December 19, 2002
" In ages past, our old ones were the storytellers. This was the way things were passed along to the generations that followed. For this reason the aged people made it a point to remember every detail so they could relate it at a later time. They were the word and picture carriers making history and spirtual values alive and important. In recent times we have made our old ones think they are not so important. We spoof their stories and make them feel foolish. The truth is that we are ignorant of what is precious and how to 'a da li he li tse di -- appreciate age. Rigidity can creep in and set even the young mind if there are no soft memories, no laughter, no times too deep for tears. Age is grace -- a time too valuable to waste."
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A long time ago, when Father Sky took Mother Earth in his arms and mated with her, the Moon was born. As it grew bigger and bigger out there among the basket of stars, the Sun Dogs took turns biting it. Snap, snap, they went, until the moon was crescent shaped.
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The ragged little Moon continued to shine brightly in the sky. Spirit Walker, who guided all the Two-Legged and Four-Legged Creatures at this time, worried about the Moon. She told all the creatures to dance around the plaza, men with Deer, women with Corn, children with Turtles. On the Night When Red Leaves Fell, the creatures looked up. The Moon was growing bigger! It grew and grew until it had a full, happy face. But then the Sun Dogs chewed on it again and whittle it down until it was crescent shaped again.
From then on, the Two-Legged Creatures and the Four-Legged Creatures got used to the growing and the dying of the Moon. They got used to the Sun Dogs chewing on it and Father Sun casting a black shadow on it's round face every once in a while. All the creatures got together and decided to give each of these moons a name, which are today, as they were then:
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Taken from "Dancing Moons" by Nancy Wood
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