Hello!! May I ask which birds hold significance in Cree culture (and other indigenous cultures if you know), and your personal favorite?
Ahhh I have a story for you my friend! It's a little late in the season for storytelling, but there was snow on the ground where I live just yesterday, so we're gonna call it kiyâm! (good enough)
The constellation known as Ursa Major, or the great bear, is known as Mistamaskwa in my language, which means... the same thing. I guess we're all in agreement then that this thing is a big ass bear.
Anyways, long ago, before there were teepee creeping Crees or Blackfoots making fun of our flat butts, there was a Great Bear: Mistamaskwa.
Mistamaskwa was a great bully. He was bigger and stronger than all the other animals, and he used his massive strength to lord over them. Mistamaskwa terrorized the forest, clawing up edible plants, destroying homes, stealing food caches, and killing anyone who got in his way.
This went on for many moons... eeeee, just kidding.
This went on for many years, and despite the other creatures trying desperately to calm him Mistamaskwa wouldn't be stopped. The forest was terrified.
Finally, a small voice spoke up, and said "Something must be done!"
So, the animals called a meeting. Nearly all the creatures of the forest showed up, because nearly all of them were tired of living in fear of the Bear. It was decided that night, after story upon story of death and destruction, that Mistamaskwa had to go.
Mistamaskwa was cunning and powerful. The animals knew that only the swiftest and cleverest hunters stood a chance against him. And so they sent Chickadee, Blue Jay, Dove, Grey Jay (diversity!!), Saw-whet Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Robin.
The Seven Birds spent weeks tracking Mistamaskwa, all through the spring and summer. At the turn of autumn, they found him.
But Mistamaskwa knew they were coming.
The Ravens had not attended the meeting. They were satisfied to feast on the carcasses Mistamaskwa left behind, and paid no mind to the violence that had produced them.
When the Ravens heard about the hunters' plans, they flew immediately to warn Mistamaskwa.
And so the Seven Birds came to face an impossible enemy. Mistamaskwa met them snarling, and the hunters raised their weapons.
The coward turned and ran.
The Birds gave chase. The hunters chased the Bear along the horizon so fast that they all soared up into the sky. One by one the Birds fell tired, until Robin was left to pursue the Bear alone. Robin flew on.
Mistamaskwa turned to see how many hunters were left, and just as he did Robin fired their bow and shot an arrow right into the Great Bear's heart. Blood poured from the wound.
As he bled Mistamaskwa gave a great shake, then shuddered, and fell. Droplets of his blood fell to earth and tinged the leaves of the late summer trees with red.
One large drop landed square on Robin's breast, staining it crimson.
The hunters went home, and there was peace.
We see the Seven Birds in the constellation known as the Corona Borealis. We say that Robin was awarded the brightest star, to recognize their determination, and was gifted a special egg as a reward, blue and speckled like a starry sky.
To this day Robin has a red chest.
As far as my personal favourite birds, I love a good ole crow. I think they're the perfect symbol of Indigenous resilience. Maybe I'll eat garbage, but I'll survive!
Thanks for sending in your question, and thanks for sending me proof of your donation! I appreciate you, and I hope you appreciate this piece of my culture. I hope you think of this story every time you see a robin.
romaincrisis
blakekathryn
theartofmadeline
