Long ago, a tribe of Cheyenne hunters lived at the head of a
rushing stream, which eventually emptied into a large cave.
Because of the great need for a new food supply for his people,
the Chief called a council meeting.
"We should explore the large cave," he told his people. "How many
brave hunters will offer to go on this venture? Of course, it may
be very dangerous, but we have brave hunters." No one responded
to the Chief's request.
Finally, one young brave painted himself for hunting and stepped
forth, replying to the Chief, "I will go and sacrifice myself for
our people."
He arrived at the cave, and to his surprise, First Brave found
two other Cheyenne hunters near the opening, where the stream
rushed underground.
"Are they here to taunt me," First Brave wondered? "Will they
only pretend to jump when I do?"
But the other two braves assured him they would go.
"No, you are mistaken about us. We really do want to enter the
cave with you," they said.
First Brave then joined hands with them and together they jumped
into the huge opening of the cave. Because of the darkness, it
took some time for their eyes to adjust. They then discovered
what looked like a door. First Brave knocked, but there was no
response. He knocked again, louder.
"What do you want, my brave ones?" asked an old Indian
grandmother as she opened her door.
"Grandmother, we are searching for a new food supply for our
tribe," First Brave replied. "Our people never seem to have
enough food to eat."
"Are you hungry now?" she asked.
"Oh, yes, kind Grandmother, we are very hungry," all three braves
answered.
The old grandmother opened her door wide, inviting the young
braves to enter.
"Look out there!" she pointed for them to look through her
window.
A beautiful wide prairie stretched before their eyes. Great herds
of buffalo were grazing contentedly. The young hunters could
hardly believe what they saw!
The old grandmother brought each of them a stone pan full of
buffalo meat. How good it tasted, as they ate and ate until they
were filled. To their surprise, more buffalo meat remained in
their stone pans!
"I want you to take your stone pans of buffalo meat back to your
people at your camp," said the old grandmother. "Tell them that
soon I will send some live buffalo."
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, kind Grandmother," said the
three young Cheyenne braves.
When the young hunters returned to their tribe with the gifts of
buffalo meat, their people rejoiced over the new, good food.
Their entire tribe ate heartily from the old grandmother's three
magic pans, and were grateful.
When the Cheyennes waked at dawn the next day, herds of buffalo
had mysteriously appeared, surrounding their village! They were
truly thankful to the old Indian grandmother and to the Sky
Spirits for their good fortune.
Return to Indigenous Peoples' Literature
Compiled by: Glenn Welker
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