February/March Entry: Ursa Major

[Rythal]

I am doing this map based on the Aboriginal legend of the Bear and the three hunters (The Big Dipper). It will be map which will include both the village and the hunters path, as well as the stars and the big dipper. I might actually check out where the stars are all located and include that as well.

Native American - Algonquin

There once was a very large and mean spirited old bear who's chief pleasure was to ravage a village. It seemed everyone was afraid of the bear who did more and more damage each time he attacked a village. Finally, the elders from many villages met to discuss what could be done about the bear. After they had smoked and talked for a long while they decided they would each bring their best and most brave warriors together to hunt the bear.

The three brave warriors chosen, Alioth, Mizer, and Alkaid, all had done many things over time to show how strong and daring they were. When the bear realized just who was after him, he decided to run away because he was really a coward at heart. The bear ran and the hunters chased him.

The hunt went on for many moons and the bear began to tire. No matter what he did, he could not escape the hunters. Finally, in desperation, he ran right up into the sky and the hunters went right after him! Around and around they went, circling the north star.

Once, the lead hunter shot an arrow at the bear and managed to wound him, but the bear's magic was powerful and the wound was not fatal. But every autumn, as the bear and hunters circle low over the horizon, the wound bleeds a few drops of blood onto the Earth, and that is what makes the tree's leaves change colour every fall!


Source: at the middle of the page