Native American Vulture Tales
To the people of the pre-conquest Americas, the vulture or buzzard was one
of the more prevalent animals. It was known to clans across the country.
This bird is credited with assisting in some of the more important tasks -
including the creation of the land and the efforts to bring fire to the
first people.
Although we cannot necessarily draw a straight line between these animal
folktales and stories about the Watchers - whose myths were based on vulture
shamen - there are certain similarities between the two. In many cases the
vulture was one of the first animals to come down from the sky or to come
from the old land into the new, much as the Watchers had done. That the
vulture helped shape the land and bring light might suggest a similar theme
to stories in which the Watchers introduced new technologies to the humans.
- The Tohno O'odhan Creation Story
- This Papago story tells how buzzard was created during one of the times
when the sky touched the earth.
- Earth Making
- In this Cherokee story, Grandfather Buzzard creates the mountains and
valleys with the touch of his wings across the landscape. Along with the
other animals, Grandfather Buzzard descended from a land in the sky when
there was no more room for them there. It also tells how to get to the
underworld.
- How the Hopi Indians Reached Their
World
- In this tale, the vulture is one of the five animals (including spider,
swallow, coyote and locust) to help the first Hopi find a way of bringing
light to the fourth world, which they had just come to inhabit after failed
attempts at survival in the other three. Although coyote ends up finding the
light, again vulture is credited with making the mountains with his wings.
In this story they also learn about the afterlife, and why they should not
fear death.
- Grandmother Spider
- In this tale, the animals set out to find a source of fire and bring it
back to the land of animal and bird people. One of those who goes to fetch
fire is vulture, but he is unsuccessful and his head is badly burned in the
effort.
- The Origin of Some Oraibi Clans
- In this Hopi (Oraibi) story, buzzard yet again helps in the search for
light in a new world, and is burned. In this case, however, he is partially
successful in bringing light into the world.
- How Buzzard Got His Clothing
- This Seneca story warns of the dangers of vanity. Buzzard is sent to
give
a message to the Creator, and gets so excited he forgets to be humble. The
Creator gives him first pick of all the birds' garments, but keeps tossing
the outfits to other birds claiming they are not right for him. Finally, the
only one left is an ill-fitting black suit...
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