This is a story The Native Tobacco People use to relate the differences between Native groups and the many different Natoh ("tobaccos") we each have. The story is based on the Navajo understand that Native people have their own medicine or smoke that helps to define who (or what) they are. I use it to also show that it is imperative that groups share their perspectives and make an attempt to understand each other. Coyote was out running his games of mischief when he spied upon a mountaintop what looked to be a cloud merrily dancing from peak to peak. When he squinted he could see that it was not a cloud, but a mountain sheep. This was, after, Dibe Ntsaa, the sacred mountain of the North. Oh how Coyote wished he could leap from peak to peak like that sheep! How Coyote wished he had the grace and balance of the nimble-footed mountain walker. How Coyote wished he could have dominion over everything he could see from that mountaintop. You see, Coyote, being so sly and cunning believes he must have control over all that roams across the desert floor. He must have control over all he could see. Coyote is never satisfied. He even wants control over things he cannot immediately see. Coyote recognized that when he stood on the tips of his toes he could see farther than he could when sitting. He also knew that if he were on top of a mountain, he could see farther still! He wanted everything he could see from Dibe Ntsaa, the sacred mountain of the North. And Coyote also wanted the power that kept Mountain Sheep in balance, because Coyote is sometimes out of balance. He wanted to power that made Mountain Sheep powerful and beautiful. Yes, Coyote wanted the power that today would be defined as being "cool." But it was not "coolness" or an image that made Mountain Sheep so powerful. Mountain Sheep was merely himself. Mountain Sheep was defined and refined by his respectful use of his Natoh, his medicine. Animals, as well as Native people, have something in common, they each have a Natoh, a sacred plant used for ceremony as a means to communicate with the Creator. The Creator gave man and animals their own Natoh so they could pray, and so that they could be true to themselves and to others. In doing so, the Creator also showed them how to harvest and use the smoking plant. If the sacred smoking plant is treated with respect, it can be very helpful. If treated with disrespect, the plant will be very deadly. Coyote is often disrespectful. This is what gets him into trouble. Now, being every busy, Coyote didn't have the time to find out what made Mountain Sheep so strong; he was too busy with other mischief. So he asked Red ant for a favor. Coyote asked him to climb to the top of Dibe Ntsaa and spy on Mountain Sheep. Red Ant was reluctant until Coyote promised he would reward Red Ant with some delicious honey fo rthe winter months-as well as threatened to squeeze the life out of him if he did not! That did it! Off Red Ant went. Being so small, Red Ant took two full months to climb the mountain. Boy, was he tired! Thankfully, Red Ant didn't have to wait long for Mountain Sheep to come near. Mountain Sheep was powerful as he leapt from peak to peak, stopping momentarily to nibble greens. Yes, it was true! Mountain Sheep had terrific balance and strength. Red Ant crouched behind a small rock. He studied Mountain Sheep's behavior. Red Ant observed Mountain Sheep place an offering while making a prayer, pick a plant, and then roll a smoke. Mountain Sheep then bounded away, powerfully gliding from peak to peak. Amazed, Red Ant left his hiding place, took a leaf of the plant Mountain Sheep had used, and began his trip back down. It took another two months to get to the desert floor. Coyote was lying under the hot sun when Red Ant approached. Sleepily, Coyote received Red Ant, Triumphantly, Red Ant held the leaf and began to tell the story of his lengthy trip, and more importantly, how to select, pray, and use it, but Coyote leaped from his resting-place and snatched away the trophy. He ran hurriedly toward the mountain. Once, again, Coyote was not being respectful. Coyote had not thanked Red Ant. He did not wait to hear how to make an offering; he did not know how to pray; he did not know much! Coyote ran up Dibe Ntsaa. He was tired and sweaty. His wet palm had reduced the leaf to a dark, unrecognizable mess. Coyote was undeterred. He knew that other animals had a Natoh that gave them strength. So he rudely began to pull up all the plants!! He greedily stuffed his magic sack full. Soon the mountain was bald! Coyote did not make an offering; he did not make a prayer. He was about to make trouble for himself and everybody else. What you do affects others! Coyote used his magic to quickly grow a stalk of corn that was of extraordinary size. The ear was four times as big around as he, and at least twice as tall. He took the corn skin and filled it with the plant material. Coyote started a huge fire and lit the end of his smoke and inhaled deeply. He wished for the strength and grace of Mountain Sheep. Coyote wished for everything! But he did not make an offering; he did not pray; he was not respectful. The plants did not become "real" for Coyote. Coyote did feel something, however. He felt strong and powerful. He challenged Mountain Sheep to a race, a race for the mountain, up one side of Dibe Ntsaa and down the other. Coyote limbered himself up. The animal spectators were tense because they knew Coyote could be very tricky. And they also knew that his fate would be theirs. Mountain Sheep and Coyote began east of the mountain and ran west. The two were neck and neck for a short while. Coyote truly had the strength of Mountain Sheep and the other animals! Then Coyote began to cough and wheeze as they began to go higher up the mountain. By the time Mountain Sheep and Coyote were at the peak Coyote was spitting putrid smelling phlegm and coughing great clouds of smoke. His hacking was so loud and the smoke so thick that many thought the sky would soon storm. Coughing, hacking, spitting, Coyote began to falter. His balance. Swayed. He desperately tried to keep up with the powerful Mountain Sheep, but could not. Coyote fell from the peaks to the desert floor breaking into many bits. Although the animals were angrey for losing their plants, they also felt sorry for himm. What a horrible way to die, they said to one another. Look at those diseased, black lungs, others said. Coyote has an amazing capacity to revive himself. He hides his heart in a secret place so that he can restore himself. And restore himself he did, but Coyote needed some help. His lungs were too worn and full of holes to be of any use to him. The animals agreed they should make prayer and heal him, but with what medicine? Coyote had already pulled all the plants from their mountain and used them. Red Ant figured he could help. Red Ant crawled through Coyote's nose, down through his throat, and into hi lungs. There he found many small pieces of Natoh. With those pieces the animals prayed by making smoke and healed Coyote. The animals supplied him with new lungs fashioned from the ears of a cactus. Coyote needed to learn why he failed. So all the animals gathered to share how and why they made smoke. The also agreed not to use each other's Natoh. This discussion helped to reestablish Natoh as their sacred plants. Soon Coyote was back to his old mischief. Coyote was able to revive himself. He is like a cat with multiple lives. People, however, are not able to do that so easily. Remember the lesson Coyote learned about tobacco. Unless you acknowledge its power, its sacredness, the plant can never become "real." It will only cause harm. Learn the name of your sacred plant.

-Lawrence A. Shorty Copyright 1996