Most people have seen the Big Dipper. Native Americans call this star pattern Sky Bear. The Mohawk people tell this tale of how Sky Bear formed.
Sky Bear
Long
ago, three hunters and their little dog
found the tracks of a giant bear.
They followed those tracks
5 all through the day
and even though it was almost dark
they did not stop, but continued on.
They saw that bear now, climbing up
a hill, which glittered
10 with new-fallen snow.
They ran hard to catch it,
but the bear was too fast.
They ran and they ran, climbing
up and up until one of the hunters said,
15 “Brothers, look down.”
They did and saw they
were high above Earth.
That bear was Sky Bear,
running on through the stars.
20 Look up now
and you will see her,
circling the sky.
