Cherokee Oral Traditions: How the Deer Got His Horns
by Growing up as a child, I always enjoyed hearing a storyteller tell the stories of our tribe. In this story, it tells of how the deer came to adorn the antlers we see today. This story has been told and retold for generations. I hope that it continues to be told to future generations.
According to Cherokee oral traditions, the deer hasn’t always had his antlers. In fact, the bucks used to have smooth heads just like the does do. One day the animals gathered together and became curious. They knew that the deer was a fast runner, but they also knew that the rabbit was an excellent jumper. They wondered who could travel the same distance in the least amount of time. They began to ponder on how they would be able to find out.
After much discussion, the animals of the forest decided the deer and the rabbit should have a race to determine exactly who was able to go the same distance in the least amount of time. They then decided that the winner of the race shall receive a large, magnificent pair of antlers. They discussed this idea with the deer and the rabbit. Both agreed to participate in the race.
All of the animals gathered together on the day of the race. It was decided that both the deer and the rabbit would start on one side of the thicket, race through it, and turn around to return to the starting point. The winner would then be able to adorn the antlers for generations to come. The animals place the antlers on the ground and began admiring their beauty.
“I don’t know this part of the forest,” the rabbit began, “I would like to look to see exactly where it is I am to run.”
The animals agreed as they continued adore the splendor of the antlers. After awhile, the animals were suspicious of what was taking the rabbit so long. The assumed he was up to another one of his tricks. They decided to send in one of the animals to find out exactly what that tricky rabbit was up to. The rabbit was found in the middle of the thicket chewing away the brush in order to have a clear path all the way to the other side. The rabbit was unaware of the fact that he had been discovered.
The animal sent in after the rabbit, silently turned around to report back to the other animals. They waited for the rabbit’s return. When the rabbit finally returned, the animals informed him that they considered what he had done to be cheating. He denied any wrong doing so all of the animals entered the thicket to find that the path had been cleared. They all agreed that such a deceiver did not have the right to be honored with such a glorious gift as the set of antler was prized. Everyone agreed that the deer should be given the antlers to wear for generations to come. That is exactly what the deer has done.
As far as the fate of the rabbit goes, all the animals agreed that since he is so fond of gnawing away at bushes that he shall continue to do so for generations to come. The rabbit still to this day is known for chewing through the brush.
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