The CHEROKEE LEGEND of Little Deer, AWI USDI

© Last Year's Baby ~ Undine DeFilippo 2015

The  CHEROKEE  PEOPLE  tell  a  story  about  our  younger  world, 
 when  animals  and  humans  communicated  freely  and  easily.  


 There  was  peace  between  them 
 until  humans  invented  the  bow  and  arrow  
and  began  killing  the  animals  for  food  and  skins.

 The  animal  kingdom  became  very  concerned 
 about  being  wiped  out  completely  and  held  a  meeting.

 The  bears  were  especially  angry  
and  vowed  they'd  fight  back  in  the  same  way, 
 but  that  just  wasn't  possible. 

A  little  deer  named  AWI  USDI  had  an  idea  
to  visit  humans  as  they  slept 
 as  that  was  the  safest  way  to  get  them  to  understand 
 without  risking  anyone's  life.

So,  that's  what  AWI  USDI  did. 
 He  whispered  into  the  Hunters  ears  as  they  slept 
 and  told  them: 

 Whenever  you  wish  to  kill  one  of  us  
you  must  prepare  ceremoniously.  


You  must  ask  permission  to  kill  one  of  us. 


 After  you  kill  one  of  us, 
 you  must  show  respect  for  our  Spirit 
 and  ask  for  our  pardon. 


 If  you  do  not  do  this, 
 then  you  will  be  cursed  with  crippled  limbs 
 and  you  won't  be  able  to  shoot  your  bow  and  arrow  anymore.

The  Hunters  awoke;  some  remembering  the  little  deer  
as  if  it  were  a  dream.

Others  were  certain  he  had  really  visited  them.

Most  honoured  the  request  
and  only  hunted  when  food  and  clothes  were  needed,
and  behaved  with  respect  to  their  kill.

The  Hunters  who  did  not 
 were  crippled  with  Rheumatism.