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J>1. X X X
W e d n esd ay , Feb. 6, 1929
WHY THE TRIBE WAS NAMED CROW
By JOY YELLOWTAIL, Chemawa Student
In the state of what is now Montana, North Dakota
and South Dakota, there once lived a tribe of Indians
that had no name like other Indians. They were a
fine people and known for their kindness.
In this tribe there were two pretty orphan girls—so
pretty that the women of the tribe were jealous of
them and would not allow them to enter their tepees.
These girls had to provide their clothing and shelter.
They tanned buffalo hides and made beads and other
beautiful things that the women of the tribe could
make. It was a fortunate thing that they had two
friends, that are called sweethearts to-day. These
friends went hunting and found them their food.
They were poor and sad. They spent their nights
crying. The younger of the two was very pretty.
She was fair with beautiful shiny black hair. There
fore she was called Beautiful White Bird, or White
Bird the Beautiful. The other one who was not so
pretty and was known as Singing Pine.
The women of the tribe were so jealous that they
never allowed these orphans to come near the camp.
Yet they would follow and put their tents as near as
they dared to do.
Their friends would come every day at sunrise and
bring them food. No other men of the camp offered
to help them because they knew they were not wel
come.
One morning their food was brought to them as
usual and while the two were feasting they heard foot
steps outside, but no one looked up from the feast.
The innocent girls, not knowing they were being de
ceived, never raised there eyes.
When the friends came that morning and were about
to enter the tepee, they saw the two rogues eating.
They became angry and left, never to return.
Soon the girls found out that they were being cheated,
these were not their real friends but two who looked
very much like them. They became very much trou
bled and wondered what they would do if left alone.
As time went on the new friends changed in appear
ance. White Bird’s hair, especially, grew very black
and glossy. Before it had been like any ordinary hair.
The other one was not so handsome. His hair was
short, black and wavey.
No. 15
Before this time when the girls followed the camp
they always borrowed horses. But after they changed
friends no one would let them have horses and they
were compelled to live at one place and not follow.
Early one morning, their friends came and found
them crying because they were outcasts. They tried
to comfort them by saying, “ We have a question to
ask you, but we will ask it some other time.’’ The
girls coaxed, but they refused.
It was early spring. The birds were singing, and
the leaves were getting big. The blossoms on the
wild cherry and wild plum trees were in bloom. The
deceitful friends came at this lovely time of the year
to show these innocent girls that they were pot friends,
but enemies—a crow and a dragon. They were now
enemies to each other. When the dragon in a human
form would talk to the girls in the tepee the crow
would perch on top and listen.
One day crow heard dragon boasting that he was.
greater. This so angered the crow that he flew down
and dared the dragon to a duel. The dragon accepted
the challenge and the crow instead ot keeping his word
flew to the top of a tree and caused a blizzard which
hurt the dragon, but did not seem to touch the girls.
The dragon fought to save his life. The crow flapped
his wings in delight and cawed loudly as he saw the
poor dragon writhing toward the river to save himself
beneath the bank. When he got there the river was
frozen over. He tried to drill a hole in the ice with
his tail but froze to death
The blizzard was soon over. The sun came out, a
warm breeze blew and all about was beautiful. The
crow flew down to White Bird and kept his promise.
He asked her the question. It was “ will you live
in my tepee and cook my food?’’ White Bird accept
ed.
The crow man decided to take White Bird and go
back to the rest of the Indians, who took them into
the tribe.
In due time a brave young warrior was recognized
by the tribe. In honor of his father, the crow, a.nd
his lovely mother, White Bird the Beautiful, the tribe
became his name sake, and was called Crow. We
still are known by that. The tribe is located in the
southern part of Montana.