Why the Chipmunk Has the Black Stripe
Iroquois
Once upon a time the porcupine was appointed
to be the leader of all the animals. Soon after
his appointment he called them all together and
presented the question, “Shall we have night
all the time and darkness, or daylight with
its sunshine?” This was a very important
question, and a violent discussion took place,
with some wishing for daylight and the sun
to rule, and others for continual night.
The chipmunk wished for night and day, weeks
and months, and night to be separate from
the days, so he began singing, “The light
will come; we must have the light,” which
he continued to repeat. Meanwhile the bear
began singing, “Night is best, we must have
darkness.”
While the chipmunk was singing,the day began
to dawn. When the others saw that the chipmunk
had won,they were very angry and their leader
the bear went after the chipmunk.
The chipmunk managed to escape uninjured, but
the huge paw of the bear grazed his back
as he entered his hole in a hollow tree,
leaving a black streak that chipmunks wear to
this day. But night and day have,ever since,
continued to alternate.
