The Horse and Native Mythology
The Epic of Long Arrow
Nov 17, 2008 Jeffrey R Gudzune
The horse was introduced to North America by Spanish settlers in the mid to late 1500s. As the Spanish explored the southwestern portion of the continent, several of their horses escaped into the wild. By the time Spain had established its foothold in North America, the animal had already been set loose upon indigenous domain. Spanish authorities tried to prevent the native population from obtaining the horse but were unsuccessful. Even before the Pueblo Revolt, colonial authorities reported raids by roaming bands of natives whose horsemanship paralleled that of the conquistadors themselves. The most documented incidents were recorded from the year 1659, when Navajo warriors, demonstrating expert control over their horses, swept through settlements on the perimeter of Santa Fe.
After the overthrow of the Spanish government in New Mexico, the pueblo tribes held free reign over their territories. These tribes now had the advantage of traversing greater distances and expanding their range of trade. The horse became the hot ticket item and was quickly introduced to new markets. Native populations to which the horse was an alien concept were nonetheless impressed by its durability and speed. With the introduction of the horse, indigenous society began to change. In fact, the horse was culturally significant enough for some tribes to create a mythological foundation for its presence.
According to Blackfoot mythology, the horse was a prize brought to man by the cultural hero Long Arrow. Long Arrow and his epic adventure embodies all that is important with respect to Blackfoot culture. It is heroic and fantastic, but at the same time demonstrates the cultural significance of the horse and its importance to tribal society. Long Arrow was born deaf and orphaned at and early age. Spurned by everyone save his loving sister, he was an outcast. When the tribe broke camp to seek more suitable habitation, they left the boy behind. Alone and terrified, Long Arrow’s fate seemed certain. However, a passing chief name Good Running pitied the boy and adopted him as his own.
Miraculously, Long Arrow regained his hearing and under Good Running’s care grew up to be a master hunter. Ever grateful for the man who had taken him in, Long Arrow sought a means to repay his adopted father for his love and guidance. Good Running had often told of a mysterious animal named Pono-Kamita (Elk Dog), a creature strong enough to carry a man over vast distances. Many a young warrior had ventured off into the wilderness in an attempt to capture Pono-Kamita, but none had returned. Long Arrow was not afraid and quickly volunteered to seek out the mysterious animal. His journey would be filled with danger and uncertainty, but Long Arrow was not afraid.
In order to reach Pono-Kamita, Long Arrow had to travel to the spirit world through an opening at the bottom of a far away lake. To reach the lake, Long Arrow had to face many challenges, both environmental as well as spiritual. Upon reaching the mountainous barrier between his corporeal realm and the lake, Long Arrow fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he was guided through the final portion of his journey by a spirit child. The spirit led Long Arrow to a tepee made of buffalo hide, where dwelt his grandfather--the chief Pono-Kamita. As a reward for the successful completion of his journey, Long Arrow was given dominion over a herb of Elk Dogs. As master of the horse, Long Arrow returned to his people in triumph. This story forms the mythos surrounding the introduction of the horse to the Blackfoot.
Peter Nabokov, Native American Testimony: A Chronicle of Indian-White Relations From Prophecy to Present. (New York: Penguin Book, 1978).
Carl Waldman, Atlas of the North American Indian. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2000).
Carl Waldman, Encyclopedia of Native Tribes. (New York: Checkmark Books, 2006).
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