For Those Left Below: A Native American Myth

Long, long ago near the modern day Northern Louisiana, a Caddo Indian chief was tucking his
little Indian princess in bed. As he was pulling the blanket up around her little shoulders, a wolf
began to howl in the distance. The little girl looked in the direction from which the sound had
come from and a curious expression fell over her face. Papa, she asked, why do the wolves
howl at the moon? They sound so sad. Well, her father replied as he cleared his throat and sat
next to her cot, Papoose let me tell you a story about our ancestors from long ago. Once upon a
time in a land not too far from here men and women and all the animals didnt walk upon the
Earth but they lived under it. Now on this day Neesh the god of the moon found a cave leading
from below the Earth to the land above. Neesh told everyone to pack up their things and follow
him to the new land. The people separated themselves into groups so that each had a leader and a
drum, and they sang and danced as they followed Neesh above ground. But before they left,
Neesh told them that they must not look back while they were journeying from the underground
to the land above. When they finally reached the opening an old man was the first one to climb
into the New World. He brought with him a drum, fire, and a pipe. His wife followed bringing
along corn and pumpkin seeds. Then the animals and people kept coming and kept coming
bringing many things with them above ground. When it was the wolfs turn to come above
ground, he turned around and glanced behind him. As soon as that happened, the opening closed
leaving the rest of the people and animals still below ground. The people and animals above
ground didnt know what to do. They cried and cried for those left below. The wolf was the last
animal to make it through the opening. He cried the most. His wolf brothers and sisters and all
the other people were left underground because of him. He wandered and wandered the land
until sunset hit. When it got dark, and the moon rose, he stopped and started crying. He was so

sad that he even started howling. Howling for all those left underground and in the dark. So
every night, her father said as she let out a big yawn, the wolves howl at the moon in
remembrance of everything and everyone left underground and in hopes that theyll be able to
see them again. The little Indian princess smiled and turned on her side. Goodnight my little
Papoose. The Caddo chief said as he kissed her on her forehead. Goodnight. She replied as
she slipped into a deep blissful sleep.