This tribe was so peaceful that there wasn't much to do during the day besides the normal chores (i.e. hunting, gathering, playing). The children who did their daily duties often found themselves riddled with boredom. They tried dancing, playing hide and seek, and everything else they could think of in order to keep themselves busy. One day, a small boy overheard his parents talk about a certain plant that would make them see visions of the gods. The adults had said that it was called a mescal plant and was located just outside the village. The small boy quickly ran off to tell his friends what he had learned. Unfortunately the small boy did not hear the warning that came from the medicine about the trouble that eating this plant would cause.
(Mescal Plant: Agave Americana)
The boy ran to his friends as quickly as he could. As soon as he reached them he explained that he had a great idea for something to do that night. When everyone was fast asleep they would sneak without anyone hearing and find one of the mescal plants that they had just learned about.
As soon as they were out of the village, the group of five panned out in search for this plant with strange powers. Soon one of them shouted "I found it!" The five of them gathered around the plant in wonder. After staring at the plant for five minutes, one of them finally plucked one of the knobs of a leaf and put it in his mouth. All of them turned to him, eyes wide open wondering if he felt anything different. eventually the rest of them ate one as well. After some time had passed the group of kids began to see swirls of colors around them as well as the gods off in the distance. One of them tried to stand up and walk towards the gods and ended up falling down. The five of them fell asleep to the myriad of colors that they were enthralled with.
The next morning the group of five went to their respective homes and told their families about what happened the night before. Soon word had spread throughout the village of the wonders of the mescal plant. Curious from the tales that people heard all of the villagers began eating the knobs from the plant. Eventually all the villagers were incapacitated due to the effects they experienced.
While all of the villagers were occupied the younger children began to get hungry. Since there parents were nowhere to be found, they roamed around the village looking for food. Eventually, the villagers came to and realized that all of the young children were nowhere to be found. As they started looking outside the village, the Manitou, one of the gods of the sky, came to them. He told them that he had hidden their children away in a tree to save them from the heat and the wolves.
The Manitou swiftly waved his hand over the village and said "I am turning you into birds so you can find your children in hollow trees. When you have found your children I will turn you back into people." Immediately afterward they flock of villagers flew away in search of their children.
The villagers have yet to find their children. That is why, to this day, you can still find woodpeckers pecking away at hollow trees.
Author's Note: I really liked they way that Why the Woodpecker Pecks describes the reason that woodpeckers consistently peck trees. I didn't change much from the original story. I added a bit to the beginning with the inclusion of the five boys experience. I really like how the Native American cultures explain things through stories.
Bibliography:
Story Name: Why the Woodpecker Pecks
Story Book: When the Storm God Rides: Tejas and Other Indian Legends
Story Author: Florence Stratton
Year: 1936
What is interesting is that I read this same story, but different version/writer, last week! I can see why you, who have read this unit, like this story so much. There are so many ways to tell and change it around to make it your own. I like how you stayed true to the original, though, because it gives someone like me a chance to see into a unit that I have not read. Good job this week, and I hope I can read more of your work before class ends.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool origin story for woodpeckers! Although I have not read the original version, from what I’ve read of your re-telling the unit you picked must have had some really interesting stories. It’s amazing how people were able to think of such creative stories to explain why the many aspects of nature look or act a certain way. The world as the people who heard these tales conceived it must have been a much more magical place. They had such awesome narratives that allowed them to see nature as being full of fellow individuals with stories and character traits of their own. Great story, Seth.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting story! I don't know how it compares to the original, as I have not read it, but I think that you did a really good job. Because your adaptation stays true to the original for the most part, this gives me an opportunity to read the story and understand it without having to look up what it was supposed to be like. Good job!!
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