Traditions of the Arikara

by George A. Dorsey

FOOTNOTES:

[5] Told by Star.

5. THE ORIGIN OF THE ARIKARA.[6]

In the forgotten days of old there stood unnumbered people in the dark and gloomy cave down deep in the earth. They were wanderers, not knowing where they came from nor where they were going. In the midst of the blinded multitude there stood the Corn, the Mother of the tribe. For many days they stood in this condition and longed to see if there was any better world. Whereupon, the Mother-Corn called and selected the four fastest birds. She sent one to the east, as she thought, one to the south, one to the north, and one to the west, to look for a better world to live in. The birds went as they were directed and were gone for some days. They all returned, but without any good news to tell to the Mother. Whereupon, they were sad and discouraged, until there came forward from the crowd a tiny animal who thought himself capable to lead the people out of darkness into light. He told the Mother-Corn that he would make an effort to look for a better world. The Mother-Corn was glad to hear it, and consented to let him try to do what he could. Another came and said he would assist him, and still another came to offer his help. The first one was a long-nosed Mouse, or a Mole; the second was a Skunk; and the third was a Badger. The first went and started to dig upwards. He toiled until he was exhausted. Then the second went and worked until he gave out. Then the third came and labored on the same thing, until he was almost exhausted. The Mole made his second attempt and worked very hard. When he was about tired out he ran his nose into a new and better world.

He saw a very faint light, but he could not go further. He returned, and told that he had an idea there was light. The people felt much pleased, and encouraged. The Skunk began to widen the path, and worked hard until he succeeded. He got out; but the sunlight, being too strong, blinded him, and so he turned back and told the people that there was a sun which lighted the world. The people were more pleased, and were very anxious to see it.

The Badger came forward again with his strength and worked on it, widening the path so that the multitude could march out, one by one. After his hard labor he went through, but because he was tired he lay down. He saw the skies, the sun, the mountains and all that there was on the earth. The sun went down, the stars appeared and the Night came. The Night saw him there and visited him, but the animal was asleep. The Night put forth his hands and held the Badger’s hands, touched him on his head and on his neck, then went on his way. Light came again from the east, the stars disappeared and the moon also. The Badger awoke from his sleep and saw the sun rising in the east. He felt satisfied with all he had witnessed. He turned to the people and told all this to the Mother-Corn. Immediately the Mother-Corn marched ahead and stopped at the opening. The opening was somewhat small, but she tried hard to put her head through. The next step she went through as far as her legs. Then she marched out, and all the people followed.

Nesaru from the heavens saw the Mother-Corn and talked to her. He had his mercy on her and he taught her how she should live. He gave her power to use in the times of need. The whole multitude cried for joy. The Mother-Corn started out on a long westward march. All followed, as in a triumphant procession. After many days of marching they came to a wide expanse of water. There they stood on the shore. The Fish came and told the Mother-Corn that he would make way for them. The Mother-Corn gave her consent, because she knew that the Fish had the power to do so. The Fish went into the waters, and thus the water parted. The Mother-Corn led, and they all marched on dry land, but there stood high walls of waters. After a long march they came to the shore, and the waters came together. This was the first obstacle they encountered.

They went on their march again, and here they came to their second obstacle, which was a very thick forest, that no one could go through. The Owl came and volunteered to make a way for the people. So he went and blew down trees, the path was cleared, and the people all went on. They then came to the third and last obstacle, which was a very deep ravine that no man could walk down and up. Then one bird, the Kingfisher, said he would make the way. So he did, and all the people went across. Now they went on. They came to an open prairie. Here they saw a buffalo, a very large animal, whose horns seemed to reach to the sky. The people were amazed, and were very much afraid of him. They could find no way to kill him. But the Mole, the Skunk, and the Badger agreed to work together once more. The Mother-Corn was willing to let them do so. The Fish also said that he would be the one to kill the animal. Where the animal stood there was a very beautiful lake where he had always gone to get his drink. The three went and worked under the surface of the earth. They made many holes all around the animal. The three returned, after they had made all the ground loose about the animal. The animal started, and went toward the lake for water, while the people watched, to see what would happen to him. He came to the shore, and while he was drinking the Fish went up into his mouth and into his throat and into his stomach. Inside, he worked with his fins and cut the animal very badly. The animal ran, then got into the loosened ground. Finally he fell, bled and died. The Fish then came out. All the people came and were very much surprised because of the appearance of the animal. They were afraid of him, so they worshiped him. The hairs on him were grass. The horns on him were trees, with thick bark. The end of his nose was a big, black sunflower. Most of his outside appearance was in the form of Mother-Earth. The blood from the buffalo sank down into the earth, was hardened and became a stone, and from this stone later on they made their pipes. They butchered the buffalo and divided his flesh among the different sacred bundles in different villages. They counted and kept all the joints in the animal, and they are preserved in the bundles.

Then, again, they went on westward, and after many days they stopped, and separation took place. The Mother-Corn called a council, and they all met together. The fowls, fishes, and animals all agreed that they would separate from the people. They gave as much power as they could spare to the Mother-Corn. The Mother-Corn was very thankful, because she was to get her food from any animal that she should like. Besides, she was to get all her clothing from them. At last, the Mother-Corn separated from the animals.

This will give an idea to all how the Arikara originated under the earth. Yet it seems a mystery to us, and it is for us to solve.