Cherokee creation story
As told by Ayúnini (Swimmer) to James Mooney
The earth began as nothing but water and darkness, and all the animals were in Galúnlati, above the stone vault that makes up the sky. Eventually Galúnlati became so crowded that the animals needed more room, and they wanted to move down to earth. Not knowing what was below the water, they sent down the Water-beetle to explore. Cherokee creation story »»
Hopi Creation Story
As told by Oraibi Elders
The world at first was endless space in which existed only the Creator, Taiowa. This world had no time, no shape, and no life, except in the mind of the Creator. Eventually the infinite creator created the finite in Sotuknang, whom he called his nephew and whom he created as his agent to establish nine universes. Hopi Creation Story »»
Medicine man of the 21st century
by Kirsten Scharnberg, Chicago Tribune
Albert Laughter is a fifth generation medicine man from the Navajo tribe. He has trained most of his life to treat the people of his tribe with traditional healing methods and natural herbs. But these days, he is employed by the Federal Government to treat military veterans suffering from the trauma of combat. Medicine man of the 21st century »»
Moving ancient rocks would destroy their spiritual significance
AUTHOR: Erik Siemers, Tribune Reporter
To the American Indians who hold them sacred, the seven rocks in the way of Paseo del Norte’s westward expansion aren’t inanimate stones. They’re alive. They’re connections to their sacred earth that can’t be replicated 100 feet away. Moving ancient rocks would destroy their spiritual significance »»
Protection ceremony for San Francisco Peaks
AUTHOR: Somana Yaiva, The Observer
Amidst the dust and set into the backdrop of the San Francisco Peaks, the Navajo Medicinemen’s Association held a weekend long ceremony over April 21 through 23 for the safeguarding and continued protection of the sacred San Francisco Peaks. Protection ceremony for San Francisco Peaks »»
Regaining The Mdewakantons Mille Lacs ancestral homeland
By Thomas Ivan Dahlheimer
On a Mille Lacs Kathio State Park interpretive sign, Leonard E. Wabasha is quoted as saying: “My people are the Mdewakanton Oyate. Mdewakanton means the People of Spirit Lake. Today that lake is known as Mille Lacs. This landscape is sacred to the Mdewakanton Oyate because one Otokaheys Woyakapi (creation story) says we were created here. Regaining The Mdewakantons Mille Lacs ancestral homeland »»
Gang Graffiti Sprayed on Petroglyph National Monument
Gang tags were spray-painted on at least eight large basalt boulders at the edge of the Petroglyph National Monument but none of the ancient petroglyphs was damaged, the monument’s superintendent says. Gang Graffiti Sprayed on Petroglyph National Monument »»
We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people
Many days passed before the joy of that day settled deeply into my heart and I could move forward to thinking on the realities of the present situation of the buffalo on our People.
We must honor the buffalo! We are buffalo people »»
A Day With the Buffalo and the Elders
On November 29, 2006, eight little buffalo calves forced their way out of a government enclosure where they, and many other wild buffalo, were being detained in holding pens and experimented on by scientists attempting to produce a "brucellosis-free buffalo herd" in the Yellowstone area.
A Day With the Buffalo and the Elders »»
What the buffalo mean to our people
Time never stops and is always moving us forward and through the changes of seasons. Time stands as an unforgiving taskmaster that regulates the passage through eternal tides.
What the buffalo mean to our people »»