"When the women of a nation cease to valued
and are destroyed, so is that nation..."
TRICKSTER
(part 3)
Coyote went back to the cave. The rain and hail had stopped
and the
sun was shining. Coyote and Iktome sat out front of the
cave sunning
themselves. They ate pemmican and fry bread with wojapi.
After they
finished eating, they hauled out their pipes and had a smoke.
All of a
sudden Iktome said, "What's that noise?" Coyote said
he didn't hear
anything. Iktome said, "A crashing noise. A rumble
very far off!" Coyote
then replied, "Yes friend, I hear it now."
"Friend Coyote," Iktome cried, "it is getting stronger and
nearer. It is
like thunder or an earthquake!" To that, Coyote said,
"It is rather strong
and loud.. hmm, I wonder what it can be?" Iktome said,
"I have a pretty
good idea friend." It was then they saw the great rock.
It was Iya. Iya
was rolling and thundering, ready to crash in on them!
"Friend, let's run,
Iya means to kill us!" So, the two ran as fast as they
could while the rock
rolled after them coming closer and closer.
They ran to the river absolutely sure that the rock could not
swim.
They were positive they would be safe. So, they swam
the river. But Iya,
the great rock, swam the river also. Iya swam as if he
had been made of
wood. "Into the woods," cried Coyote. He was sure that
Iya could not get
through the forest of trees. They ran among the trees
and Iya rolled right
along behind them. The trees shivered and splintered.
Little splinters and
chunks flew left and right. Coyote and Iktoma came out into
the flats.
"Uh-oh," said Iktome, the Spider Man. "Coyote, this is
really not my
quarrel. I forgot, I have some stuff I have to attend
to. So long, my
friend." Iktome rolled himself into a tiny ball
and became a spider. He
disappeared into a hole in the ground.
Coyote ran on and on as the rock thundered at his heels.
Then, Iya
rolled right over Coyote and flattened him. Iya took
the blanket and rolled
back to his place saying, "So there." A waischu rancher
was riding along
and saw Coyote lying there, flat as could be. "What a
nice rug!"
exclaimed the rancher. He picked Coyote up and took the
rug home.
The rancher put Coyote right in front of the fireplace.
Now, whenever
Coyote is killed, he can make himself come to life again.
But this time it
took him the whole night to puff himself back up into his usual
shape.
In the morning, the rancher's wife said to her husband,
"Your rug is running away."
Friends, hear this.
Always be generous in heart.
If you have something to give, give it forever.
THE
RED PATH