Remember a few days ago we talked about the great new park in Delaware based on stories of the Nanicoke tribe? I showed you the new climbing structure where parents can use their smart phone to hear the creation story of “How the beaver got its tail” and I was so impressed I said I would go looking for it. Well I did and I just know you want to hear all about it.
Well according to the Ojibwe legend, the beaver used to have a beautiful fluffy tail – kind of a cross between a squirrel and a fox and a wolverine. And it would stroll vainly across the forest like Princess Diana in her wedding veil and ask other creatures if they admired it?
In general the animals were much kinder to these vanity grillings than human children would be in real life, but because they were also wiser they’d ask, “Why are you so obsessed with that thing?” And the beaver would trounce off feeling like he needed to discover other animals who were more appreciative.
Well the day came when beaver wanted to show off more of his skills after bragging to the muskrat he turned to show how easily he could chew trees, and he was nibbling away at the bark, thinking how jealous that muskrat must be of his skills and his beautiful fluffy tail when he stopped paying attention to what he was doing and CRASH the tree feel the wrong way and landed right on his beautiful tail!
He pulled and pulled to get it free and at last he finally managed to wriggle away from the heavy trunk and check himself over for injuries. And ALAS! His beautiful tail had been smashed flat and looked nothing like it did before! He started to weep and cried for all the world. Now no one would like him anymore! Now he wouldn’t be special! Now nothing mattered! The creator came kindly to his side.
Pretty quick thinking by that creator, huh? No lectures about not being so full of yourself or all success being temporary. I like this kind of deity. Of course he was right. Not about the beaver being able now to slap for danger because anyone would have thought of that obviously, but about the beaver being kind and wise. Because of course. Beavers give to everyone. Just look at the beaver pond!
From that day on, the beaver never bragged about his tail, and all the animals liked him.
That’s how the beaver got his flat tail.
Well it does make sense, I can see why that’s a good lesson for children. Being useful to others is what makes you special, not being lovely to look at. Although I still find it hard imagining a beaver as vain. They seem too pragmatic to be self-focused. Much more oblivious to themselves than humans. Which is why I enjoyed them so much and I spent enough mornings and nights with them to know. But it’s a fun story. And gives me a wonderful excuse to repost this, which I never tire of. (Because unlike the selfless, flat-tailed beaver. I remain proud of it.)
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