Long ago in the days of the ancestors there lived a
beautiful
old woman named Running Through Flowers.
Many
seasons had passed since Running Through Flowers had received her name
from her People.
Even
as a child, when Running Through Flowers would wander off, the People
could
always find her running though the nearest flower meadow.
Running
Through Flowers had lived a long, long time, but like the flowers of
the
meadow, her only care throughout her life was to help her People and
for
them to be happy.
If any
member of the People ran into trouble, Running Through Flowers was
always
there first ready to help.
All the
People thought Running Through Flowers was a powerful Medicine Woman,
but
she was always too busy helping others or running through flower
meadows
to find time to study the ways of the Medicine Path.
Many
many seasons passed. All through the seasons Running Through Flowers
never
tired of helping her People. How lovely the flowers of spring would
sing
to her as she ran through the meadows.
Finally
the Chief of the People became concerned. He thought to himself, "What
will become of Running Through Flowers when she gets too old and has no
one to take care of her?"
Very
quietly the Chief of the People called the Medicine Woman and the
Shaman
together. The three of them talked for a long time.
Each
of them had many suggestions, however, not one of them wanted to tell
Running
Through Flowers what to do.
Finally
the Medicine Woman said, "Let's call the People together and let them
decide."
The next
day a Pow Wow was ordered by the Chief of the People. No one was told
why.
All of
the People loved Pow Wows; seeing old friends, drumming, and
dancing.
All of these things made the People very happy!
During
the whole week before the Pow Wow Running Through Flowers gathered
colorful
flowers to give out to her friends.
Because
she had spent her life helping others, it seemed that flowers were all
she had to give.
During
the Pow Wow, the Chief of the People called everyone together.
It was
then that he shared his concern with all the People. "What will
happen
to Running Through Flowers when she becomes too old to fix her own food
and make her own clothes?"
Because
Running Through Flowers had never asked for anything from her People,
she
was embarrassed and didn't know what to say.
Before
Running Through Flowers could say a word, ten mighty warriors stepped
forward
and each told a story about how Running Through Flowers had helped them
and how she had made them smile when they were children.
Ten warriors
said that as long as Running Through Flowers lived, she would never
have
to worry about having enough to eat. They said, "Each one of us will
take
turns hunting and providing for Running Through Flowers."
Many
hours passed as one by one the People, especially the children, told
stories
about how Running Through Flowers had helped them and made them smile.
(You see, the People, and especially the children, loved to tell kind
stories
about the People they loved.)
The next
day when the stories had been told it was decided, by all the People
together,
that each one of them would give Running Through Flowers a gift of one
thing that each of them owned.
Running
Through Flowers didn't know what to do. All at once she felt the
Love that her People had for her and she started to cry -- soft loving
tears.
All of
the People were very very happy. All through the many seasons of
Running
Through Flower's life they would have given her anything she asked for.
But Running Through Flowers had never asked for anything.
Now the
People knew why the chief of the People had ordered the Pow Wow.
All the People thanked the chief and the Medicine Woman for being so
wise
and giving the People the chance to show that Running Through Flowers
was
"the Richest Indian of the People."
And so
it was, after so very many seasons, The Great Spirit felt the Love that
the People had for each other -- and smiled.