Retold by Barbara A. Warren aka Shining Woman
Cherokee Words:
- Wolf Wa-ya
- Raccoon Gv-li
- Bird Tsi-s-qua
- Brown U-wo-di-ge
- Red Gi-ga-ge
- Red bird To-tsu-wa
Gvli loved to tease Waya. One day, Gvli teased Waya so much that Waya became very angry. Waya began to chase Gvli through the woods. Gvli, being such a clever animal, was able to keep just ahead of Waya.
Soon Gvli came to a river. Instead of jumping in the river, he quickly climbed a tall tree and peered over a branch to see what Waya would do next.
When Waya came to the river, he saw the reflection of Gvli in the water. Thinking that it was Gvli, Waya jumped in and tried to catch him. Waya continued to splash around in the water in search of Gvli for such a long time that he became so tired he nearly drowned! Finally, totally exhausted, Waya climbed up the river bank and fell fast asleep.
After a while, Gvli quietly climbed down the tree and slipped over to the sleeping Waya. While Waya slept, Gvli took some mud from the river bank and began to plaster Waya‘s eyes with mud. When he had finished, Gvli ran off through the woods laughing to himself thinking of the clever trick he had played!
Later, Waya woke up. Oh, no! He couldn’t open his eyes! He began to whine, “Oh, someone please help me. I can’t see. I can’t open my eyes.” But no one came. Waya continued to plead and beg but still, no one came to help him.
At long last, Tsisqua Uwodige heard the cries of Waya. He flew over to Waya and landed next to him. He said, “What’s the matter Brother Wolf? Can I help you?” Waya cried, “I can’t open my eyes. Oh, please help me to see again.” Tsisqua Uwodige said, “I’m just a little brown bird but I will help you if I can.” Waya said, ” Tsisqua Uwodige, if you can help me to see again, I will take you to a magic rock that oozes red paint. We will paint your feathers gigage.”
So Tsisqua Uwodige began pecking away at the dried mud on the eyes of Waya. Soon Waya could open his eyes again. “Wado! Thank you, my brother!” And true to his promise Waya said, “Now jump up onto my shoulder.” Away they ran through the woods to the rock that oozed red paint.
When they came to the rock, Waya reached up and plucked a twig from a tree branch. He chewed the end of the twig until it was soft and pliable like the end of a paintbrush. Then he dipped the end of the twig into the red paint and began to paint the feathers of Tsisqua… gigage.
When all of his feathers were gigage, Tsisqua flew off to show his family and friends how beautiful he was. That is why, from that day to this, you can see Totsuwa, the Cardinal, flying around the woods in Cherokee country.
(Adapted from “History, Myths and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokee” by James Mooney)