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 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........

The End

WHERE THE UNICORN WENT (POEM)