Mitos y Leyendas: Crow Wing Warrior

• Genny de Bernardo shares with you the Arapaho legend known as Crow Wing.
• Crow Wing, a member of the Arapaho tribe, made a grave mistake by killing a lizard, which was considered a protective spirit worshiped for its immobility.
• However, he manages to save himself due to an act that no one expected to happen.

On one occasion, Crow Wing, a member of the Arapaho tribe, made a terrible mistake according to the moral standards of his people.

He ended the life of a lizard that lay motionless on a rock, basking in the sun.

It is important to note that the lizard was worshipped for its prolonged immobility, being considered at such times as an earthly spirit sent to protect the Indians from their enemies.

By a twist of fate or bad fortune, that same night, the Arapaho camp was invaded by warriors from a neighboring tribe.

Crow Wing sees the lizard

Crow Wing was captured and taken to the hut where those condemned to death were imprisoned, destined to be hanged at dawn.

However, he left the hut at the request of some warriors who needed his help to repel the enemy.

«You’re going to die anyway,» they told him. «But at least you will have a glorious death that the Great Manitou will reward.»

Although it was not a significant consolation, for the moment, Crow Wing was free. As he headed to the battlefield through the central square, he saw the lizard’s corpse placed on a mound, ready to receive divine honors the next day.

Victory

For no apparent reason, Crow Wing took the lizard’s corpse and ran towards the invaders of the camp.

Then, to the astonishment of all present, they saw flashes coming out of the lizard’s half-closed eyes, striking directly at the bodies of the enemies, who fell to the ground lifeless.

Crow Wing and the warriors of the tribe achieved an absolute victory.

At that moment, Crow Wing was celebrated and elevated to the rank of great warrior, while the lizard received great honors before being buried, with the respect and veneration due to a great friend of the Arapaho people.

The Arapaho

They are a Native American tribe that traditionally settled in the Great Plains of what is now the United States.

Their ancestral territory covered parts of the states of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Kansas.

Despite historical challenges, the Arapaho have maintained their cultural identity and continue to engage in traditional activities, such as dances and ceremonies, to preserve their heritage.

This story was extracted from the book «Mitos y leyendas de los indios americanos» by R.R. Ayala, published by Editorial Olimpo in Barcelona. Mitos y Leyendas bids you farewell for now and thanks you for your attention. See you next time!