history-main

From the earliest times the people have defined themselves by the environment and the animals. This basic principle is at the core, right at the very essence of all that is important to us. Our laws, our spiritual beliefs, our clan system are based on our tremendous dependence on the environment.

We have legends and stories that tell us how we originated, how the world started, how everything came to be. These legends have persisted through the test of time and are still told today by our Elders and also by young people who are committed to learning this ancient oral tradition.

We have been taught by our Grandmothers that Crow was the one who started the world. He brought fish to the lakes; he brought the first light into the world by letting the sun, moon and the stars escape from a wealthy man, who owned them. Crow placed these into the sky so they would belong to everyone.