How The Birds Got Their Feathers

Submitted by John Kahionhes Fadden

Many winters and summers in the past the Creator came to the earth to see the many works He had produced. He saw the many beautiful colors of the flowers, the green of the forest, and the sparkling waters, among many other things. He saw that the Onkwehón:we were continuing with the instructions of life, celebrating with ceremony, and being thankful for the wondrous things from the earth that gives them sustenance. He sensed the wonderful odors in the air in the winds. He also was pleased to see the many different colors of fur of the animals, the black fur of the bear, the brown deer, and darker brown beaver. He noticed the protective waterproof skins of the frog, and other similar creatures. He also noted the black thick hair of the People. Every moving being had a wonderful coat.

Then He noticed the two-legged creatures with beaks that were hopping along the ground as they searched for insects to nourish themselves upon. They had no luxurious coat, as did the other creatures. This bothered Him. These beings, birds, hopped around in search of food, and they huddled together when it became colder. They had no protection. They had no coat.

The Creator went back to the Skyworld. He found a bag that had many beautiful feathers in it. With the bag He returned to the earth, Turtle Island. Soon after He called for a council of the birds, and the many, many birds came from the four directions.

The Creator spoke to gathered birds, and in doing so He mentioned the fur on the many animals, plus the coats on other beings of Creation. The birds acknowledged His comments with chirps, and whistles. He went on to ask if they too would like to have a coat. In unison the birds responded with a resounding, yes!

He announced that one of them must climb to the top of a mountain to the west, and there a bag would be found containing many coats for them to choose from. He told them that if they try on a coat, they could keep it forever. The coat they choose will keep them warm and also give them the ability to fly. However, if they take it off, they can never wear it or any other coat again. They get just one chance. After much debate it was decided that the Buzzard would retrieve the bag of coats.

After a days travel the Buzzard returned with the bag. The birds gathered closely, because the Buzzard was the one to take out the coats to choose from. He reached into the bag, and retrieved a beautiful feathered coat of mostly red feathers. He was about to try it on, but remembered what the Creator said, and he also thought that there might be something better in the bag. He discarded the coat, and the Cardinal picked it up, and then put it on. He looked good in it, and then he stretched his arms, jumped into the sky, and flew away.

One by one the Buzzard picked out coats and tossed each aside with the hopes that the next one would be better. One by one the birds pick up the discarded coats put them on, and flew away.

Finally Buzzard reached into the bag, and felt around for another coat. He found one and pulled it out. What he pulled out made his stomach turn. This coat was an ugly, dull, and smelly dark brown coat. Moths even flew from it. It had cobwebs all over it. Yuck! He said.

He didn't even try it on. Instead he threw it to the ground and looked for another one. He reached into the bag and to his dismay he realized that there were no more coats to wear... except the smelly brown one.

Reluctantly, he tried it on. The coat was so old the headpiece fell apart and fell into little pieces. Oh great! He muttered to himself. He continued to put on the rest of it. As he was putting his legs in the leggings began to tear and fall apart. Ugghh! He looked down, and all he saw was his skinny white legs. He looked so funny that he didn't want to be seen. So he took to the sky, and circled around the sky high up so that no one could really get a good look at him.

The Buzzard still circles in the sky to this very day. That is the story of how the birds got their feathers long, long, ago.

(This is an adaptation from Dave Fadden's pictographic publication from the Travelling College, and in turn, he learned this story from his grandfather, Ray Fadden.)