A Lumbee Story
In the beginning, the Great Spirit above gave to the animals and birds
wisdom and knowledge and the power to talk to men. He sent these
creatures to tell man that he showed himself through them. They would
teach a chosen man sacred songs and dance, as well as, much ritual and
lore.
The creature most loved by the Great Spirit was the eagle, for he
tells the story of life. The Eagle, as you know, has only two eggs, and
all living things in the world are divided into two. Here is man and
woman, male and female and this is true with animals, birds, trees,
flowers and so on. All things have children of two kinds so that life may
continue. Man has two eyes, two hands, two feet and he has a body and
soul, substance and shadow.
Through his eyes, he sees pleasant and unpleasant scenes, through his
nostrils he smells good and bad odors, with his ears he hears joyful news
and words that make him sad. His mind is divided between good and evil.
His right hand he may often use for evil, such as war or striking a person
in anger. But his left hand, which is near his heart, is always full of
kindness. His right foot may lead him in the wrong path, but his left
foot always leads him the right way, and so it goes; he has daylight and
darkness, summer and winter, peace and war, and life and death.
In order to remember this lesson of life, look to the great eagle, the
favorite bird of the Great Spirit. The eagle feather is divided into two
parts, part light, and part dark. This represents daylight and darkness,
summer and winter, peace and war, and life and death. So that you may
remember what I have told you, look well on the eagle, for his feathers,
too, tell the story of life.
Look at the feathers I wear upon my hand, the one on the right is
large and perfect and is decorated; this represents man. The one on my
left is small and plain; this represents woman. The eagle feather is
divided into two parts, dark and white. This represents daylight and
darkness, summer and winter. For the white tells of summer, when all is
bright and the dark represents the dark days of winter.
My children, remember what I tell you. For it is YOU who will choose
the path in life you will follow -- the good way, or the wrong way.
Sharon Locklear, publisher of Metrolina Pow Wow
