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Showing posts from March, 2023

Calumet: peace-making and diplomatic object among the Comanche People

Table of Contents Comanche: Who are they? Different Bands of the Comanches Calumet: Peace-making and diplomatic object What will bring us peace? Many often ask. For the Comanche of Native America, their belief and adulation of calumet is a trait our world should consider and if necessary, adopt moving forward. In this piece, a brief description of the Comanche people will guide us through examining why calumet is important in their society and tradition. It must be stated that calumet is not a tradition solely practised by the Comanche. Like most Native American tribes, they consider not only the symbolism of the calumet, but also its efficacy in uniting tribes, and warring people, or even can be a safe passage for an enemy if carried as an olive branch. Comanche: Who are they? The name Comanche comes from the word ‘Ute’ which means “anyone who fights the other all the time.” The word can also mean “the enemy.” For the Comanches, they call themselves “Nermurnuh” meaning the "t...

Flat Pipe: Arapaho Creation Myth

Table of Contents Creation Hypotheses and Earth-Diver Myths Creation from nothing and the Dove’s Olive leaf in Judeo-Christian Traditions The mating of Earth Mother and Sky Father in A’shiwi Tribe’s Creation Account. Arapaho Creation Myth Diving into the Bottom of the Waters Conclusion The Arapaho are a Native American people. According to scholars, their presence was first noticed circa 3,000 years ago in the western region of the Great Lakes, along the Red River Valley, which could be now Manitoba in Canada, and Minnesota in the United States. They were popularly agrarians and spoke the Arapahoe language. My main interest is in their understanding of how things came into being. That is, how the Flat Pipe creates in the Arapaho tradition.   Many different creation hypotheses are closely related to the ‘earth-diver’ creation myth. Examining a few of these will help us better understand the Arapaho creation hypothesis. Creation Hypotheses and Earth-Diver Myths The creation hyp...