The Tale of Four Brothers

***This is as it was told to me***

THE TALE OF FOUR BROTHERS - DAKOTA/CHEYENNE ORIGIN

Though I know this story I am telling it from memory so it may not be fully intact. I may get a few words out of place because I have not heard another person speak it in a very, very long time.

Back when the world was very young and first made the Great Spirit decided that there should be people to live on Turtle Island. So the Great Spirit set about creating the Peoples. He made four different kinds of peoples to live on Turtle Island.

First he made the Red Man. He was red because he was made from the red earth of Turtle Island. Then he made Yellow Man; he was yellow because he was made from the bark of the tree that grew on Turtle Island. Then he made White Man. He was white because he was made from the foam of the waters on Turtle Island. And then he made Black Man. He was black because he was made from the soil on Turtle Island.

Now these four brothers lived in peace on Turtle Island for a very long time and all was good with them and the world. And the Great Spirit was very happy with all that was done. One day, Black Man found a shiny stone on the ground. He thought, what a beautiful stone this is, so he picked it up. As he was looking at it, White Man noticed that he had something special and White Man thought if it is that good maybe it has some medicine, and he wanted it too. So White Man tried to take from Black Man the shiny stone.

Well they began to argue and fight, and Yellow Man noticed this too. Yellow Man thought, this thing they are fighting over, it must have some special medicine. And while they are fighting I will take it. Soon enough, Yellow Man was fighting with Black Man and White Man over the shiny stone. All of them thinking it had special medicine. All this fighting had caused such a noise that the Great Spirit came to Turtle Island to see what was going on. When he got there he saw the brothers fighting and Great Spirit was very upset with them.

Great Spirit looked at the brothers and told them to stop. He asked them why they fought and they told him. This upset Great Spirit deeply and he decided that it would be best if the brothers were separated to teach them a lesson. So Great Spirit looked at White Man and said, White Man, you go live over there. And then he looked at Black Man and said, Black Man you go live over there. And then he looked at Yellow Man and said, Yellow Man you go live over there. And then the Great Spirit looked for Red Man, but he did not see him.

So Great Spirit looked around and found Red Man sitting under a shade tree with his legs crossed just resting. Were you fighting too?, asked Great Spirit. Red Man answered, no. Great Spirit asked Red Man why he was not fighting. Red Man answered, because there are many shiny stones for all. I do not need to fight for the one they wanted. Great Spirit was pleased to here this and said to Red Man, you may stay here, but the others must go until they learn to live in peace. But in your heart you will always long to return this land and your red brother who sits and waits.

And that is why we have the four sacred colors, the four directions, and the four races of man. That is also why all peoples of Turtle Island wish to come to this land. And that is why we are all brothers as long as we live in peace.