Long Years Ago..a tribe lived on a fast moving river.... the braves in this tribe would compete with each other trying to swim across to the other side to see who was the strongest. The chief's son, Skylooker, was not of the type to compete.

Skylooker was a brilliant man, but not of the type the chief could look to for taking over as leader of the tribe.  He studied the water,the fields, the animals of the plain and the mountains.  When asked if he wanted to compete with the other braves in swimming the river, he declined saying it was a waste of time and energy..

Further up the river live another tribe.   There were many squaws there , but not many braves.  Every
spring, the braves from downriver would try to swim up-river to capture a squaw and bring her home as his wife. Skylooker did not compete in this ritual.. As years went by, he grew wiser,older,more mature,and lonesome.  His mother said it was time for him to marry.  Two more springs went by when Skylooker's father said time is near, you must take a bride or leave the tribe. You are not contributing
anything to the growth of the community.

Many braves continued to swim up the river.  Some died in their attempt. Some were injured on the rocks.  Few actually made it to the other camp. One day, Skylooker started walking on the shore of the river..... As dusk came, he built a small fire to cook his dinner and to keep warm for the evening.

Along about this time a Maiden from the other tribe was hunting for her dinner, and was heading down -river looking for game.  She had set a small trap for a rabbit when she saw some smoke rising.
Suddenly she heard a snap! A large rabbit had been trapped by her lare.  She cleaned her catch and started to walk toward the smoke.  Her name was Evening sky. She entered a clearing and found Skylooker cooking his rabbit that he caught and asked if she could share his fire.

Skylooker,  being shy and inexperienced talking with maidens, mumbled and fumbled and stumbled
until finally he said she should join him..Evening sky took over the cooking of the two rabbits and
set about making camp for the evening.  Skylooker was so impressed, he asked her if she would join him at his camp and be his squaw.

They returned and lived together for many seasons.. Skylooker became the teacher of children,
and Evening star made sure he never ran out of students... 

the story teller

Long years ago,in the dim ages of the past, a tribe of Indians lived along the Delaware river. They were the Lenilanapi...

Their leader's name was Chingochgook. His son, Uncas...

A war broke out and his tribe was eliminated, all but he & his son... they left the area along the Delaware and traveled throughout the lands of the Delaware & Mohegan.  When asked what happen to the tribe, they told a story of woe.  All were lost but my son and I. We were driven out of our land by  "the Others"..they said they needed the land for their people. Our fields were destroyed, our tents torn down, the animals ran off.

The other tribes listened with fear. Chingochgook told this tale to many.Soon the word spread that "The Others"  were coming.
They asked, "What can we do?"  Stand strong he said. Band together and be as one. With many, you will be able to hold and remain proud or your heritage and keep posession of your lands.

When "the Others" came, the vast tribes that stood together discussed a treaty with "the Others" and a line was drawn. Uncas was asked to speak for the tribe, and he said, we want peace, land, and our our tradition respected. We have been here before the Sun and we will be here after you have left. 

Some say this is just a 'old fairytale', but I know better. This story has been passed from father to son over the centuries and will pass on from here.

The Story Teller  

The story Teller

DAY ONE...

Long years ago, in the dim ages of the past, Man, & his son, young man, walked down the path telling anyone who would listen, of the tale of their adventure.

Their story always began with the words "Long years ago in the dim ages of the past",,, Many things happened to them. they wondered if they happened to others also.They went from camp to camp telling their stories until they were no longer welcome.  They would then leave and head out to the next camp.

they would talk about their family, they would talk about people they met along the way.  Many of the stories continue today as old Indian tales..

I have been lucky in life to hear some of these stories and I will try to tell them here if anyone is interested.. 

We, the listeners and tellers are referred to as "Story tellers"..we did not originate them, we just repeat them as best we remember them.