Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition
Birds in Oral Traditions of the Northern Plains Tribes
Birds as Messengers
Of the many ways that birds are discussed, there are some prominent and distinct roles including as messengers, spiritual helpers or those empowered with great foresight and the ability to see potential future outcomes.
There is also some explanation in oral tradition about why certain birds are the way they are: for example, why some members of this “Nation” are predatory and others are not. In Cheyenne educator and elder Burt Medicine Bull’s telling of the “Story of the Race” also referred to as “The Great Race,” the earth had only recently been created. All people and animals lived in peace and neither people nor animals ate flesh. As time passed, buffalo began to believe that they were most powerful and should be allowed to kill and eat animals and people. As a result, the buffalo suggested a race to determine the dominant order. The humans argued that two legs cannot compete with four and asked if the birds could race in their place, to which the buffalo agreed. Other animals wanted to race as well, so all living things went the edge of the Black Hills (Buffalo Gap) and lined up for the race. The race track used, called the Red Road, is still visible. The buffalo chose a fast young cow to race for them called Slender Woman, who would cough up red froth which became the red dirt or paint that stained the race track. Or, according to Jerome Kills Small, the red ring was caused by animals in the race cutting their feet. As for the humans, they chose four birds to race in their place: a hawk, eagle, magpie and vulture. At the end of the race, the magpie claimed victory for the humans.
The outcome of the Great Race determined outcomes that remain true today. Ever since the race, people have dominated the buffalo and have eaten it. As a result of siding with the people, hawks and eagles became predators, while magpies and vultures became scavengers. As a result of magpie winning the race for them, Northern Plains tribes gained respect for this bird, never hunting or eating it. This treatment of the magpie also demonstrates how oral tradition has passed down bird taboos or rules that govern Native people’s treatment of birds.
All four of the birds (eagle, hawk, owl and falcon) discussed in this study were identified by the speakers as being messengers in some form, often serving as intermediaries between humans and the Creator.
Several speakers indicated that the eagle, or Wanbli, is associated with carrying prayers to the Creator/Great Spirit. Rosalie Little Thunder advised that since eagles fly the highest and can go places that humans cannot go, Wanbli brings a wide variety of good advice to those who seek it. According to Bryant High Horse, the eagle is not the last leg of messenger, but intercepts another bird (Thunder Bird) and this bird of the heavens carries messages even further into the universe. The chain of messages and prayers from human to the spiritual realms can also involve the hawk, as hawks are known in oral tradition to convey messages to the eagle. The falcon, or Chayton, was discussed by some speakers as a messenger as well.
Birds in Native Spirituality
Birds also have an important place in Native spirituality and ceremonies. When a Native person dreams or has a vision about a certain animal, the person may then wear regalia related to that animal. Jace DeCory and Rosalie Little Thunder advised that when wearing an emblem of an animal, a person is mimicking the desired characteristics of that animal. For example, when dancing the Eagle Dance, a dancer is mimicking the eagle and hoping to gain characteristics associated with the eagle, such as intelligence.
Birds may also be a part of a Lakota Yuwipi (healing) ceremony. In this ceremony, the healer is tied up with a special blanket and rope while praying for the healing of a person. The spirits prayed to vary on who the Yuwipi Medicine Man is and what the goals of the ceremony are, but sometimes, bird spirits are used including eagles, hawks, owls, robins, or blackbirds. After the spirits are summoned and communicate with the Yuwipi Medicine Man, the spirits untie the healer and then leave.
Additionally, some Native leaders have spiritual bird helpers, such as Crazy Horse’s helper, the hawk. Crazy Horse showed modesty by wearing hawk feathers in his hair rather than eagle feathers. Other speakers also spoke about the spiritual guidance of the hawk and that tobacco is often offered to this predatory bird. The owl can also serve as a spiritual guide. Educator and Standing Rock tribal member Jace DeCory indicated that the Great White Owl was a spirit helper for her Grandpa Fools Crow.
Archeological evidence demonstrates that historically the peregrine falcon has served as a symbol of divinity and individuals were buried in clothing associated with the falcon.
Birds as Seers into the Future
Many predatory birds are seen as having powers to see in the future, especially owls, which are commonly known in oral tradition for carrying warnings, including impending death. Lakota elder Bryant High Horse, Jr. pointed out that some birds are able to predict and forecast the weather (i.e. birds gathering in the forest canopy). Similarly, Francis Cut stated that forming societies in the past could depend upon the ability of the eagle, hawk, and falcon to see into the future and provide guidance to humans.
The presence of an owl, or Ko 'ko or Totoba, can cause anxiety because it is often associated with a pending death or warning. Specifically, two hoots from an owl can carry a warning message, according to Lakota activist Rosalie Little Thunder. These two hoots may be the harbinger of death. Yet, not all agree with this interpretation of the owl. Albert White Hat discussed in his interview that owls are indeed messengers, but that the news an owl carries is not always bad. Sometimes, coming home late from ceremonies, White Hat has seen a large owl on the roof or in his yard. He does not consider this to be a bad omen. Jace DeCory described the lowanpi ceremony, in which the Great White Owl would often flap around in the circle. Her Grandpa Fools Crow explained it as the owl giving a warning, which was often associated with a death or another negative connotation. Fools Crow stated that the owl should prompt humans to be increasingly aware of themselves and their actions.
~ Rosalie Little Thunder, Lakota linguist, artist and environmental activist
“The spotted eagle flies high and therefore reaches places that we don’t know about...the spirit of the spotted eagle is considered to be very powerful. It brings really good advice from elsewhere, places that other things don’t go.”
Bird Taboos/Treatment
Image from http://managementhelp.org/
Oral tradition and reverence toward certain birds has affected bird taboos and Native treatment of birds. For instance, Black Hills State professor Jace DeCory indicated that traditionally, the only bird that the Lakota people ate was the Prairie Chicken (aka Greater Prairie Chicken or Pinnated Grouse). She was also taught not to eat eagles, hawks, owls, or small birds such as meadowlarks or sparrows. Many Native people have been taught not to disturb, kill or eat eagles due to the eagle’s purpose as a sacred messenger.
Additionally, the feathers of certain birds are also believed to possess powers and should be treated with respect. Eagle feathers are often used in spiritual ceremonies, such as naming ceremonies, honoring ceremonies and the Sun Dance.
Other birds in Native American Oral Tradition
For the purposes of this study, we focus predominantly on four predatory birds: the eagle, hawk, owl, and falcon. However, many other birds are also common in oral tradition, including the crow, raven, magpie, prairie chicken, swallow, robin, bluebird, meadowlark, woodpecker, dove, pigeon, and vulture.
Another bird relative present in Native oral tradition is Thunder Birds/Thunder Beings, known in Lakota as Wakinyan. These beings are considered very sacred and are able to create lightning by opening their mouths. Some consider the hierarchy of sacred birds to be Wakinyan, eagle, hawk and then falcon. This ranking corresponds to the levels of knowledge that each bird possesses. Lakota environmental activist Rosalie Little Thunder identified in her interview that in oral tradition, the dove and pigeon serve as intermediaries between the Thunder Beings and humans. For this reason, doves and pigeons should not be killed or eaten.
The Key Role of Birds
Birds, along with animals, or Wamakaska, have historically been an important part of Native American oral tradition and this remains true today. Winged messengers have been entrusted with invaluable communications from beyond, are reserved a special place in spirituality/ceremonies, and also provide insight into future happenings yet to come. According to Northern Plains teachings, the power of birds is to be respected and held in high esteem. When asked about the role of birds, Rosalie Little Thunder simply replied, “Wakan,” a term fraught with meaning but often translated as “sacred.” The use of this term demonstrates the great significance that the Bird Oyate has had, in the past and still today, to the tribes of the Great Plains.
References
Albert White Hat Sr. & Francis Cut [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition.
Retrieved from http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!albert-white-hat-sr--francis-cut/c1om8
Jace DeCory [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition. Retrieved from
http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!jace-decory/c1gwt
Gene Thin Elk [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition. Retrieved from
http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!gene-thin-elk/c1yrh
Burt Medicine Bull [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition. Retrieved from
http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!burt-medicine-bull/c5io
Bryant High Horse Jr. [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition. Retrieved
from http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!bryant-high-horse-jr/c1um4
Rosalie Little Thunder [interview]. Winged Messenger Nations: Birds in American Indian Oral Tradition. Retrieved from
http://nativeede.wix.com/wingedmessenger#!rosalie-little-thunder/cl10
Erdoes, R. & Ortiz, A. (1984). American Indian myths and legends. New York: Pantheon Books.
Yuwipi. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuwipi#Spirits