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Canku Ota |
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(Many Paths) |
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An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
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May 22, 2004 - Issue 113 |
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The Legend of the Prairie Rose |
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Lakota Legend |
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"I have many beautiful flowers in my heart," Earth said to herself. "I wish they were on my robe. Blue flowers like the clear sky in fair weather, white flowers like the snow of winter, brilliant yellow ones like the sun at midday, pink ones like the dawn of a spring day--all these are in my heart. I am sad when I look on my dull robe, all gray and brown."
So the little pink flower came up from the heart of the Earth Mother to beautify the prairies. But when the Wind Demon saw her, he growled, "I will not have that pretty flower on my playground." He rushed at her, shouting and roaring, and blew out her life. But her spirit returned to the heart of Mother Earth.
At last Prairie Rose offered to go. "Yes, sweet child," said Earth Mother, "I will let you go. You are so lovely and your breath so fragrant that surely the Wind Demon will be charmed by you. Surely he will let you stay on the prairie." So Prairie Rose made the long journey up through the dark ground and came out on the drab prairie. As she went, Mother Earth said in her heart, "Oh, I do hope that Wind Demon will let her live."
So he rushed on, roaring and drawing his breath in strong gusts. As he came closer, he caught the fragrance of Prairie Rose. "Oh--how sweet!" he said to himself. "I do not have it in my heart to blow out the life of such a beautiful maiden with so sweet a breath. She must stay here with me. I must make my voice gentle, and I must sing sweet songs. I must not frighten her away with my awful noise."
Then other flowers came up from the heart of the Earth Mother, up through the dark ground. They made her robe, the prairie, bright and joyous. Even Wind came to love the blossoms growing among the grasses of the prairie. And so the robe of Mother Earth became beautiful because of the loveliness, the sweetness, and the courage of the Prairie Rose. Sometimes Wind forgets his gentle songs and becomes loud and noise. But his loudness does not last long. And he does not harm a person whose robe is the color of Prairie Rose.
Print and Color Your Own Prairie Rose |
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Long,
long ago, when the world was young and people had not come out
yet, no flowers bloomed on the prairie. Only grasses and dull,
greenish gray shrubs grew there. Earth felt very sad because her
robe lacked brightness and beauty. 
A
sweet little pink flower heard Earth's sad talking. "Do not
be sad, Mother Earth. I will go upon your robe and beautify it."
When
other flowers gained courage to go forth, one after another, Wind
Demon killed them also. And their spirits returned to the heart
of Mother Earth. 
So
Wind Demon changed. He became quiet. He sent gentle breezes over
the prairie grasses. He whispered and hummed little songs of gladness.
He was no longer a demon. 
Alas
a more distinctive species could well have been selected for the North
Dakota state flower, because prairie wild rose can be found from Alberta
to Texas northeastward to New York at elevations up to 9000 feet.
Look
for prairie wild rose in prairies, sandy tame pastures, roadsides, and
at the edges of woods. Plants seem to slightly more abundant in heavily
and moderately grazed pastures in cool moist soils of eastern and central
North Dakota, but decrease under heavy grazing in the warm dry soils to
the west. Roses are used as foods (preserves, candies, sauces), drinks
(teas, wines), flavorings, and perfumes, and the essential oils have been
used as medicines. 
