard to find.

i find my way as i watch and i listen for
i am the guide.
the forest is thick with much growth and
old trees that have fallen over time.

i cut my way through with the emotional axe
i carry on my shoulder. with each step i take
i cut away the dead things in my path.

i find all i need in my survivor pack. some of
the things i carry i find i no longer need.
i toss them a side and look for the largest tree.

i sit up there to rest and to give myself peace
of mind. i look around the world to see the next
mountain to climb. in the morning i will decide.

the sun is bright and the bird are singing.
i find my self enjoying the view.
mountain after mountain as far as the eye can see.
for a time i am free.

i hear water runn ing and i find my self thristy.
as i search for the creek, i find a meadow with
lovely wild flower to remind me. to look for the
beauty of things.

i feel dirty and i so need a bath. i wash my
face and hand. i feel a little refreshed.

my body is stiff from the night in the tree.
my heart is heavy from the view that i seen.
i know my path is long and a treacherous one. i
don't give up. there is more that needs to be done.

on ward i step with causion at my side. the ground
is covered in mud and slime.
this the the booggy land where i refuse to die.

no time to stop. i don't dare to give in now.
this is not where i want to be.
i have pulled myself out of here many times.
i must survive.

i dig and pull my way out. a root near by saved me.
once again i am greatful for a free.

as i stand i feel releif come over me.
i lift my eyes only to see another hill
for me to climb. once again i sigh.

the grade is steep as i put one foot in front of the other. i just need to get
to the top of that ridge. then i will rest once again.



2/16/06
Savannah Warlick
Great Falls MT

We are all people alike. Our skin may be a different color. We may even look alike. But we are all different. There is one thing we all have in commen though. We all have feelings. Some peoples feelings are hurt more than others. I am tired of all the racism in the world. It is so hard living were I do. Everywere you go, you here little hurtful smerks. As a chiled of a mixed race. White and black it is very hard. I wish that it would just stop. I know that there is nothing I can do.



2/16/06
Hope
great falls montana

i think these stories arew spiratual in every way



2/15/06
John Bostwick
great falls Montana

One time I was chased by a pussy cat. Then I SANG HIM to sleep.



1/23/06
Wanda Taylor
Corsicana,TX

Standing in the wind, it seems as if my troubles can be washed away and blessings are forthcoming. When it's soft, it's a small jet that sends a kiss from far away from someone that I love. Carrying scents and seeds from far away. When it's stronger it provides a warm hug, a soft caress. It whistles a sweet song in my ear, messages from afar. As it grows in strength it provides a challenge, making me stronger. An invitation to work, an invitation to grow. Along with challenge it can give a push like a mama bird pushes it's hatchling from the nest. When it swirls, it's angry, and must cleanse the earth with it's fury. Reminding me of who is in charge and exactly how small I am in it's wake. Leaving behind a chance for me to start all over again. With just a small puff of wind...



11/10/05
Barb Blackdeer-Mackenzie
Black River Falls, WI

In a special forest clearing, there was a circle of crude structures that people would inhabit for a long weekend; making lots of food, selling wares, and visiting friends and relations.

My dad would go up early on the Memorial Day weekend to help cut pine boughs to place on lean-to poles for shaded awnings for the logs that shaped the seating for a dance arena, where the people would sit and watch the doings. The rich and heady smell of pine from the boughs was only occasionally interrupted by the smell of delicious food being made at the food stands.

Traditional songs that had passed along from generation to generation were performed. There were grass dancers, animal dancers, swan dancers and lots of women in white doe-skin dresses doing a graceful, modest dance in concert that had been done for hundreds of years.

I got my feather from a wounded war veteran in this arena. In front of everybody, he told his story to me there. In exchange, I hold the memory of his brave deed. He is long gone, but his actions are known throughout time.

Year after year, it is like that. Some of the powwows are more spectacular than others, but everybody knows that no matter whatÖpowwow always goes on there.



10/24/05
Jensen Caleja
Doha, Qatar

The grass dances gracefully with the soft wind,
The cool and soft touch of air stream,
The shade I receive from the pine treeís shadow
And the views of wide green meadow,
Refresh the eyes from the hot summer day

Sweet and endearing sound of the sparrow,
The creepy sound of insects- I heard and saw.
The noisy laughter of folks and children everywhere,
Opposites the silence of a dropped coin down the wishing well
A place where I feel connected, Mines View Park.

Here I can relate of myself,
For it reminds me of something Iíve seen and felt.
A place where I can throw away
A burden inside me, feelings I canít say.
How wonderful it is, indescribable happiness.

The tall trees that reminds me to be strong,
Whenever challenges comes along.
A shoulder to render for a friend in need.
Silent wishes, goals hope to be fulfilled.
A hidden inspiration from the peaceful park.

The park had changed through peoplesí work
Is it for good or for worse?
But to keep the beauty
of this place,
Nurture it with respect, love and care.
Though many changes, thereís always a lesson within.



10/19/05
Hugo Hedin
Doha, Qatar

Far north on the most western tip of Norway lies a very special place. There the land meets the ocean I a very dramatic way. The region is called Vestlandet. It mostly consists of very high mountains called ìfjellî and deep fjords often several hundred meters in depth.

The fjells start far inland on ìHardangerviddaî Europe's only high altitude mountain plato and one of the few places on earth that has not been effected by humans. Here thousands upon thousands of reindeer stride freely along with several other creatures such as the Fox, Field-Mouse, Stream Trout and the elusive Snow Owl. Up here the snow never really melts, but the snow and ice that do melt in the summer form streams that zigzag through the landscape and which later on will connect to each other before they leap over the final edge of the mountain and fall hundreds of meters into the clear blue-green fjord.

Down in the valleys, between the mountains and the fjord, farmers grow cherries, plums, apples and pears in small fields. Usually that kind of fruit does not grow this far north but it's possible because of the heat that the Gulf Current generates all year round.

In the fall the leaves of the trees' foilage creates a golden brown, red and yellow glow in the sunlight. In the winter the area receives a lot of snow. Several meters sometimes, and it can get a little frosty. It looks like everything is swept in a big white blanket. Spring is the most beautiful of all seasons. In May the fruit farm's flowers bloom and the hillsides are coverd in an intense green brilliance. This combined with the snow that is left on the mountaintops and the emerald blue fjord is an incredibly beautiful scenery. In the summer the sea is warm enough for swimming and many of the fruits are ripe, but you can still go skiing or snowboarding on one of the glaciers nearby.

One of the most special things about this place is that it is so quiet, you don't hear anything but yourself. The air there is very crisp, clear and in the winter very cold. When y

You're breathing it sometimes feels like you've just swallowed an entire pack of Tick-Tack mints. I feel connected to this place because it feels like home, since I lived there for a long time. It never stops to astonish me with its beauty, and everytime I visit it's just as breathtaking as the last.



10/18/05
wern jieh
doha, qatar

Imagine a place bathed by little warm rays of sunlight, peeking through gaps between uniquely shaped leaves, with friendly monkeys greeting visitors. Imagine swallows, pigeons, squirrels and other fellow creatures accompanying you in the relatively quiet and serene, sometimes eerie surroundings. Sounds like a foreign place hidden in another planet far away?

Not really. A camping ground unknown to the outside world, Station 5 is situated 800 feet above sea level in the heart of Penang, a northern Malaysian state. It is tucked in the middle of a permanent forest reserve, only accessible by a hiking trail as special as the camping ground itself. This trail, explored during the British colonial era, is a stranger to development, but not to the locals. Peaceful and tranquil, this 'station' is and has always been the heart and soul of many people including myself.

However, I never knew why I this way towards this place. Perhaps, it was because of the calmness this place gives. Or probably the sight and landscape this place has to offer. Maybe it is the overall package or perhaps itís because itís just part of nature. One thing for sure though, this was where I found refuge during hard stressful times. This was my escape from the city below.

The distinctiveness of Station 5 starts from the very beginning of the trail where one is greeted by excited monkeys, screeching at the top of their lungs; something common in the tropics. As one progress further along the trail, one is followed by those curious creatures, hopping from tree to tree, sometimes giving one a creepy stare with their big round shiny eyes. Once a while, a squirrel pops its head out of thick bushes, entertaining one with its quirky behavior. Birds can be seen soaring freely above one, savoring their every moment of freedom.

Look up and one would be empowered by the sheer beauty of sky-scrapping tropical trees, racing into the sky. Their trunks are ruler straight with leaves at the top shaped like umbrellas, shielding the area from the blazing heat. The sides of this trail are decorated by exotic plants including orchids, tropical fern, wild ginger among others. Granite rocks, not wanting to be left out from the picture proudly stand out from the rest with its gigantic body, adding to the diversity of the scenery.

Progressing upward, one notices the gradual fall in temperature due to the rising altitude and lush greenery. This makes it an ideal place to escape from the scorching tropical heat below.

The singing of the crickets is audible throughout the trail. Insignificant as the singing can be, it definitely brings one closer to nature. Besides that, the trickling sound of an unseen stream adds towards the ambience of this place. Unfortunately, until today, I have never been able to locate to exact position of that stream. I can only imagine how nice it would be to dip my hands into the cold refreshing water, with little fishes nipping my fingers.

Reaching Station 5 itself is a feat on its own, giving one a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Greeting one at Station 5 is a small brick hut with a zinc roof, equipped with a running water supply. This hut was actually built with the pain and sweat of many volunteers. Bricks were laid at the beginning of the trail and were brought up by one by any willing visitors. Once at the top, one is overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of mother nature. In the distance are hills dressed in trees of multiple shades of yellowish green, bluish green, or brownish green. Look closer and one would be able to catch a glimpse of the city and the Straits of Malacca below.

The feeling of being up here is unbelievable. Station 5 gives its visitors a peek of how it feels like to be at the top of the world. One feels the constant cool breeze brushing against oneself, sending one into another world.

Sadly, this natural treasure is constantly being threatened by deforestation as land becomes scare. Hopefully, as time progresses, this unique place would be preserved through generations.



10/17/05
saad hasan
doha, qatar

The Salmon with Log Noses

Many thousands of years ago when the Spirits of the Earth were still helping men learn the ways of the land, the salmon swam lazily and were not red in hunting season but silver like the suns glow on the streams of Mother Earth. The Creator appointed the Great Bear Spirit and the Great Eagle Spirit to teach man how to hunt. These Spirits were grand hunters and because man was not very fast, they chose salmon, which swam very lazily and close to the surface of the streams they inhabited. The salmon swam unhurriedly because their noses were flat like a log.

Bear told the men to wait by the riverbank and said to watch eagle. Eagle flew up into the air and gazed down at the salmon swimming lazily in the water, then eagle pierced through the air and clutched the unsuspecting salmon with his mighty talons, making the stream pink with the salmon's blood, which started to dye the other salmon's silver into pink.

Upon seeing their comrades fate the other salmon swam frantically but the stream ended at a waterfall and the salmon's home was a pool at the end of the stream. They tried leaping over the waterfall but it was impossible for the sluggish salmon. Instead they became jammed in the rock crevices nose first. The salmon were filled with immense fear and with their hunger for survival they kept on thrusting into the dark crevices. Mother Earth saw the salmon's grief and with her divine power she gave the salmon the gift of speed. The salmons fear eluded their pain but their log noses were being hammered and straitened into the shape of an arrow. When the salmon's once log shaped noses completed their metamorphosis into the arrowhead like noses they have now but the salmon did not know that they could fly through the water like an arrow cast from a bow.

Meanwhile while the salmon were swimming for the precious gift of life, Eagle elegantly swept down with the salmon clutched in his talons. The Spirits shared the salmon with the men and they ate happily. Once the feast was over, Eagle gave men a wooden bow and a stone tip arrow, which men were to use as Eagleís swiftness and strength so that man could also hunt like Eagle.

Some men grasped the bow in their hands and as if it were their destiny it shone in their hand like the sun but it did not shine for some. Eagle told all men who were shown their gift of the bow to use the bow and arrow as their talons.

The men in whose hand the bow had not shone went to the Great Bear Spirit to see if he could help them and Bear told the men to follow him. He then approached the stream and then stepped down into the water. He waited for a salmon to come close and with the might of a hundred trees he cut through the water and skewed the salmon to his deadly claws. Then bear climbed out of the water and he and the men devoured the salmon. He then presented the men with a spear with the tip made of the sharpest stone to utilize as his claw. The remaining men whose destiny was to live and hunt by the spear grasped the spear in their hand and it glowed like the bow had glowed.

When the Great spirits and the men were departing one of the men noticed that the stream was blood red and the salmon were also blood red. Their nose had turned into an arrow like eagle had given and they were gliding in the water like eagle had glided in the air. With man learning how to hunt the salmon of ages past changed into the salmon we know today but todayís salmon only turn red when it is hunting season so they may mourn the first salmon killed by another creature.

A story I wrote once i was inspired by the circle of stories.



3/18/05
Sheri Peterson-Hale
Shelton, WA
I am Sheri Peterson,(Sheri Bug), born the youngest of seven to Francis and Hazel Peterson on the Skokomish Reservation, September of 1957. I have a brother and sister, who have a different mother. It was my brother, Booby, who called me Sheri Bug when I was born. Everything that is good about me I learned from my family. I was born in the most comfortable house in the world, in the middle of a beautiful forest. My house had rough electricity, but no running water. We got our water from "the creek". As a little girl, I was never allowed to go to the creek to get water unless my Dad or brothers went with me. I always begged to go,but they usually didn't want to bother with me. My oldest brother, Ronnie, would tell me "You can't go there, Sheri Bug, there are alligators there. I have to wrestle the alligators to get the water, and they would eat you up!" Ronnie was a storyteller, and I never knew when to believe him, I WAS kind of afraid of those alligators. But, still I begged to go. There was a trail to the creek, and on it's sides were hazelnut trees and thimble berries in the summer. Further down the trail, the ground got moist and muddy. In the springtime you could smell the freshness of the water and the skunk cabbage. There, along that trail, grew salmonberries the size of golf balls, and that's not an alligator story! Sometimes, I would sneak down that trail as far as I could without feeling too guilty. It was more that the trail to the creek...our woods was alive with Easter Lilies, Johnny Jump Ups, Violets, rotting stumps and lush growth of trees that provided forts and hiding places for all of us kids. My older brother, Curt, would climb the big Maple tree that I couldn't climb, and stand above me on it's immense trunklike branches and taunt me until I went crying into the house to tell on him. This is the life I hold closest in my heart. This little one bedroom house was home to all of us kids, and whatever cousin or friend that happened to stay awhile, it never got too crowded!

It all came to an end one night when my Uncle came to drive my Mom to the hospital. I was too young to know, and in those days, they didn't even tell the patient about terminal cancer. My Dad took us to a house in Hoodsport that had painted walls and a big clawfoot bathtub with no more creek to get our water. In the years to follow, my life took many turns. One day, my daughter and I walked a creek in the mountains of Lake Cushman on a little day hike, and I heard the spirit calling to my heart. My heart and spirit lies within the forest, where the water rushes clean and fragrant and the wind whispers through the trees. I consider myself lucky to be born into the most beautiful place in the world, and I could never leave. My spirit will live forever in that little place by the creek where the alligators are gone.





1/27/05
carolyn hines
kamloops bc canada
Hello my name is Carolyn Hines. I am the adopted granddaughter of Tommy Nez, who is a Navajo elder, from Chambers Arizona. Four years ago i layed prayers down to The Creator to bring teachers into my life, to help me use my gifts talents and abilities, to help others. That following summer, I met my grandfather and was invited to my first sweatlodge.The journey began that day. I had asked and my prayers were answered. The first year, my two good friends, who are like brothers, were part of a very disciplined teaching of my grandfather. Within a moments notice, Grandpa would call and say Yate , the rocks are going to be ready in ten minutes, granddaughter, have a good day. You knew that this was time to show up, to follow through with that prayer. So the first year was this way. We began going to native american church ceremony, and learning to help oursleves and others through the faith, hope, love & charity which Masjkeegee, Grandfather Peyote offered, a new way of life, like being reborn. Along this journey i had wondered how it was, that i felt drawn to this way of life, all along, even since i was a child. So I shared a story with my friend Gerald Jules, of the Chu Chua band, about how my mother & fahter first met the chief George Leonard and his wife, and became friends when they first came to Kamloops. One time Mrs.Leonard needed a dress for a gathering and my mother gifted her with a beautiful red dress. My friend Gerald said this to me......"Maybe Mrs.Leonard was so grateful that your mother helped her out, that she layed prayers down, for her unborn children, that one of them would follow this good red road, and maybe that one is you." At that moment it all came together.It all made sense for me. Two weeks ago, i had been reunited with a friend, whom i met, two years ago, while i was working with The Nanaimo Youth Suicide Prevention walk across Canada. His name is Don.He told me he & his friend had built a lodge and that i was invited to it. He said it was on Neil Leonards property, nephew of Chief George Leonard.I knew that soemhow this was about going back to the beginning, completing the sacred hoop, the circle, and where it all began before my birth, so i may share the story.For all of this, for all the medicines, instruments, family and prayers which i have been part of, I thank The Creator for them, and everyday for my life.For this I have begun a discussion group called Goodredroad, on www.care2.com site.It is open to All My Relations.

8/25/04
Buffee Alvidrez
On the other side of the waiting room in the Buttonwillow clinic a very curious four year old boy is swithcing the channel on the T.V. that I happened to be watching. I was not in very good spirits as I waited for Dr. Comelli to confirm what I just knew was the flu. Aching muscles and bones, fatigue, nausea and vomiting. What else could it be? Finally, I am invited into the exam room where the good doc carefully listens to all of my symtoms and then asks me for a urine sample. I do so willingly. Thirteen years and ten months later my little flu bug enters Junior High. Gabrielle Lynn, what a gem. Her existance alone is worth all of the time I spent worshiping the porcoline God. Three years and two months later came what Gabbie refers to now as an existing bubble of drama. Aryssa Maggie, my free spirit,so precious. They are a massive,intracate part of my life. There existance has redefined who I am as a person. Life has really taken on a whole new meaning and sometimes I am not completely thrilled with that awesome responsibility. However, I do welcome it. A portion of there genetic makeup is an extention of me. There spirit is a reflection of my work. I try to embrace that concept. If I do not, then I reject myself.

11/21/03
Schwab
Milwaukee
Brother Woodchuck was out and about looking for food on a great summer day. He approached the train track very carefully. At the intersection of the railroad track and road a biker was taking a break from his long ride and was just watching the Woodchuck near the track. The sky was clear and blue that made a joy to be out and about for both animal and man. As the Woodchuck attempted to cross the track he became stuck between the steel rails. As fate would have it the train was coming down the line and unaware that half a mile ahead the Woodchuck was caught. The man realizing the Woodchuck was in grave danger went into action. It seemed to the man that fate was going to take the Woodchuck on this summer day but the man had other plans. His action was not noted by any human that day but Woodchuck was saved and the train and fate were not allowed to take the life of Woodchuck. It may seem insignificant but maybe the saving of life however small is a worthy event.....

9/5/03
Paul Goodiron
Mandaree, ND
When coyote prices were high, I hunted them and was very proficient at it. Camouflaged in white including rifle and braids plus tracking skills; could bring me up very close to kill range. It was very cold (-20 F) as I tracked one coyote. The coyote would look back from time to time and slowly walked into a thick, thorned patch of brush that was in a open circle. The long open area around the brush was a easy wait. Laying there the cold wind seeped into me and I could see nothing came out. The coyote would have been easily seen from the short distance if it came out. Nothing. I decided to slowly walk towards the brush. Rushing backwards I waited as maybe the coyote would run out. Nothing. I circled the brush always waiting for the open shot anticipating the coyote to try and escape in the deep snow. Nothing. I made a complete circle but could not see the coyote inside because of the thickness of the brush. I circle back to where the coyote went in and followed the tracks as I got further inside. Suddenly a noise like fluttering wings happened and I raced back outside the brush. Looking up I could see a Prairie Chicken flying away. Looking at the snow around the brush showed only my tracks. Nothing else. Going back in the brush I followed the tracks as they neared the center of the brush and the coyote tracks turned into Prairie chicken tracks. Three forward and one back. You could see the rounded circle in the snow as it must have leaped into the air flying away. These were the only tracks visible in the snow. Very puzzled I later asked an older woman who possessed spiritual knowledge why this happened. After a short moment she told me she was told that I was killing too many coyotes. And they, the coyotes, wanted me to stop for a while. This is why what happened, happened in a gentle manner. I was to make an offering to them and tell them I would stop for awhile. The following weekend I made the offering and stop coyote hunting for the season even though much of the season remained in effect. For me, in the latter 1970's, a different era emerged in respecting what we take for granted. We, have never been alone regardless of our situation. It is only us, us as in human beings, that make ourselves alone.

9/2/03
Pegg Ainslie
Lansing, MI
Red Feather was riding Warrior in the Meadow. "Mama," cried Baby Chipmunk, "a terrible storm is coming, Mother Earth is trembling." Mama Chipmunk held her baby and said, "Everything is fine, that is not a terrible storm, what you hear and feel is a pony running in the Meadow." "Mama, when will I be as wise as you?" asked Baby Chipmunk. "You will be as wise as me," replied Mama Chipmunk, "when you have asked as many questions as I have."

8/18/03
Pegg Ainslie
Lansing, MI
It was early morning. The Sun's light had not yet touched the spring dew that covered the meadow. Yellow Flower was sitting at her table busy sorting her sewing material. She found a large piece of green flannel. All she had to do was cut the flannel into strips, one inch wide and four or five inches long. She did not have much time remaining, so she had to work quickly. Just as the dew was beginning to disappear from the meadow, Yellow Flower had completed cutting the strips of green flannel. She laid the strips of green flannel over the railing on the back porch. It was not until late afternoon that Yellow Flower returned to her back porch to find the strips of green flannel gone. Yellow Flower was thrilled that her gift of love was received. In her minds eye, she could see the material being used to keep a new born bird warm and protected. Her heart was filled with the joy that comes from knowing one is a part of another's journey. And who knows, she thought to herself, maybe one of theses days, I will see a nest that has green flannel woven among its twigs. The next afternoon, Yellow Flower found a Cardinal's feather on her back porch. In the evening Cardinal returned to find his feather gone. He was thrilled that his gift of love was received. In his mind's eye, he could see the feather being used to decorate a hat. His heart was filled with the joy that comes from knowing one is a part of another's journey. And who knows, he thought to himself, maybe one of these days, I will see a two-legged wearing a hat with a red feather walking in the forest.

5/20/03
The Blackfeet Reservation was known to me all my childhood life, as the largest rez in Montana, til the white man as we know them as, bought the land while the indians were drunk, the Blackfeet people sold them the land for food, and more alcohol. Back then we didn't know what we were doing til the years went on then we relized what our people were convinced in doing. The white man gave the Indians alcohol so that they would get drunk and wouldn't know what they are doing to their land or to themselfs. Til this day our peopel still drink the alcohol, not all but most and not just on the Blackfeet rez but on other reservations also. A and also we were forced to go to their schools and learn their way. I think if the white man didn't give the indians the alcohol we still would have our large reservation. And also if they didn't find indians we still would be living in tepee's and living our old way.

5/20/03
sonya
Heart Butte Montana
This one time long time ago, there was a old man named napi. He loved berries so much.One day he wanted berrie so much.He went for a walk along a river. Then he happened to look in the river a he saw there were berries in there. So he took a great big belly flot in the water and found no barries. But as he was getting out he looked up a nd seen this great big berrie tree.Then jumped out of water as fast as he could then riped apart the tree till nothing was left. But as he was resting from all the eating he had done, he happened to look over and a grizley bear was charging after him. He jumped up as fast as he could, ran as fast as he could.Put up his and said stop im your friend,the bear stoped and walked away.After that a bear never atacked a indian.

5/20/03
Ellery Williamson
Heart Butte Montana
A long time age there was a man his wife and two children that lived away from the tribe. The husband always went out hunting and one day he caught his wife cheating on him with a mih'. He attacked the mih' until it went back into the water, after he got out he went to where his wife was standing and cut her head off. Afterwards he went and butchered the body and feed it to his two children a girl and small boy, and left without telling the children where he was going. after the children were done eating the meat they heard something rolling around the tipi. The head of their mother had came through the door and was chasing them around the fire until they both got out. The girl put up a stick by the door so the head could not get out, and told her brother to run to the nearest camp which was a copuple of days away. After a while of running,the head was coming after them. The little boy was getting tired so the girl said "when i was little i to pretend that there was a great crevice in the earth" and next thing there was a crack in the earth. The children them came upon acamp in which their father was and after seeing them come he told the people that" these are the children that ate their mother" and the camp was going to move so they left the children tired to a pole. But one dog felt sorry for then and took a buring log into the hill and when the camp left he brought it down and untied the rope and the girl made a big fire. After a while the camp which left came back and the girl and boy feed all the straving families and when her dad came through the line the girl told her friends the lion an the bear to eat her father they took him away and cleaned his bones. That is the end of the story

5/20/03
Long time ago, there was a man named Napi. One morning the Blackfeet Tribe, was holding a ceramony where the young daughter of the chief was to pick a husband. So the chief decided to have every young warrior in the tribe to be at this ceramony. So as all the young warriors lined up to be chosen, the chief released his beautiful daughters. The first few grabbed there husbands right away. When the youngest and the most beautiful came out.. there was only two men left. Napi, and the scabby warrior. She had been warned about Napi the joker. He had always been mean to her and played mean jokes on her. But she was afraid to have the scabby warrior as a husband. But she was told and she obeyed, she had picked the scabby warrior. The warrior thanked her and asked her to kiss him. She did, and when she did, he turned into a handsome warrior. So Napi became known as the loner. He can be seen when a lone tree stands by itself, secluded from all beautiful.

5/20/03
andrew running crane
heart butte Mt
one day napi was taking a walk through the forest and he ran into a bird the bird toll him can u create me a wife and napi said what kind of a wife and the bird said an robin like me a beatiful red brownish like creature so we could have kids and napi said ok but u have to do something for me and the robin said ok and he said what do u want and napi said i want u for dinner and the robin said why and napi said u got me hungry for talking about the robin and your self and the robin said no and napi got mad at him and said u better let me eat u or i ain't going to make your wife. the next day the robin and napi was still aruging about making his wife and then the robin said ok eat me i will fly down and he did napi ate him and got full of one bird and napi forgot about making his wife because he was full

5/20/03
Sherrell Cook
Heart Butte
The story that I would like to share with everyone is the Napi story of the baby boys. One day Napi was walking down this long dirt road. He over heard these babies crying,and since Napi was a curious old guy he walked over to the crying noises. When Napi arrived at the door where he heard the infants crying he knocked. Not knowing what was going to happen, a young woman answered the door. She was in a panic cause she could not make the twin babies hush(be quite). Napi asked he if she needed any help cause if she did he would, but only if she would pay him. Everybody knows that Napi is always hungry but never has any money. The young woman agreed to giving him some food but she had to run a few errands. Napi being so hungry agreed. The woman had only been gone for a couple of hours and the babies had been crying for a long time, and Napi's hungey pains were getting worse. He tried everything to try and get the babies calmed down. He played with them, gave them a rattle. Napi c ould not stand it any more his hunger pains were increasing and the babies were getting on his last nerve so he chopped to twin baby boys into small pieces and ate them. When the woman returned she thought that Napi was the best babysitter cause she no longer heard her babies crying. After Napi left she had found out what he had done, cause she had found the babies heads.

5/2/03
The great spirit, Napi, looked down upon his world. It was covered with water and Napi wanted to walk upon land. so he dove down to the sea's bottom to scoop up a handful of mud. As the mud dried, he blew it in all directions and land masses formed on the water. The land grew until it stretched over a great distance. Now Napi was able to walk upon land and he was happy.After awhile, Napi decided that he wanted to share his land with others. From the mud, he began to shape a man and a woman. At first the man and woman chose to live apart. Napi was not happy because he wanted the man and woman to live together. He went to talk to the woman about this. When he found her, he was surprised to see that the woman had multiplied and created a whole village of woman.The woman listened to Napi's idea about marrying and living with the men. She asked Napi to bring the men and, if the women liked them, they would marry. this was the beginning of the family arrangement. Napi next created animals an d birds out of the mud. These creatures left to find food and freedom on the new land.