[White Bull] Native American Creation Story Manuscript in Pencil, commencing with "In the beginning all the Indians lived ...

Description

This compelling narrative begins, "In the beginning all the Indians lived underground where it was dank and dark and they weren't very happy. The spider woman was their doctor and wise advisor. They knew nothing of an outside world." The story continues with how small groups of curious Indians climbed different branches of a bamboo plant, planted by the spider woman, up into the outside world, which "is why Indians suddenly appeared at so many different places at the same time." The Indians "were all so happy with the beautiful world. They worshiped the mountains, the stars, the trees, the streams and all nature and they had their gatherings dancing & singing and smoking the pipe of peace." At this point in the tale, the Indians met "the white man". The relationship between the Delaware and Shawnee tribes and the white people, with mention of the "governor or Penn.", concludes the story.

White Bull (1849-1947) bragged that he had killed George Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. The nephew of Sitting Bull, White Bull became a Sioux chief in 1876.