Tell me a story - Part 1 - The Origin of Disease and Medicine

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It has been a cold and crisp day here. The trees are turning colors, I expect them to be losing color soon. I really need to lay a fire in the fireplace for a little warmth, just enough to take out the chill and dampness that is in the air tonight (wish we had a fireplace!). Would you sit before the fire with me?

In the old days of my people, as the days got shorter and the air got colder, the old ones would sit before the fire and tell the children stories. They told stories that told of heroes, and history; that told of manners and customs; and stories that explained the unexplainable.

Would you like to hear a story tonight?

The Origin of Disease and Medicine: A Cherokee Myth

The old ones tell us that at one time the animals, fish, insects, and plants could talk. Together with the people they were at peace and had a great friendship. As time went on the numbers of people grew so much that their settlements spread over the whole earth, and the animals found themselves cramped for space. To make things worse the people invented bows, knives, blowguns, spears and hooks, and they began to hunt and kill the larger animals, birds, and fish only for their hides. The smaller creatures like the frogs and worms were stepped on and crushed without thought, out of carelessness, and sometimes even contempt. The animals decided to meet in council to agree on measures for their safety.

First the bears meet in council, and decided to use man’s own weapons against him. But after much effort decided that it was useless for bears to use bows and arrows.

Next the deer held council and decided that every time man killed a deer he would be given rheumatism, unless he made sure to ask their pardon for the offense. Notice was sent to the Cherokee settlements and even until today Little Deer, head of the deer, asks every slain deer if he heard the prayer of the man asking pardon for his death.

Finally the birds, insects, and smaller animals came together for their own council. They decided each should give his opinion, and then they would vote as to whether man was guilty. Seven votes would be enough for a guilty verdict. One after another they stated their complaints. The ground squirrel (the chipmunk) was the only one to say something in man’s defense, because he was so small he did not endure the hunting and disrespect. The others became so angry with him that they swooped on him and tore him with their claws. The stripes are on his back ’til this day to show the scars of that attack

The animals in their anger began to name diseases, one after another, to inflict on man for his violations against them.

Then the plants, who were friendly to man, heard about all these things the animals were doing to the people. Each shrub, tree, and herb agreed to furnish a cure for the diseases. Each said, “I will appear and help the people when they call on me.” This is how the medicines came to be.

Every plant has a use, if only we would learn it and remember it. They have furnished the remedy to counteract the disease brought on by the vengeful animals. Even weeds were made for some use,were you only to know it. You must ask, and learn.

Story taken from James Mooney (1861-1921) who was an ethnographer among the Cherokee Indians for several years. This was taken from his work Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees written in 1891.

• 26 Nov, 2009
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