Sunday

The Truth

It was a time long ago when I fought the greatest wolf one has ever seen. He was white, with amber eyes that pierced my soul and a strong body that blazed with power and dominance. I had trespassed on his territory and angered him, he growled, warning me that were I stood was his land, and there I had no right to be.

"but I am a warrior" so I said to the wolf, "this forest is all mine and I shall walk where I please, for I am a man and you are only a beast." So the wolf growled at me again and bared his fangs at me, warning me for the last time that this was his territory. So to show him that I was a man and a warrior, I fought him, bare-handed, without my knife or sword. It was a good fight, full of courage and heart, and the victor was excellent and noble. So noble was he that, at the end, when he had my throat between his teeth and could have killed me with one effortless move, he let me go and walked away. I stared back at him in shock, unable to comprehend why the monster had speared my life, "why did you do that wolf for I am your enemy, if you were a man I would have been dead instantly."

He stopped and looked back at me one more time, his wise amber eyes pierced my heart more deeply then any sword or arrow that I had ever taken to my flesh, "I give you back your life, my enemy" he said to me, "because you are only a man, and I am a beast" and in that instant, as I watched him retreat into his darkening kingdom, I realized who the monster really was.

By: ©Vanya Bosiocic

Photo by kvwcreations

A special God given gift to mankind is that of musical ability. Humans have been blessed with the beautiful voices of talented singers thoughout the centuries. Whether it be a soloist or a wonderful chorus of voices, it can be spellbinding to listen to such glorious testimony of true talent. Birds of every color have also been blessed with the ability to sing beautiful songs.

But are humans and birds the only ones with this ability? Or has Mother Nature hidden away some other earthly inhabitants that also sing the songs of love and beauty? What you are about to listen to are the amazing sounds of crickets that when slowed down to the pace of a human life frequency, sounds like a beautiful choir of angels. It will fill you with awe and wonder at the sound of another form of music that we would never have dreamed of existing before. And it draws us ever closer to understanding how all life on earth is connected to each other in many wondrous ways.

Photo by Terapox


Saturday

Dedicated to anybody whom is trying to save wolves.

Part 1

Long ago, there was a rather confused and, quite frankly, stupid wolf. He couldn't even remember the difference between a rabbit and a moose. That is how dumb they all used to be.

All of his "friends" would always say things like "Look! I'm Wolf!" and they would flop over and drool all over the place just like Wolf did when he was happy.

Wolf put up with this for three whole years! In those three years, he got so mad he once chomped a leg off of Raccoon and ran off into the woods. Wolf confronted his best friend Snake in the woods.

He soon said, "Snake. My so-called "friends" have been teasing me again. You know, because of me being stupid and all."

"Well," said Snake, "I can't tell you what to do. Go see Owl'sssss place. He can tell you what to do."

So Wolf took Snakes advice and went to Owl's place.

When he got there, he said, "Owl, are you home?"

"Whooooos' there?"

"Its me, Wolf."

"Oh. Come in."

"I've come to ask you about that sacred place where you can wish for whatever you want. Where is it anyhow?"

"Well Ummmm", "Oh yes. Here, let me write it down."

"Lets see" and he wrote it down:

Go North 13 miles

East 5 miles

North by northeast 1 mile

West 1 mile

"There. Just follow these directions and you will get to the Oak of Knowledge and Magic. Just walk up to it and say "Kala Sultan".

"O.K." said Wolf. And he was soon on his way.

Part 2

Prologue

Last time, our friend Wolf was on his way to the Oak Of Knowledge after receiving directions from his good friends Snake and Owl.

On his way, his "friends", deer, squirrel, chipmunk, and fish asked him, "Where are you going?"

"I'm going to a secret place where I can become wise."

"Hahahahaha!!! There is no place like that! You really are a stupid idiot!"

So he just went on his way. He followed the directions owl had given him and eventually, got there.

It was the most beautiful place Wolf had ever seen. It was untouched by a single human soul.

Wolf just stared for a while. He soon went up to the grand old Oak and shouted, "KALA SULTAN!"

No sooner had he spoke, a Genie appeared.

He said in a low voice, "What is your wish wanderer?"

Wolf hesitated for a moment and spoke boldly, "I wish to be wise and have the necessary survival skills of a wolf."

"Yes. Your wish is granted."

There was a huge display of fireworks and smoke. Next thing he knew, he was back home. From then on all wolves have been smart and that is how wolves became so wise.

Original Tale From: A Boy Code named Kapu.
by Scott

The wolves are back in Germany and environmentalists and the majority of the people are excited about the prospect that they may soon be found all over Germany. Wolves had been eradicated from Germany and central Europe for about 150 years and were forced up into the lands of northern Europe.

About 10 years ago, a pair of wolves from Poland migrated into the state of Saxony in Germany. It was from this pair that puppies were born and the wolf began to repopulate in Germany. Today there about about 60 wolves or 7 packs found mostly in eastern Germany in the areas of Saxony, Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. Individual wolves have also been sighted as roaming through other parts of the country such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Bavaria, Hesse and Lower Saxony.

Although the current population of wolves is still small, it has been estimated that Germany could successfully support up to 441 wolf packs eventually. This was determined by a study taken by the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) in 2009. Their conclusion was that there was "plenty of room" for wolves in Germany. A survey was also recently taken among a segment of the German population as to whether or not wolves would be accepted in the wilderness throughout Germany. 67% answered Yes, while 29% said No. The remainder said they did not care. This was out of a polling group of about 2600 people.

But not everyone is excited about the return of the wolf in Germany. For the most part, wolves will eat mainly deer and wild boar but there have been a few incidences involving sheep, goats and reindeer that were livestock. In many cases the fencing or shelter had not been secure against the wolves. So it is mostly the livestock owners, hunters, tourism and forestry segments that are worried about the spread of wolves in the future. There is still some carryover of the fear of the "Big Bad Wolf" also.

But many conservation groups feel that Germany is a "model country" for the rest of Europe. The success of the return of the wolf in Germany has been determined by a combination of research, public relations and herd protection. For example, in Saxony, electric fences are publicly funded. Because of all of these efforts, the co-existance between the wolves and the public has definitely improved. Education has helped people to understand that they can still enjoy time spent in nature, pick wild mushrooms and hike with their children without worry. Proper precautions and a welcoming attitude are what make the wolf reintroduction in Germany a world class model for success.

Friday

On June 11th of this year an 18 month trek half way across America ended for a male mountain lion. His death took place near Greenwich, Connecticut in the early hours of the morning. He was struck by an SUV while crossing a highway. Although it was a sad ending for this beautiful wild cat, it was only then that his story could be told.

A necropsy and genetic tests were performed on him right away. It was from these tests that his place of origin was determined to be that of the Black Hills of South Dakota. He was estimated to be anywhere from 2-5 years old which is young for a mountain lion. This fact was determined from an extracted tooth. He was also not declawed or neutered showing proof that he was indeed wild and not an escaped cat from a captive situation. They also found porcupine quills in the tissue under his skin which showed that he had lived in the wild for some time.

What was so unique about this young mountain lion was that he had actually traveled over 1500 miles passing through Minnesota and Wisconsin where he had been sighted also. Rarely do male mountain lions travel more than 100 miles in search of a mate or food. But this young male just kept on going in his search for a mate.

This finding has brought much excitement to conservationists out east who are hoping that maybe more mountain lions will also make their way out east and stay. This long distance trek is a wonderful tribute to the tenacity of the species. It is also a gentle reminder that there is still much to be learned about these amazing animals.

Long ago, there was a Brave who was in prayer to the Great Spirit. His heart was so heavy in sorrow because of a great winter famine that enclosed upon his Peoples village. Many of the Elders could not withstand such brutal conditions and sadly in a very short time many of them perished.

The very young were also in great danger of starving if something soon didn't happen short of a miracle..

Late into the evening the warrior prayed to the great Spirit remembering all the wonderful moons of the years gone by. And thanking the Great Spirit for All the blessings He had brought before.

And this ,fears warrior in great faith had even thanked the Great Spirit for the healing miracles he would bring that He would bestow upon His people...... The brave being the only person awake ,could hear a noise across the river which sounded like a wolf crying in distress. Filled with compassion the warrior rowed across the river his canoe and walked right up to the wolf and removed a deer bone lodged in the wolf's throat. after this he told the wolf

"you are free to go my brother".

The warrior watched as the wolf quietly and gently returned to the forest,and observed a gentle look of what seemed a gesture of appreciation from the wolf.

When the next evening came, the whole village could hear the unmistakable howling of an entire pack of hungry wolves coming from across the river

The next morning party of braves went across the river to investigate the matter. When they reached the other side ,all along the bank were fresh deer carcass for the entire village that had been left by the wolves in gratitude for the Braves great deed.

When he reached the other shore he could see this beautiful white wolf and realized that the animal was dying as the brave approached the wolf.

Text by ©George Gulli

Thursday

This past spring a major expedition of huge significance to the biological world of science took place. This expedition took place in one the most bio-diverse hotspots in the world - the Philippines. Despite this reputation of the Philippines, still little was known about about the extent of it's biodiversity.

The expedition was funded by the Margaret and Will Hearst Foundation and was called the 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition. During this 42 day expedition, new species were found on nearly every dive and hike that was taken. This was significant because scientists estimate that more than 90% of the species on our earth have yet to be discovered. These new species have supported the belief that the Philippines is one of the most critically bio-diverse environments in the world and that it's marine areas are home to more species than anywhere else.

What the scientists found on this expedition was over 300 species that are likely new to science, including dozens of new insects and spiders, deep-sea armored corals, ornate sea pens, bizarre new sea urchins and sea stars, a shrimp-eating swell shark, and over 50 colorful new sea slugs. The reason these species have gone undetected in the past is that many of them are very diminutive in size. Others were found in areas that had not been visited by humans before such as on the bottom of the ocean.

What was also unique about this expedition is that unlike the traditional approach of previous expeditions where new information is withheld until it is completely analyzed, the scientists on this one began sharing their finding while they were still in the Phillipines. They conducted outreach sessions in each of the communities closest to the expedition's survey sites, sharing their preliminary findings with local teachers, politicians, and conservation workers.

Since the expedition, the scientists have made recommendations as to outlining the most important locations for establishing or expanding marine protected areas. They also suggested areas for reforestation to reduce sedimentation damage to the reefs. Since plastic litter was found in all places of their research, even as far down as 6,000 ft in the ocean, they made an urgent request to make plastic reduction a major conservation priority in the world.

Below are photos of some of the new species found. They are proof that there is still much that we do not know about our magnificent planet's inhabitants. Some we may never know about as the extinction rate continues to increase because of climatic changes and increased pollution around the world.

The first Trapania darvelli from the Philippines
(Source: California Academie of Science)

Sea Pen
(Source: California Academie of Science)

The first specimen of Dermatobranchus dendronephthyphagus
(Source: California Academie of Science)

A new species of Favorinus that feeds on the eggs of other nudibranchs
(Source: California Academie of Science)

Swell Shark
(Source: California Academie of Science)

Among the Anishinaabe people, the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, also known simply as either the Seven Teachings or Seven Grandfathers, is a set of teachings on human conduct towards others.

The Seven Sacred Principles

1- Nibwaakaawin (Wisdom)
To cherish knowledge is to know Wisdom. Wisdom is given by the Creator to be used for the good of the people. In the Anishinaabe language, this word expresses not only "wisdom," but also means "prudence," or "intelligence." In some communities, Gikendaasowin is used; in addition to "wisdom," this word can also mean "intelligence" or "knowledge."

2-Zaagi'idiwin (Love)
To know Love is to know peace. Love must be unconditional. When people are weak they need love the most. In the Anishinaabe language, this word with the reciprocal theme /idi/ indicates that this form of love is mutual. In some communities, Gizhaawenidiwin is used, which in most context means "jealousy" but in this context is translated as either "love" or "zeal". Again, the reciprocal theme indicates that this form of love is mutual.

3-Minaadendamowin (Respect)
To honor all creation is to have Respect. All of creation should be treated with respect. You must give respect if you wish to be respected. Some communities instead use Ozhibwaadenindiwin or Manazoonidiwin.

4-Aakode'ewin (Bravery)
Bravery is to face the foe with integrity. In the Anishinaabe language, this word literally means "state of having a fearless heart." To do what is right even when the consequences are unpleasant. Some communities instead use either Zoongadikiwin ("state of having a strong casing") or Zoongide'ewin ("state of having a strong heart").

5-Gwayakwaadiziwin (Honesty)
Honesty in facing a situation is to be brave. Always be honest in word and action. Be honest first with yourself, and you will more easily be able to be honest with others. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean "righteousness."


6-Dabaadendiziwin (Humility)
Humility is to know yourself as a sacred part of Creation. In the Anishinaabe language, this word can also mean "compassion." You are equal to others, but you are not better. Some communities instead express this with Bekaadiziwin, which in addition to "humility" can also be translated as "calmness," "meekness," "gentility" or "patience."

7-Debwewin (Truth)
Truth is to know all of these things. Speak the truth. Do not deceive yourself or others.
Source: Wikipedia


VIDEO

BUFFALO MEDICINE

The great bison or buffalo of North America is a very powerful symbol to American Indians. Though best suited to cooler climates, buffalos roamed virtually in entire continent. The smaller woodlands buffalo and its bigger cousin, the plains buffalo were revered and honored in ceremony and every day life. To the plains Indian, our Buffalo Brother meant sacred life and the abundance of the Creator's blessing on Mother Earth.

The buffalo is powerful medicine that is a symbol of sacrifice and service to the community. The buffalo people agreed to give their lives so the American Indian could have food, shelter and clothing.

The buffalo is also a symbol of gratitude and honor as it is happy to accept its meager existence as it stands proud against the winds of adversity.

The buffalo represents abundance of the Creator's bounty and respect for all creation knowing that all things are sacred.

The buffalo represents a manifestation of the divine aspects of our being.

Because of its size, speed and sharp horns, buffalos can be dangerous when threatened. People who hear the message of the buffalo spirit are reminded to temper their power in dealing with others and allow the tranquility and peace of the Buffalo Brother to enter their lives.

Those with this totem need to remember to see the good in all things and not let their frustration store up inside them.

Unlike the European domesticated cow that places its rump toward approaching cold and faces away, the buffalo turns its head to face and stand firmly against raging storm. This quality reminds us to have courage and face problems head-on.


Buffalos unite against danger as buffalo cows defend their young, old and sick by forming a protective circle around them and the bulls form a circle around the cows. If you see the buffalo circle in dream or vision, it may mean someone around you requires your strength to defend and honor them. Or, it is a call to unite with others to bring about positive change.

The huge head of the Buffalo Brother signifies higher mental abilities that is grounded to Mother Earth by their tough bodies.

The buffalo teaches us how to eliminate our burdens by directing our energy in a balanced way.

Source: Manataka American Indian Council

Wednesday

The United States of America is a huge country where the dream of living and raising your family in a safe and clean environment has always been accepted as a standard that could easily be met. Fresh air, safe play areas, clean drinking water are all just part of the privilege of living in America. Right? Well, maybe at one time it was. But Americans have become accustomed to their comfortable life styles without really giving much thought as to the price they were paying with their health when it came to the quality of the air they were breathing.

Electrical power has been around for a long time now to supply all the modern conveniences of daily living. Unfortunately so have the methods to produce it. Power plants in the U.S. are the largest source of industrial emissions of toxic air, accounting for almost 50 percent of all reported toxic pollution from industrial sources in 2009. Recently the Natural Resources Defense Council released a new study that lists the 20 most polluted states in the U.S. These are the worst offending states but the truth is that power plant polluters are all around the country.


Here is the “TOXIC 20″ List:

1. Ohio 2. Pennsylvania 3. Florida 4. Kentucky 5. Maryland
6. Indiana 7. Michigan 8. West Virginia 9. Georgia 10.
North Carolina 11. South Carolina 12. Alabama 13. Texas
14. Virginia 15. Tennessee 16. Missouri 17. Illinois 18. Wisconsin
19. New Hampshire 20. Iowa

The electric sector is the largest source of industrial emissions of toxic air pollution in the United States. Coal- and oil-fired power plants account for nearly 50 percent of all reported toxic pollution from industrial sources. Exposure to toxic pollution from power plants such as hydrochloric acid, mercury, and other toxic metals, is known to contribute to or worsen a wide variety of health conditions. Some of these health issues are asthma/ other respiratory ailments, developmental disorders, birth defects, premature mortality, neurological damage and cancer.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set new Mercury Standards in the effort to clean up coal-fired power plant pollution. These new standards, according to EPA estimates, should save up to as many as 17,000 lives every year by 2015, prevent many of the above listed illnesses and prevent work absenteeism by hundreds of thousands per year. Unfortunately, some members of Congress and some highly motivated corporate polluters and energy lobbyists are working overtime to delay and soften the rules before the standards are finalized in November 2011.

America's families as do families everywhere deserve to live in a country where they can breathe clean air. Please take a some time to contact your members of Congress and ask them to support these new EPA standards of their Toxics rule, also known as Power Plant MACT.


Link to contact Congress:

Contacting the Congress: A Citizen's Congressional Directory

Link for more talking points when contacting Congress:

FAir Toxics Safeguard: Reducing Hazardous Air Pollution from Power Plants

A dog slipped off his leash one day and went for a walk in the woods. After a time, he met a wolf.

The dog said to the wolf, “Brother wolf, you look so thin! How can you be happy when you are so thin? You should come live with me and my master. I eat everyday and I never want for food.”

The wolf thought for a moment and replied, “Yes, you are right. Why should I be out here in the wild hunting for small bites of food when someone else will give it to me? And you are so well fed. Very well, I will come to live with you.”

“Good,” said the dog, “then follow me.”

As they trotted off to the dog’s home, the wolf noticed a patch around the dog’s neck where the fur had been worn off.

“Brother Dog, ” asked the wolf, “why do you have that patch around your neck where there is no fur?”

The dog slowed down, stopped and turned to the wolf with sadness in his eyes.

“That is where they place the leather leash around my neck. They do this so they can control me and keep me in my place.” replied the dog, sadly.

“Never!” said the wolf as he began to trot back into the forest. “I would rather be starving and free than to be fat and a slave.”

Tuesday

Wolves used to run wild and free in France until the 1930's when they were completely eradicated. It wasn't until 1992 that an attempt was made to bring wolves back to France. At that time they were gradually reintroduced when a pair of Italian wolves was brought into the Mercantour National Park which is located on the Italian/French border.

Since that time, wolves have flourished in France living mostly in the French Alps although some can also be found in the central Massif range and also in the Pyrenees on the Spanish border. Official estimates currently have listed the number of wolves to be between 150 - 200. Since 1992, wolves have been under the protection of the government and there have only been 6 wolves that have been legally hunted since 1992. According to the current law in France, only 6 wolves a year can be hunted. Permits can only be issued if all other means to protect a flock or herd have been exhausted.

Although many people such as nature lovers and environmentalist are happy about the fact that the wolves are doing so well in France, that feeling is not shared by the livestock owners. So far this year there have been 66 attacks on flocks of sheep that have been attributed to wolves according to the livestock owners.

On Friday, July 22, an incident took place where a supposed lone wolf was responsible for the deaths of 72 sheep. 10 sheep were killed outright and 62 sheep in the flock panicked and went over a cliff. This incident was the straw that broke the camel's back and 347 herdsmen appealed to the government for a permit. After listening to exaggerated claims that "something must be done before "sheepherding is wiped out in France", the government issued a very rarely used permit to kill the wolf. Livestock owners have expressed a cautious feeling of revenge against the wolf as once again the battle between wolf and man plays out in France.

During the middle ages, wolves were ascribed magical powers and wolf parts became an important part of many early pharmacies. Powdered wolf liver was used to ease birth pains. A wolf's right paw, tied around ones throat, was believed to ease the swelling caused by throat infections.

* It was widely believed that a horse that stepped in a wolf print would be crippled

* The gaze of a wolf was once thought to cause blindness

* Others believed that the breath of the wolf could cook meat.

* Naturalists of the day believed wolves sharpened their teeth before hunting

* Dead wolves were buried at a village entrance to keep out other wolves (a bizarre belief echoed today by farmers who continue to shoot predators and hang them on fence posts to repel other predators.)

* Travelers were warned about perils of walking through lonely stretches of woods, and stone shelters were built to protect them from attacks. Our modern word "loophole" is derived from the European term "loup hole," or wolf hole, a spy hole in shelters through which travelers could watch for wolves.

Monday

Sound like a bad science fiction movie? Well, it is actually a real life phenomena that is happening in the waters off the coast of Japan today. In fact not just a few of them but rather millions of the 6ft., 440lb jellyfish are congregating off the western coast of Japan. These jellyfish are one of the largest species of the creature in the world.

But are they a new, mutant form of the normal sized jellyfish that we are so familiar with? Not really. They have been recorded much earlier as being seen off the coast in the Sea of Japan. In fact in the early 1900's, Professor Shinichi Uye, a leading expert on the species at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science of Hiroshima University, reported that large numbers of these giant jellyfish were only reported every 40 years or so.

However, as recently as 2002, it has been noticed that these jellyfish are rapidly increasing in numbers. The speculation as to why this is happening has been pinpointed to several factors.
One reason for the population explosion in recent years is due to the 1.89 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature in waters off China. This increase in temperature makes the conditions more favorable for their breeding.

The second reason experts believe, is a decline in the number of predators, which include sea turtles and certain species of fish which make this a very important contributing factor. Predators whether on land or in the sea are critically important for the balance of an ecosystem. Without predators, other creatures and plant life, etc. can balloon out of control causing a major imbalance.

In the summer of 2005, Japan was invaded on a similar scale when these jellyfish damaged fishing nets. Fish were rendered inedible with their toxic stings and injuries were even caused to the fishermen. In 2007, over 15,500 reports were made of damage to fishing equipment caused by these massive creatures.
Then in the autumn of 2009, a 10-ton fishing boat was sunk as the crew tried to haul in a net containing dozens of the giant jellyfish. The 3 man crew barely escaped with their lives.

The idea of these giant jellyfish exploding in their numbers is very unnerving. What kind of effect will they continue to have on the sea life and commercial fishing industry of Japan? Just another frightening example of mankind's detrimental effect on the world we live in. Will it take more than the invasion of the giant jellyfish to wake us up?

A Siberian Tale

One summer the fox heard that Ankakumikaityn the nomad wolf was courting his neighbor, the elder she-dog. So the wily fox made himself an outfit of wolf's clothing: a grey fur cloak, boots and cap. Then, when the she-dog's brothers were away and she was at home with her younger sister, he called upon her.

"I have two herds of fat reindeer," said the fox to the elder sister, as he sipped the bilberry tea she offered him. "I have come to seek your hand."

Thinking that this was, indeed, Ankakumikaityn the nomad wolf, the she-dog treated him to reindeer meat, hot mare's-blood sausages, raw walrus liver and pickled fish, the very choicest pieces. All the while, the fox sat in his cap, unwilling to take it off lest he be recognized.

"Being a wealthy person," he explained, "I keep my cap on that people might respect me."All of a sudden, the sound of dogs barking could be heard from afar."It is my brothers returning from hunting," the she-dog said."Oh dear," exclaimed the fox, "they will likely scare my herds. I must run to caution them."

Once away from the tent, the fox quickly dashed up the nearby hill and loosened some rocks. When the dog brothers came in sight, he pushed the boulders down the hillside and crushed them all. Thereupon, he returned to the tent and finished his tea, charming the sisters with his oily-tongued tales. As dusk fell and the sisters were busy about their housework, he made off with all their food supplies.

Early next morning, the sisters became most alarmed on discovering their supplies gone and their brothers still absent. As they searched the valley and found their poor brothers dead, they wept in despair.

"Who could have done us such harm?" they wailed. In their sorrow, they decided to go to Ankakumikaityn to seek his counsel. The nomad wolf was puzzled. "But I never came to you yesterday!" he exclaimed.

It was not long before the sisters realized they had been tricked by the fox. With the wolf's help, they worked out a plan to get their revenge.

Next day, the fox, unaware that he had been discovered called on the sisters again dressed as Ankakumikaityn. But this time they were expecting him. While the fox drank bilberry tea and exchanged pleasantries, the nomad wolf stealthily entered the tent, grabbed the treacherous fox and tied him up.

"What shall we do with the scoundrel?"asked the wolf. "Let's put him in a sack and leave him in the tundra," suggested the two sisters. That they did. The poor fox almost fainted from fright, wondering what his fate would be. At last, he was set down with a bump; the younger sister collected a heap of dry grass and brushwood for a fire, piled it round the sack, surrounded the tinder with stones and then lit the fire. Poor fox. He at last burst out of the burning sack, his wolf's clothing aflame, and rushed headlong over the tundra like a burning torch. Satisfied at their revenge, the dog sisters and the wolf returned to the tent.

Ankakumikaityn wed the elder sister, and the younger dog looked after their children. Some time later, she found herself a husband too. Since that time red foxes began to appear in the tundra. So it seems that wily old fox, scorched and fiery red, managed to survive his roasting after all.
Russian Wolf Fable

Sunday

The earth is our home. She is very beautiful and giving but also at the same time very fragile. She needs lot's of love and care to be able to sustain her children - the humans, animals, birds, fish & all the plants/trees that depend on her to survive. Because of man's lack of regard towards her since the Industrial Revolution and his quest for more of the Earth's resources, she has has become very ill.

The double edged sword of man's contempt for our Earth's health is that humans will eventually feel her wrath as she fights back to survive. In fact this has already started to happen. Land is being contaminated or overused, availability of fresh drinking water is shrinking and many birds, animals and fish are heading towards the slippery slope of endangerment or extinction. Greed and consumerism has been the driving force of this dilemma .

Thankfully there have been those to sound the alarm and to try to stop this disastrous decline. These people have fearlessly stepped forward to fight the battles, many times by themselves. Today because of these brave warriors of the past, there are many wildlife and conservation organizations that continue the fight. As you watch this beautiful video keep in mind all those who have stood up for her. Ask yourself what is your role in all of this - what can you do to help restore and preserve the earth for the future generations that come behind us?



Many of us who live in the Northern areas of the American Continent have had the delightful experience of watching the magnificent display of moving multi-coloured, misty lights, as they flash across the night skies.

A number of theories and explanations have been advanced for this natural phenomenon known as the "Aurora Borealis" or "Northern lights", but let us travel in our minds, back through the eons of time and discover how they really came into being. We are in a world that spins in a perfect vertical position upon its axis. The moderate temperature is about the same all over its surface and beautiful vegetation is everywhere.

As we return through time, we witness the great Flood where everything becomes submerged and finally lost. As the waters gradually recede their tremendous weight throws our planet off its balance and it now tilts to one side, thus causing long dark periods in the North and South.

Not quite all is lost however, for in the North lived a simple and God-fearing race of people, known to us now as the "Mongols", whom the Great Manitou (their name for God) had spared from this great deluge.

When they could no longer see the Sun and feel its warmth, fear came upon them and they prayed to the Great Manitou to save them. In his compassion, the Great Spirit decided to take them to the warm and fertile plains of this Continent and he bade them gather together their families and 'what goods they could carry and trek across the barren North to the "New Land".

Because there was no daylight many became lost and perished within the deep crevices caused by the flood waters.

Again they prayed for help and the Great Manitou devised a plan. Covering the Northern cap of the world with great crystals of ice, some as high as mountains, he was able to capture the rays of the hidden sun and reflect them up into the sky, thus providing light for his people to see by. Onward these stalwart people trekked, and became the forerunners of our many Indian tribes.

The great ice prisms split the sun's rays into all the beautiful colors of the spectrum and because of this, people for thousands of years have witnessed this wonderful miracle, the Northern Lights!
A Ojibwa Legend

Photo: Nasa


Saturday

Norway is a wonderful country of both natural beauty and it's vision of peace. It's stunning physical beauty ranges from it's picturesque coastlines to it's majestic mountain peaks. It is a striking nordic country whose values seem to reflect the beauty of it's land. It is the land of the Midnight Sun in the summer and a place of pristine snowcovered beauty in it's harsh and cold winters.

It's country men and women are a gentle people who have lived in trust and respect with each other in a modern world where this is rare indeed. They have been there to help out their neighbors in the world when support and assistance was needed. They have truly been a friend and ally to all civilized countries around the world.

So the world and Norway itself were deeply shocked and stunned when a lone countryman inflicted terror and death upon it's citizens.
In the city of Oslo, people would walk about unafraid as did their own Prime Minister who would walk along side the city's residents. But that was before July 22nd, 2011. Now even this peaceful country has been touched by the madness of terrorism.

The people of the world today are sending prayers and healing thoughts of love to this beautiful country in such shock and pain. We want to be there for them so that in time they will be able to return to some sense of normalcy in their lives. Norway would be one of the first to do this for other countries if the tables were turned. It is now our turn to repay them and be there along side of them. May peace return quickly to Norway.

Photo : Valeri A

Photo : mishox

Photo: DB-UK




A Ojibwa Legend

More enchanting, than the rushing, swirling water, and the crystal Studded mist rising from the great gorge, is the story of a lovely Indian princess.

A peace-loving- chieftain, White Bear, of the Ojibway encampment, learned the Sioux were about to destroy his tribe. Too old to go to battle himself, the old chief's distress led his daughter, Princess Green Mantle, to devise a plan.

The Princess paddled her canoe up the Kaministiquia, to a point well above the waterfall. She Walked boldly into the camp of her enemies and at once they captured her and planned to put her to death. Pretending to be lost and frightened, she bargained with them to spare her life in return for leading them to her father's camp.

The Sioux agreed and the following morning the young princess was placed in the lead canoe and the great band of Sioux, with their canoes tied together, set out for the Ojibway camp. Green Mantle did not tell them of the falls, and as they swiftly turned the bend of the river, they plunged into the great gorge. Along with the Sioux warriors, the Princess lost her life, but her tribe was spared the torture of the most feared of all the tribes. The Great Manitou looked kindly upon the brave deed of the Princess.

Today, if one walks along the river bank to the point of the falls, the figure of Green Mantle can be seen in the mist, standing as a monument to the memory of the courageous Princess who gave her life for her people.

Friday

Zoo keepers are amazed to see a massive elk save a marmot from drowning in a water tank at Pocatello Zoo in Idaho. 

Recently at the Pocatello Zoo in Pocatello, Idaho an event took place that stunned everyone. Zoo keepers became somewhat alarmed when they noticed that Shooter, a massive 10 ft tall male Elk was acting very strange in his water trough. Shooter is a very intimidating animal that has some of the zoo keepers there wary about going in with him. He has been know to puncture car tires when he is feeling a little upset.

What they saw was Shooter trying to put his whole head into the water but his antlers kept getting in the way. He then began dipping his hooves in the water trough. Finally after lowering his head in again, he emerged with a tiny marmot - a kind of large squirrel - clutched between his jaws. Zoo keepers were amazed as Shooter gently lowered the little marmot to the ground.

Zoo keepers realized that after some planning on his part Shooter had figured out to move the marmot away from the sides of the water trough so that he could grab the little guy with his teeth. The marmot appeared to be somewhat shaken and very wet but was okay as he scampered off. Luckily the whole incident had been captured on camera by one of the keepers of the softer side of the big and very intimidating Elk. Shooter had decided the marmot was in distress and decided to help him out. This amazing feat of animal altruism can be seen in the wonderful photos below.






VIDEO

A Kato Legend

Nagaicho, the creator, set out to create the world, and he took along a dog. He placed four big pillars at the corners of the earth to hold up the sky. He created man from the dirt, and then he created woman.

The sun became hot, the moon was cold, and trees grew everywhere. Waves danced on the surface of the ocean and all the creatures of the seas swam in it and were happy.

Then Nagaicho saw that the creatures of the earth needed water. He dragged his feet deep into the Earth and created rivers. He poked his fingers into the Earth and created flowing springs.

And the elk and the deer came to drink at the rivers and springs.

"Drink", Nagaicho said to the dog. And the dog drank from the sweet water, and Nagaicho himself lay down and drank.

"It is good. They will all drink it," said Nagaicho.

Then Nagaicho piled rocks around the edge of the water and made lakes and ponds.

"Drink the good water" he said to the dog. "Drink, my dog."

And the dog drank, and Nagaicho lay down and plunged his face in the water and drank.

"It is good," he said. "Bears and people will drink here," he said.

The Nagaicho put salamanders and turtles and little eels in the creeks.

He put grizzlies and deer in the mountains and panthers and jack rabbits.

So Nagaicho walked along, creating the creatures.

"Walk behind me, my dog," said Nagaicho. "Let us look at all that is made."

The trees were tall; the streams were full of fish. The little valleys had grown wide and full of flowering brush.

"Walk fast, my dog," he said. "The land is good."

Acorns and chestnuts hung on the trees. Berries crowded the bushes. There were many birds and snakes. The grass had grown. Grasshoppers were leaping about. There was clover.

"We made it good, my dog," said Nagaicho. And so they started back, Nagaicho and his dog.

The mountains were high; the land was flat; the creeks were full of trout. The good water raced over the rocks.

They walked along. "We are nearly home, my dog," said Nagaicho. "I will drink water. You too drink," he said to the dog.

The face of the earth was covered with growing things. The creatures were multiplying upon it.

And Nagaicho went back into the North with his dog.

* The Kato (Cahto) are a indigenous Californian group of Native Americans in the United States. Today they are enrolled as the federally recognized tribe, the Cahto Indian Tribe of the Laytonville Rancheria or a small group of Cahto are enrolled in the Round Valley Indian Tribes of the Round Valley Reservation (via Wikipedia)

Thursday

Once again history is beginning to repeat itself when it comes to the wolves in the northern Rockies. By the 1940's the last wolves had been eradicated from the western states in the U.S. What would follow was a complete ecological disaster as exploding elk populations with no substantial predators began to alter the ecosystem by destroying the Aspen trees. With the Aspen trees reduced to mere stubs on the landscape, many of the other components of the area such as wildlife also fell into decline. When science finally finally figured this out, the decision to bring the wolf back prevailed.

However today as the fall hunting season approaches, an air of impending doom is hanging over the northern Rockies once again. The fate of the wolf hangs in balance as the state of Idaho has recently declared that it will be open hunting season of the wolf with no quotas being issued. It's neighbor, Montana has jumped on the band wagon also and set an unusually high quota of 220 wolves to be killed which would take out roughly 1/3 of the Montana wolf population. The state of Wyoming whose wolves were not allowed to be lifted from federal protection in the past is now working with Interior Secretary, Salazar to allow a state plan of shooting wolves on sight.

Have the governments in these states gone stark raving mad after all the lessons that were just recently learned in the last century? Well, some would argue that yes they have, but what it really boils down to is that the state politicians are guilty of pandering to the special interest groups that "butter their bread." In other words, the politicians have sold out the wolves and the environment that they live in for the short sightedness of political re-election and personal gain.

Those special interest groups consist of 2 segments of modern western life that have joined together to try to once again demonize the wolf without any real substantial proof. These 2 groups are the livestock ranchers and the sport hunters who have used wolf hysteria as it's main weapon of choice in the battle against the wolves right to be there. This vocal minority feels that their ideals of greed demanding for a wolf free environment far out way that of the logic of science with the need for an apex predator such as the wolf to keep the ecosystem in balance.

The slaughter will once again begin in the fall unless the people who support the need for the wolf speak out very loudly. Plans are currently underway to hold wolf rallies (Howl Across America) against the slaughter throughout the country in the month of August. Hope is also resting again in the upcoming judgement by Judge Molloy at the end of July that the wolf delisting recently passed was unconstitutional. This is being challenged because the new law permanently bans the judicial branch of the federal government from ever contesting it again. You can also help the wolves by taking a minute to sign the petitions below. Thank you.

WOLF PETITIONS :

STOP WOLF BLOODBATH IN IDAHO

Wolf Emergency: Wyoming Wolves To Be Shot on Sight

Sign petition to have America's wolves placed under federal protection PERMANENTLY!

@AMERICA WOLF CLAN

I wanted to give something of my past to my grandson. So I took him into the woods, to a quiet spot. Seated at my feet he listened as I told him of the powers that were given to each creature.

 He moved not a muscle as I explained how the woods had always provided us with food, homes, comfort, and religion. He was awed when I related to him how the wolf became our guardian, and when I told him that I would sing the sacred wolf song over him, he was overjoyed. In my song, I appealed to the wolf to come and preside over us while I would perform the wolf ceremony so that the bondage between my grandson and the wolf would be lifelong. I sang.

In my voice was the hope that clings to every heartbeat. I sang.

In my words were the powers I inherited from my forefathers. I sang.

In my cupped hands lay a spruce seed -- the link to creation. I sang.

In my eyes sparkled love. I sang.

And the song floated on the sun's rays from tree to tree.

When I had ended, it was if the whole world listened with us to hear the wolf's reply. We waited a long time but none came. Again I sang, humbly but as invitingly as I could, until my throat ached and my voice gave out.


All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had heard my sacred song. There were none left! My heart filled with tears. I could no longer give my grandson faith in the past, our past.

At last I could whisper to him: "It is finished!" "Can I go home now?" He asked, checking his watch to see if he would still be in time to catch his favorite program on TV. I watched him disappear and wept in silence. All is finished!
by Chief Dan George - Salish*

Salish*, or Salishan, is a language family comprised of languages and dialects spoken by aboriginal peoples of British Columbia and the states of Washington and Idaho. Salish peoples tell creation stories of animals in human form, the ancestors of present-day human beings, and “transformers” (known as Coyote in the Interior), powerful beings who created the present landscape and modified the order of things, eventually making an environment hospitable for humans.(From: The Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples/Aboriginals)


VIDEO Wolf Dance

Wednesday

We all know the story of how greenhouse gases are melting the Arctic sea ice. In fact this year the area covered by sea ice was at it's second lowest since 1979. This is measured by satellite. The warming of the Arctic is accelerating at a faster rate than in the lower latitudes due to heavy accumulation of greenhouse gases and the melting of sea ice which increases the effect.

And we have all heard of how the polar bears are having to swim for many more miles to find food and habitat because of this accelerated ice melting. Which is tragic in and of itself. Polar bears are not aquatic animals but rather spend most of their time on the ice floes or land where they hunt, feed and give birth. A study was done recently in the last decade where female polar bears were fitted with GPS collars and tracked by satellite over a period of 6 years. What was found was that there were occasions where polar bears were having to swim up to more than 30 miles at a time between ice floes to find food .

But recently a new study has found an additional tragic effect of the melting sea ice. It was found that of the polar bears that were mothers almost half of them lost their babies due to the fact that the babies could not survive the long distance swims with their mothers.
This was because of a couple of factors. Polar bear cubs have less body fat than their mothers and they were not able to survive the extreme cold of the arctic waters. The second reason was that because they were leaner they were not as buoyant as their mothers and could not keep their heads above the rough sea waves. Polar bears are like humans in that they cannot close off their nasal passages so if they cannot keep their heads above water they will drown.

During the Bush administration Polar bears were listed under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. In June of this year, that protection was upheld in a legal challenge and just this month, Canada has listed the Polar bear as a species at risk. These listings are important to help the Polar bear survive but it is going to take a lot more effort on the part of everyone to reduce the world's carbon dioxide emissions and stop the melting of sea ice. Without a collaborative effort in decreasing the use of fossil fuels worldwide, the Polar bears in the arctic might soon become a species from the past as they also head for extinction.

Photo by Keenpress (Flickr)

An American Indian Legend - Nation Unknown

Once upon a time, there was a wolf, and this wolf was all alone. All of the other wolves had been caught or killed or driven off. But this last wolf, he stayed. And he did all of the usual wolfish things. He lived in a cave high up in the hills. He raided the occasional flock for a stray sheep.

He also would appear from time to time late in the evening on a trail from the fields running down to the village to frighten some milk-maid or herds-boy coming home a little too late from the watch. And this gave rise to the stories of great, gnarled, bloody teeth and wet, long, lolling tongue and fiery, red, hungry eyes... the wolf had quite a reputation in the village.

But that was not the worst of it. The most horrible thing of all, the thing that froze the souls of the old men, and caused the red faces of the young people to blanche, and the heads of the children to go deep under bed covers at night was what the wolf would do from time to time, in the cold crackling air of the frosty silver moon, high on the stark peak of the stoney mountain near the village. He would sit up there and howl, howl with the sound of a thousand midnights down in a murky bog. Those who heard it swore it was a sound that only a beast could make whose soul was tortured and lost forever. And it chilled to the marrow everyone who heard it... everyone, that is, except one person.

For living in the village was a boy who had lived there all of his life. And yet no one really knew this boy. I mean, he spoke to folks, and they spoke to him. But no one really understood him or cared to. Even his parents were at a loss to understand his ways and his thoughts. So they mostly humored him. And the boy would lie awake in his bed at night wondering about his life and why he felt so lost among the villagers. And sometimes he would cry or sometimes he would be angry. But when he heard the call of the wolf on the mountain, right away he knew that here was a voice the like of which he'd not heard before. Here was a voice that spoke to him of feelings no one else knew that he had. And lying there and listening with every fiber of his body, he knew he had to seek out this wolf and know from it why it cried in the night. Oh, he'd heard the stories of the teeth, the tongue, the eyes so red and burning, but nothing would do except that he had to know that wolf for himself.

And so one day, before the sun rose, he set out on the road to the mountain where it was said the wolf made his den. It was a long road and a steep one, but the boy took no stick, nor wore no hat to guard him from the sun. And it was a dangerous journey to be sure, but the boy took no weapon to defend himself. And though the country was barren and rocky and not fruitful where he was going, the boy took no food nor drink to sustain him. And though he'd never been on this way before, he followed no map, but went the way of his heart, come what may. It was sometime at the end of a day's travel that he began to grow thirsty and the emptiness inside him began to make itself known in his stomach. He walked, becoming even more thirsty until darkness overcame him and he was forced to stop for the night in some trees near the road. And as he sat hungry and thirsty in the growing darkness, he thought for a moment about turning back and rushing blindly down the path and back to the village. But he knew that was not the way for him. So he sat for a long while shivering in the night and then lay down finally to sleep. In his dreams, the moon shone silver on the frosty stones, the air was clear and crisp, and the voice of the wolf rang out from the top of one of the peaks, calling out the way ahead, perhaps his way. He awoke in the dawn with a start, wondering if the dream had been real, and the wolf had actually called in the night.

He rose, still hungry, and continued on his way. Soon the path grew steeper and rockier. As the sun was moving high and the day was warming, the boy noticed ahead of him a flock of birds swooping and playing in a small pool beside the road.

The boy rushed to the water, fell on his belly and drank his fill. When he rose, the birds were watching him silently from a nearby tree limb. Realizing he had interrupted their play, he smiled and thanked them for letting him drink and continued on the path. Though his thirst was slaked, still an emptiness was burning deep in his belly. And as he walked, once again thoughts came to him of quitting, of just sitting down under a tree to wait for whatever might happen. And what if he never got up again? Would anyone miss him or come to find him? But something told him this was not the end of his journey. If he did not continue he would never know what was at the end of the path or why the wolf cried so in the night. And so he decided to continue walking knowing not what lay ahead of him.

You can imagine how relieved he was after several minutes to see beside the path a clump of bushes that were heavy and inviting with red, juicy berries. He rushed to them and began to pick and eat the sweet, ripe berries. But then he heard a noise. And looking up, he came face to face with a very large and hairy bear. The bear was only a few feet away in the bushes himself eating the tasty berries, The boy realized that those large arms were entirely capable of reaching out to catch at him and crush the life out of him. And so he did not move, but stood with the berries still sweet on his tongue, his lips red with juice, his cheeks now white with fright.

But the bear only stared and waited too... for a moment. And then the long white teeth showed in his fuzzy face, and one massive set of claws moved... and he began to pick and munch more of the ripe berries. The boy, realizing that the bear was hungry only for berries, smiled and began to breathe again, and went back to eating as well. After several minutes of filling himself, the boy was ready to move along, and, smiling and waving to his friend, he left the bushes and continued on the path.

A way up the path the boy noticed it was becoming steeper and so much harder to travel. And he was beginning to wonder when or how or if he would ever see his wolf and meet his wolf and know his wolf and be able to answer the strange desire he held within him to feel what the wolf felt deep in the night. Suddenly he heard a noise;

A stone tumbled; and the clatter echoed as the boy froze on the trail. His eyes darted left and right, looking for the source of the movement when something large moved and leaped into the path. His heart stopped, then began to beat again as he saw the visitor clearly. It wasn't the wolf at all, but a small deer, a yearling, a young male whose nubbish horns were just beginning to show on the top of his head. The two of them stared at one another for a moment, curious, fearless, silent.

The deer gazed at the boy wide-eyed. The boy gazed back, and suddenly he was concerned that the young fellow might be in danger. And he spoke quietly to the young deer.

"Oh, do be careful here. There's a bear down the path a way. And a wolf about, I think. I'm searching for that wolf myself, but you? I don't think you are ready to meet him."

The deer stared back in wonder and listening." Be careful, little man. Up here all alone and so friendly. Be wary of those who would hurt you."

And with that the boy walked on slowly toward the deer who started and scampered away into the rocks. The boy walked smiling to himself as he thought of the deer now safely hidden in the rocks. Hiding until he grew strong and large enough to defend himself against a bear or a wolf.

As he was thinking of this, he noticed the darkening sky and the cold chill of the deepening night air as it gathered about him. He continued along the bare path, trying not too look too far to left or right, trying to keep his footing, wondering if he had been wise in coming here, if he had been right in seeking the wolf in such a lonely and desolate place. He was growing more unsure of each step as he moved carefully and slowly up the path. When suddenly... he saw something... no felt something ahead. It might have been nothing. It might have been a shadow crossing the moon. It might have been everything he sought.

His heart beat faster. His head grew light, but his eyes stayed sharp as he stared ahead of him up the trail. He waited quietly for another sign, and soon came his reward as the shadows moved up ahead and became living and breathing flesh. There on four paws, eyes reflecting his own bright gaze, head still as stone and pointing down the trail toward him, was the wolf.

He could not move. The red eyes, the great tongue, the huge claws flashed in his memory. But as he stared, he saw none of them. He could also recall the song that had drawn him here, the singer from the distant night, now only yards from him, breathing in the cold night, and exhaling hot steam.

And as he stood, peering into the wild eyes before him, remembering that sad, sweet song, he felt his heart soften and his fear evaporate. His eyes filled and, without warning, he knew why he had come here. He knew in that instant what he had traveled to find, what he had heard in that song, what he had embraced in his lonely bed as he had lain awake, listening and wanting. He knew that the song had been a cry for an end to solitude. The cry was to banish aloneness. It had reached out across the miles and the years and touched him. And it had guided him. He knew this now.

And so with his heart full and his eyes afire with understanding, the boy faced the wolf and he spoke back... with his smile. And in that instant, the two... boy and wolf... were one heart.

It is said the boy never returned to the life he had known in the village. No one there could really be sure of his fate. No one would ever go looking. But there is one tale, told by a brave hunter who became lost after chasing a large deer up the mountain one day. When he returned, he told a wild and unbelievable story of seeing a boy and a wolf through the trees, lying asleep together under a tree some distance away. But as he made his way thrashing and crashing through the forest to where he thought he would rescue the lad, he became lost, and could no longer see nor find them. And so he returned to his safe villager's life, speaking in hushed tones of his brief glimpse of another life he could never understand. And as the people listened to his story told over and over again until the words were worn, and as the long years passed, some who listened would laugh, some would weep quietly, a few would cross themselves in disgust, and, once and again, some few would take heart and lie awake at night listening with hope to the strange and wolfish duet, sung high upon a distant peak in the silver moonlight.

Tuesday

British Petroleum aka BP has done it again. BP is infamous for the blown out Macondo well which caused the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history when it spewed almost 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf in 2010. On Monday, July 19th, BP reported another oil spill from a ruptured pipeline in Alaska.

The oil spill took place at its 30,000 barrel-per-day Lisburne field, which has been currently closed for maintenance. It ruptured during testing and spilled a mixture of methanol and oily water onto the tundra. The rupture actually occurred on Sat., July 17th but BP waited 2 days to report it.

The Lisburne field has produced no oil since June 18, because the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission had suggested maintenance work to be done requiring a prolonged shutdown. This was due to many problems found. The spill amounted to about 2,100 to 4,200 gallons. This has affected 4,960 square feet of gravel pad and about 2,040 square feet of wet and aquatic tundra. Cleanup is currently underway and BP's spokesperson said they did not anticipate that the cleanup would take very long. Of course the pipeline will have to be dug up to conclude the investigation.

Many previous problems over the years has earned the company a very poor safety record. They are going to have to seriously address these issues if they want to continue doing business in the U.S. They have made many apologies and promises in the past. Hopefully the U.S. will take a stand against BP soon before more of it's wilderness, wildlife and coastal waters are contaminated and destroyed.

A Tsimshian* Legend

A tribe who lived along the Nass River had a special place near the head of the river where they could find an abundance of salmon and wild berries. This helped to make their village a wealthy and respected one and it prospered for many generations.

As time went on, some of the younger people began to forget the old traditions. They would show disrespect for their fellow creatures by killing small animals and leaving their carcasses to the crows and eagles. Once, when the salmon season was at its height, young men from the Wolf Clan caught several fish, cut slits in their backs, and put in pieces of burning pitch pine. When they were placed back in the river they frantically swam about like living torches.

The young men thought this was fun and exciting and did not think about the cruelty and wastefulness they were showing. The elders, knowing this would anger the Chief in the Sky, protested and tried to talk sense into them but to no avail. The young people took no notice.

When the salmon season came to a close the tribe began preparing for the winter ceremonies. As they worked they heard a strange noise in the distance as if a giant medicine drum was being beaten. The older folks thought that the thoughtlessness shown by the young men in mistreating the salmon was bringing trouble on the tribe. The young ones merely scoffed.

During the next few weeks the beating grew louder and louder and even the young warriors became frightened. The elders said it would be their fault if the tribe perished. Eventually a thunderous noise was heard, the mountains exploded, and fire poured forth until the very rivers were aflame. The people fled in panic and as the fire worked its way down the river the forest also became an inferno. Only a few survived.

The shamans said that the spirit world was angry because of the torture of the salmon. The powers of nature insist on a proper regard for all their creatures. That is a principle we should all embrace.

The *Tsimshian are an indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tsimshian translates to Inside the Skeena River. Their communities are in British Columbia and Alaska, around Terrace and Prince Rupert and the southernmost corner of Alaska on Annette Island. There are approximately 10,000 Tsimshian. Their culture is matrilineal with a societal structure based on a clan system.

Art by Liana Buszka

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