"You knew what I was when you picked me up," said the snake as he slithered away.
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| An Aborigonal Legend | ||||||||||||||||
| Many years ago, Indian braves would go away in soltitude to prepare for manhood. One hiked into a beautiful valley, green with trees, bright with flowers. There as he looked up at the surrounding mountains, he noticed one rugged peak, capped with dazzling snow."I will test myself against that mountain," he thought. He put on his buffalo-hide shirt, threw his blanket over his shoulders, and set off to climb the pinnacle.When he reached the top, he stood on the rim of the world. He could see forever, and his heart swelled with pride. Then he heard a rustle at his feet. Looking down, he saw a snake. Before he could move the snake spoke."I am about to die," said the snake. "It is too cold for me up here, and there is no food. Put me under your shirt and take me down the valley.""No," said the youth. " I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up you will bite and your bite will kill me."Not so," said the snake. "I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, I will not harm you."The youth resisted awhile, but this snake was a very persuasive snake. At last the youth tucked it under his shirt and carried it down the valley. There he laid it down gently. Suddenly the snake coiled, rattled and struck, biting him on the leg."But you promised" cried the youth. "You knew what I was when you picked me up," said the snake as he slithered away. |
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| Drug and/or alcohol addictions are an enourmus problem within aboriginal communities. This Indian legend can be used effectively in adolecent drug education programs. It uses the snake as a metaphor, representing drugs. The Indian brave who was on top of the world, knew what he was picking up, decieving himself that the snake would treat him differently. "You knew what I was..." the poisenous snake struck, delivering a bite that would kill him. The results defeat his "It won't happen to me" mentality. | ||||||||||||||||
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| Goodwin, S. C. & Jenkins, A. P. (1997). Teaching Through Stories. Journal of School Health, 67(6), p 242(3). Retrieved online March 2, 2002. | ||||||||||||||||
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