Or maybe they needed a better translator. So where did Dodge go wrong? Almost all American Indian names for the site are associated with a bear in some way, so it’s clear that Dodge, Newton, and those reporting on the expedition published incorrect information. Referring to Devils Tower, Dodge reported that, “The Indians call The Bad God’s Tower, a name adopted with proper modification, by our surveyors.” Dodge’s geological assistant, Henry Newton, agreed, stating that “ appears on the earliest map of the region, and though more recently it is said to be known among the Indians as 'The Bad God's Tower,' or in better English, 'The Devil’s Tower’.”Īt the time, though many documents and maps reflected the site’s original name, “Bear Lodge,” Devils Tower became the popular title- and it stuck. However, in 1875 during the American Gold Rush, Colonel Richard Irving Dodge led an expedition to the area, following claims of gold in the Black Hills. Translating to “Bear Rock,” “Bear Lodge,” or “Bear Tipi,” Devil’s Tower was originally named Mato Tipila to reflect the sacred histories conveyed in Native American cultural narratives. It is the reoccurring image of the bear across Native American sacred narratives that determined the original name of the monument, given by the surrounding Native American tribes- and it is a name that still holds much significance today.ĭevils Tower IN TRANSLATION: HOW DEVILS TOWER GOT ITS NAME Visitors can also spot Ursa Major, “The Great Bear” or “Big Dipper” star formation, just above Devils Tower in the night sky, along with many other significant star clusters and constellations referenced by the area’s Native American culture. Though parts of the story change across the various tribes within the region, each includes the presence of a giant bear or group of bears to justify the vertical cracks along the surface of Devils Tower. The Cheyenne tell the story of a group of warriors who hunt and defeat a bear spirit that has been terrorizing one of the women in their tribe. When her sister does not recover, “Bear-Girl” climbs to the top of Devils Tower, abandoning her family to keep them safe. In the Arapaho legend, a young girl is transformed into a bear and injures her sister while chasing her siblings. However, instead of returning to their village, the girls ascend to the sky as stars, transforming into the Pleiades, or “Seven Sisters,” star cluster- which, if you choose to visit Devils Tower at night, are clearly visible right above the monument during the fall. For example, the Kiowa tell the tale of a bear chasing seven maidens who are saved by the tower rising from the ground. While some aspects of the Devils Tower legend are used across other variations, other tribes include different details. The story comes to a close as the two boys are carried back to their village on the wings of Wanblee, a giant eagle. Eventually, Mato retreated, exhausted and disappointed, leaving the two boys alone and frightened on top of the mountain. But try as he might, Mato could not catch the boys. Mato tried and tried to reach them, covering every side of the mountain in the long cracks and scratches made by his claws. Suddenly, the earth began to shake, and the boys found themselves lifted up into the sky by a giant pillar of rock! Determined, still, to catch them, Mato reared up onto his hind legs, clawing enormous, vertical striations into the stone as he tried to climb after the two boys, but they remained just beyond his reach. Soon, the massive bear was upon them, and in a final plea for rescue, the boys dropped to their knees and prayed to the Great Spirit to save them. After some time, the boys realized that they were being followed, hunted by the ferocious and relentless Mato, an exceptionally giant bear! The boys ran from Mato for as long as they could, but found no place to hide in the low brush and open meadow. Though some details vary across different tribes, many aspects of the First Stories of Devils Tower remain the same.Īccording to a Sioux legend, two young boys became lost trying to find their way home through the vast prairie. Passed down through centuries of Native American history, sacred narratives surrounding the formation and spiritual significance of Devils Tower are still told today, preserved as a traditional part of American Indian culture across the region. Devils Tower MYSTERY OF THE MOUNTAIN: LEGENDS OF DEVILS TOWER
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |