Panther Clan - When the Creator, the Grandfather of all
things, created the earth, there were many things he wanted to put
there. Birds, animals, reptiles, insects, and many different living
things. The Creator did have certain favorite animals. He liked the
Panther, Coo-wah-chobee - crawls on four legs, close to the ground.
The Panther would sit beside the Creator and He would pet the
Panther, over and over, across its long, soft, furry back. The
Creator made sure that certain animals and plants possessed unique
healing powers. When the Creator touches certain things longer than
normal, His powers automatically go into what He touches. He told
Panther, "When it's complete, I would like for you to be the first
to walk on the earth. You are majestic and beautiful. You have
patience and strength. There is something special about you. You
are the perfect one to walk the earth first."
Wind Clan - Creator went to work making all sorts of
animals and birds. Animals on all fours, animals with hooves,
animals with paws, birds with claws, insects, reptiles - why, there
was nothing the Creator left out. When the earth was ready, Creator
put all the animals in a large shell. He set it along the backbone
of the earth - the real high mountains. "When the timing is right,"
He told the animals, "the shell will open and you will all crawl
out. Someone or something will crack the shell and you must all
take your respective places on the face the earth." The Creator
then sealed up the shell and left, hoping the Panther would be
first to come out.
Time went along, and nothing happened. Alongside the shell stood
a great tree. As time passed, the tree grew so large that its roots
started encircling the shell. Eventually a root cracked the shell.
The Panther was patient, which the Creator liked. But, at this
particular time, Panther was too patient. The Wind started circling
around the crack in the shell, round and round the inside, so
vigorously that the crack was made larger.
The Wind, however, remembered that the Creator wished for the
Panther to be on earth first. "We will fulfill the Creator's
wishes," said the Wind, reaching down to help the Panther take its
place on earth.
The Wind was everywhere. The Wind was the air we breathe. After
Wind helped the Panther out first, the Panther thanked Wind for the
honor.
Bird Clan - Next to crawl out was the Bird. The Bird had
picked and picked around the hole, and, when the time was right,
stepped outside the shell. Bird took flight immediately. After
that, other animals emerged in different sequences. Bear, Deer,
Snake, Frog, Otter. There were thousands of others, so many that no
one besides the Creator could even begin to count them all. All
went out to seek their proper places on earth. Meanwhile, as Bird
was flying around looking for a place to live on earth, the Creator
was watching. He watched each animal and did not intervene, but
left the animals on their own. The Creator often allows things to
happen along their own sequences. Sometimes a thing must happen on
its own merits.
When the Creator saw that all was done, He decided to name the
animals and put them into Clans. For being such a good companion,
the Creator rewarded the Panther with special qualities: "Your Clan
will have the knowledge for making laws and for making the medicine
which heals," Creator told Panther. "You, the Panther, will be in
possession of all knowledge of different things. The Panther will
have the power to heal different ailments and to enhance mental
powers."
Creator believed the actions of the Wind were very honorable and
noble, so He told the Wind: "You will serve all living things so
they may breathe. Without the wind - or air - all will die."
The Bird, for being able to take flight, will be ruler of the
earth, said the Creator: "The Bird will make sure that all things
are put in their proper places on earth."
So this is how the beginning was made. Some call it the
Creation. Though there were many, many animals put on this earth by
the Creator, all came to know their proper places on earth.
