NORTHERN CHEROKEE NATION
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How the Redbird got his color

A Raccoon passing a Wolf one day made several insulting remarks,
until at last the Wolf became angry and turned and chased him. 
The Raccoon ran his best and managed to reach a tree by the
river side before the Wolf came up.  He climbed the tree and
stretched out on a limb overhanging the water.  When the Wolf
arrived he saw the reflection in the water, and thinking it was
the Raccoon he jumped at it and was nearly drowned before he
could scramble out again, all wet and dripping.  He lay down
on the bank to dry and fell asleep, and while he was sleeping
the Raccoon came down the tree and plastered his eyes with dung.
  When the Wolf awoke he found he could not open his eyes,
and began to whine.  Along came a little brown bird through the
bushes and heard the Wolf crying and asked what was the matter.
  The Wolf told his story and said, “If you will get my eyes open,
I will show you where to find some nice red paint to paint yourself.”
  “All right,” said brown bird; so he pecked at the Wolf’s eyes until
he got off all the plaster.  Then the Wolf took him to a rock that
had streaks of bright red paint running through it, and the little bird
​ painted himself with it, and has ever since been a Redbird.

Excerpt from “History, Myths, and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees” by James Mooney

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  • Home
  • Contact
  • Council Members
  • Events
  • PowWow
    • Vendor Information
    • Booklet Memorials & Ads
  • Photos
    • PowWows Past
    • Warsaw Heritage Days
    • Old Glory Days Parade
    • Fourth of July Weekend
    • Tribal Headquarters Improvements
    • Council Meetings
    • Darkening of the Sun
  • History
    • Children Massacre at Ywahoo Falls
    • Wampum Belt
    • Leaving our homeland
    • Spanish Treaty
    • Natural Disasters
    • Forced Removal
    • States against Indians
    • New Hope
    • Legal Genocide
    • Federal Recognition
    • Bringing the Children Home
    • Historical Cherokee marriage
    • In Ancient Times I
    • The Early Times II
    • The Colonial Period III
    • Sequoyah IV
    • The Cherokee Removal V
    • The Cherokee Today VI
  • Stories
    • How the Deer Got His Horns
    • WHY THE DEER’S TEETH ARE BLUNT
    • What Became Of The Rabbit
    • The Legend of the Cherokee Rose
    • Origin of the Bear
    • Why The Mink Smells
    • Life Lesson for All Cherokee
    • How the Partridge Got His Whistle
    • How The Redbird Got His Color
    • The First Fire
    • The Cherokee Legend of the First Strawberry
    • The Sixth Sun Has Risen
    • Young Harold Mayo and the Witch Woman
    • ORIGIN OF DISEASE AND MEDICINE
    • THE LEGEND OF THE FIRST WOMEN
    • How the Rabbit stole the Otter's coat
    • How the Honey Bee got their Stinger
    • BOY AND THE RATTLESNAKE STORY
    • LEGEND OF THE TLANUHWA AND THE UHKTENA
    • Yahula
    • Bears Race with Turtle
    • Why the Owl has a Spotted Coat
    • Why the Trees Lose Their Leaves
    • Why Rabbit Has A Short Tail
    • Why the Opossum’s Tail is Bare
  • Culture
    • Cherokee Adoption, past and present
    • Roles of extended family
    • Cherokee Clan System
    • Sacred Colors
    • Entering the Circle
    • Fall Cultivation
    • Dances
    • Straight Dancing
    • The Stomp Dance
  • Artist Showcase
  • Council Minutes