Yonder Mountain: A Cherokee Legend
Told by Robert Bushyhead
Written by Kay Thorpe Bannon
Once in the land of the Cherokee lived a beloved chief named Sky
(kalv:lo:?i). Chief Sky had seen many summers and winters. He had
led his people through long seasons of peace. He had seen their
warriors go through great battles with enemies. But now his step
was slow, and his hand trembled on the bow. He could not longer
spot brother deer among the trees. He was no longer able to lead
his people.
One day in the season of falling leaves, the chief called three
young men (ani:wi:na) to him and said, “One of you will take
my place and become chief and lead our people. But first, I must
put you to the test.�?BR>
Chief Sky turned slowly, looking into the distance. “Do you
see yonder mountain?�?The three young men followed the gaze
of their chief and saw a great mountain rising out of the mist in
the distance. “Yes,�?they answered. “We see the
mountain.�?Chief Sky pointed toward the highest peak. “I
want you to go to the mountaintop. Bring back to me what you find
there.�?BR>
The first young man called Black Bear (Yo:na) quickly started up
the side of the mountain. After the sun reached the middle of the
day, Black Bear came to a wide place in the trail where he
stopped to rest. He leaned his head upon a rock, and his eyes
grew heavy. Just as his eyes were closing, he caught sight of a
thousand lights twinkling in the sun. Black Bear sat up straight
and saw stones of great beauty lining each side of the trail.
They sparkled and glowed in the sunlight. Black Bear examined
each stone, carefully turning it over and over in his hand and
watching the sun dance on each surface. “If my people had
these stones, they would never be hungry again,�?he said.
“We could trade them for food and our lives would be
better.�?BR>
Black Bear gathered many sparkling stones and ran down the
mountain and back to his village. The people saw him coming and
lined the path as he entered the village. The children pointed to
the sparkling stones and said “See the pretty stones Black
Bear has found.�?Black Bear handed the stones to Chief Sky
and said, “My chief, look what I have found—beautiful
stones! We can trade them for food and will never go hungry. We
will be safe through many winters.�?The chief smiled fondly
upon the young man and said, “You have done well, my son. You
have done well. Let us now wait for the others.�?BR>
The second young man (awi:na) called Gray Wolf (Wah ya) climbed
the mountain and went past the place of the sparkling stones. He
climbed higher and higher. The trail became steep and rugged.
Finally, he came to an open place where he rested beside the
trail. As Gray Wolf leaned against a rock, he saw herbs, roots,
and bark on each side of the trail. He picked an herb, looking
closely at its pointed leaves and long roots. “These are the
healing plants of our medicine man,�?he said. “If my
people have these herbs and roots, they will no longer be sick
and suffer. We could be healed with these plants.�?Gray Wolf
gathered one of each of the plants and hurried down the mountain.
The people saw him coming and lined the pathway. The children
waved and the elders said, “See the herbs Gray Wolf has
found. We will never be sick again!�?Gray Wolf ran to his
chief and spread the plants before him. “Look, my Chief, what
I have found. We no longer need to suffer. I have found all
kinds of herbs, and we can be healed.�?The old chief smiled
fondly on Gray Wolf and said, “You have done well, my son.
You have done well. Now let us wait for Soaring Eagle (Uwoh?li),
our last young man.
They waited. Days went by and Soaring Eagle did not return. Still
the village waited. After six days, the people began to murmur.
“Something must have happened to Soaring Eagle. Why wait any
longer?�?But Chief Sky told his people, “We will wait one
day longer.�?And so they waited.
On the seventh day, as the sun cast its long shadow over the
village, the people saw Soaring Eagle coming. He stumbled with
bleeding feet. His clothes were ripped and torn. He held nothing
in his hands.
The people were quiet as Soaring Eagle fell at the feet of the
chief. Soaring Eagle spoke softly to Chief Sky. “I went to
the top of the mountain, my chief. But I bring back nothing in
my hands. I passed a place where there were sparkling stones, but
I remembered you said go to the top of the mountain. I passed a
place where all sorts of herbs grew, but I remembered your words.
The path was rough. There were great cliffs and sharp rocks. I
have nothing in my hands to show you, but I bring back a story
from the top of the mountain.�?BR>
The old chief put his hand on the shoulder of the young man.
“Tell us your story, my son.�?Soaring Eagle began.
“As I stood on yonder mountain and looked across the valley
and beyond the farthest mountain, I saw a smoke signal. It was a
signal calling for help. The signal said ‘We are dying,�?BR>and then ‘Come and help us.�?Soaring Eagle rose to his
feet. “Chief Sky,�?he pleaded. “We need to go to them
quickly. They are in trouble.�?BR>
Chief Sky stood straight before his people and the three young
men. Pausing for a time, he lifted is eyes to the mountains and
watched the mist settle on the peaks. He then turned to his
people and spoke. “We need a leader who has climbed to the
top of the mountain. We need one who has seen beyond the mountain
to other people who are in need.�?BR>
The people watched as Chief Sky carefully began to remove his
robe. He turned to face Soaring Eagle. “You, my son, shall
wear the chief’s robe,�?The beloved old leader declared.
Chief Sky placed the robe over the torn clothing of the chosen
young man. “You shall be our next chief, Soaring Eagle. You
will lead our people and help those in need. Yes, you will be our
chief and help us climb younger mountain.�?/DIV> |
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