Tales from The Keeper of the Myths,
Cherokee Legends for Children
By Shirley G. Webb
Cover Illustration by Sonja Rainbowwoman Boekhorst
SHIRLEY G. WEBB
Author
OLANA AND NORAMO
The Indian maiden Olana braves death and the loss of her soul to seek her lost lover, Noramo. A crystal talisman around the necks of Olana and Noramo protect them from the Fire Carrier, who seeks to capture their souls. In a twist of events, it is Noramo who finds Olana after an old woman she met in the forest puts Olana into a deep sleep. Noramo finds Olana lying on the forest floor where the birds and wildlife have covered her sleeping body with leaves and flowers from the forest. Noramo thinks she is dead and prays to the Great Spirit to breathe into her body the breath of life so that she may live again. After this prayer, Noramo kisses Olana and she opens her eyes. The crystal talisman around her neck has protected her from death. ALEXIA AND ADRENA
In this retelling of my grandmother's story, the chieftain brave Alexia travels the world to find the young Indian maiden who was foretold of in his dreams. Unexpected delays await him. Meanwhile, the Indian maiden, Adrena, is plagued with obstacles that eventually lead to a true account of how the oyster is formed. The oyster in this story is used as a token by which Alexia eventually finds his bride. This story tells of the difficulties to overcome in finding true love, even in the Native American culture. The twists as the story unfolds enliven and mold the child's imagination. TUKANAMI, THE MAN CHILD
A widowed Indian woman gives birth to a baby boy, and then she dies. The child is adopted by the tenderhearted Chief Mortaban, who loves him as his own. The chief teaches the boy, named Tukanami, to be brave and always to speak the truth. When the time comes that Tukanami is to be proven to be a man, he is visited by a voice in a vision. This voice tells him of the deeds he will do and how his bravery will be known to all people. Tukanami becomes ill and is stolen by evil men who wish to receive a ransom from the chief. All of the men except Tukanami die in a wreck on the sea. Chief Mortaban grieves for his lost son but remains faithful to his belief that the Great Spirit will care for Tukanami. Tukanami is then found by a band of braves who take him to their small village. While Tukanami's wounds are healing, evil men again seek him out. A battle is fought in which most of the men in the small village are killed. Tukanami's favorite horse and a band of other horses come into the village and take the few people who are left to Tukanami's home, where Chief Mortaban is waiting. Chief Mortaban warmly receives the people of this small village and invites them to live with his people. Tukanami marries the daughter of the chief of the small village and is awarded a new name because of his bravery in saving this small band of people. His name is changed to Braveheart, because the Spirit of Bravery dwells within him. He rules the people after his father dies and is known across the land as a mighty spiritual leader.THE LITTLE RAIN CLOUD
This story for younger children is about a little rain cloud which wants a name. His mother said that rain clouds don't need a name. He loved to play in the sky and one day wandered far from his family of rain clouds to the western part of the sky. The little rain cloud found an Indian village in desperate need of rain. Their crops, steams and rivers were dried up, and they could no longer grow food which would keep them over the winter months. The little rain cloud met an Indian boy who asked him to get his family of rain clouds to bring them rain. After finding his way back to his family of rain clouds, the Little Rain Cloud braved the fierce storms and thunder and lightening to go to his grandfather. He asked his grandfather if he would take the family out west to rain on the Indian village. His grandfather sounded gruff but was very kind and loved the little rain cloud very much, so he granted him this wish that was in his heart of hearts. The little rain cloud led the way, and his family of rain clouds followed toward the western part of the sky. There they rained and rained on the Indian village. It was a happy day for everyone.Then the chief of the Indian village told little rain cloud that braves in their village could receive a new name when they did something extra brave for the village, and that the tribal chiefs had given him a new name--Brave Little Rain Cloud. He also said that the Indian village would remember him forever as a brave who saved their village. Brave Little Rain Cloud's family was very proud of him because he braved the storm (which could have made him disappear) in order to save the village. Brave Little Rain Cloud loved his new name.
This book was written for children ages 4 through 12.
Here are summaries of just a few of the stories in Tales from the Keeper of the Myths:
TALES FROM THE KEEPER OF THE MYTHS is published by iUniverse, Inc.
and may be ordered from your local bookstore by using the ISBN number 0-595-27264-9.
Retail cost: $9.95. Email Shirley for information about obtaining an autographed copy at authorswebb@aol.com
This book has been awarded both the International Editors Choice and Readers Choice awards by iUniverse, Inc.
NOKOMIS AND THE ENCHANTED LAKE
The locale of this legend is an actual lake located in the Great Smoky Mountains. Nokomis is one of three sisters who live in a "northern Indian village." She is badly mistreated by her sisters because of their jealousy of her beauty. The sisters plead with the tribe's medicine man to help them get rid of Nokomis. The medicine man is known for his miracles. He instructs the sisters in setting up a trap for Nokomis. In the pretext of befriending Nokomis, the two sisters entice her to fall into a bowl of enchanted water.
Nokomis is transported across The Enchanted Lake to another world: a world of beauty and kindness. She is met by and soon falls in love with Shamar, the son of the local chieftain. Nokomis and Shamar marry and spend many years in a blissful relationship until he meets death at a young age.
You can almost hear the cedar flutes playing their sensuous music as Nokomis stands on the shore, watching the raft bearing her husband's body as it drifts on The Enchanted Lake. She paddles out to him and lays down beside his still body. She then sings a lovely ballad, calling to the heavens to lead them through the Land of Souls.
A thunderstorm arises, causing the raft to overturn. As if by magic, Nokomis and Shamar both emerge into her former home. Consistent to their jealous natures, the sisters attempt to enter the land that Nokomis describes to them, through the same crystal bowl of water. Their fate is consequent to the lives they have led: they end up on a lonely island and are never seen again.
The story ends with this poem:
Bring me two tiny mourning doves that sing at dusk and dawnHerein is the secret to where Nokomis, your sister, has goneThe water looks shallow but it is deep, and another world lies withinDon't look too closely or look too long, or into the water you'll be drawnThe Daughter of the Moon is lovely, and all the braves call her fairNo harm will come to this maiden, as another world awaits her thereTales from the Keeper of the Myths by Shirley G. Webb, Copyright 2003, All rights reserved
Cover illustration by Sonja Rainbowwoman Boekhorst, Netherlands, Copyright 2002, All rights reserved
iUniverse International Awards
