1. The Great Lightning Spirits
By Little KAW
This story is as old as man himself. It has been passed down from generation to
generation so that man would not forget. This is the story of The Great Lightning
Spirits which make the earth fruitful. It is the story of the Rain Dance. It all began
very soon after man first appeared that The Great Lightning Spirits made the
land fruitful. A great Indian Chief whose name was Oh-Cho-Ha which means
“The Great One Which Walks The Land” was on a hilltop looking up at the sky.
His hands were stretched out and up high. He was chanting as if he was trying to
get the attention of the Great Sky Spirits. You see, his tribe was in hunger and
thirst was great. The animals were few and his people could not find food. As
Oh-Cho-Ha stood on the hilltop and chanted, the sky became full of clouds and
the wind sprits danced across the land. It became very dark as Oh-Cho-Ha
continued to chant and sing to The Great Sky Spirits. He had to move in place in
order to continue to stand as the wind spirits pushed upon him. Then as the wind
grew harder and the sky got darker, rain began to fall from the clouds. Oh-Cho-
Ha fell silent as he peered up to the clouds where the rain began to fall. It was as
if he knew the spirits were about to speak to him. A great streak of light fell to his
feet and appearing in this light was what looked like an old Chief who chanted to
Oh-Cho-Ha saying; “I have heard your call for help from the Great Sky Spirits,
for I am the Chief of The Great Lightning Spirits. We are the ones that make the
earth fertile so that the trees and animals may flourish. We have heard your
chants and song and saw you dance upon the hilltop, for you are most brave on
this hilltop to call upon the Great Sky Spirits. They have sent me to help your
people. Then the lightning disappeared and a thunder could be heard echoing
throughout the valley below. The earth shook as the rumbling disappeared from
the land. Oh-Cho-Ha returned to the village where the members of his tribe lined
up to see their great chief return. Oh-Cho-Ha looked very old and his walk was
like that of the greatest of wise men. He said he had gone to speak to the Great
Sky Spirits to cry for help for his people. He said the Chief of The Great Lightning
Spirits have made the earth fertile so that the land would provide for the tribe. He
said that when the great light from the sky falls to the ground, that we should not
fear the thunder, but should celebrate it for it is the sound of the Great Lightning
Spirits making the land fertile for us to flourish. He showed the tribe how he had
chanted and sung his plea for help and that every cycle of the moon; we shall
dance in the village and sing this chant so that the Great Lightning Spirits could
bring life to the land. He said we shall call this dance; the “Rain Dance” which will
bring with it, the gifts of the Great Sky Spirits and that this tale shall be told to all
who shall know us so they know of the gift of The Great Lighting Spirits.
Story written by Kristen Ann Winslet “Little KAW” who was inspired by the Great Indian Chiefs of the American
Nation