Wit & Wisdom
Roger Jenkins
storyteller
storyteller
© Roger Jenkins 2011 Made With Serif WebPlus.
© Roger Jenkins 2011 Made With Serif WebPlus.
COYOTE MAKES MAN
a native American myth
adapted by Roger Jenkins from a book version by James Sage
adapted by Roger Jenkins from a book version by James Sage
NARR 1 Coyote scooped out the lakes, heaped up the mountains, and rolled out the tree-covered hills. He made the grass grow tall and filled the streams with cool, clean-running waters.
NARR 2 Then he called all the animals together in a forest clearing.
COYOTE I have asked you all here to discuss my final creation. Man. What do you think Man should look like?
BEAR Bear said, He must be able to walk on all fours or stand upright on his hind legs when he chooses. And he must have a thick woolly coat to keep him warm in the winter.
DEER No, no! He must have antlers to defend himself, and be able to run like the wind.
FOX Humph! sneered Fox. What Man needs is cunning – and a bushy tail to wrap around himself at night.
OWL Who said so? Who? Tu-whit, to-who? It is much more important to see clearly in the dark – and have good hearing.
OTTER Nonsense, scoffed Otter. As long as Man can swim to perfection and have an excellent sense of humour, he’ll do fine!
BEAVER Humour? Hunh! Give Man a set of sharp teeth for gnawing through tree trunks to make himself a home in the river. And don’t forget a broad tail to slap on the water as a signal in times of danger.
PELICAN What’s the point of living by the water if you can’t go fishing? Man needs a beak! How else can he catch his dinner? Man needs a beak! repeated Pelican.
SNOW GOOSE Personally, said Snow Goose, nothing beats a pair of strong wings when it comes time to fly south.
NARR 1 Their voices grew louder and louder until Coyote could stand it no longer.
COYOTE Quiet! We haven’t heard from field mouse! What do you want to say, Field mouse? Speak up!
MOUSE Well, in my humble opinion, I think Man should have large ears and long, twitchy whiskers and a good nose for sniffing. And that’s all he needs, if you don’t mind my saying so.
This is a Dream Catcher
Many native American people hang a dream catcher above their bed to sift their dreams and visions.
The good is captured in the web of life and carried with the people, but the evil in their dreams drops through the hole in the center of the web and is no longer a part of their lives.
It is inspired by a story of Iktomi, the great trickster and teacher of wisdom, who appeared in the form of a spider. He picked up the chief’s willow hoop which had feathers, horsehair, beads and offerings on it, and began to spin a web.
| coyote makes man continued |