Article I forwarded to be published in a local magazine

I spent a lot of time living in the Pine Ridge Wounded Knee Ogllala Sioux Reservation in 1970 - 1971. During that time I learned a wonderful story that I often share - especially with young scientists when we’re out for a nature walk.

Here’s that story:

The Secret of the Cottonwood Stars

1970………..Wounded Knee Reservation, South Dakota

After one enjoyable hike with my friends, Rog Red Elk and Pat Pumpkin Seed, to the Badlands
where we’d found some of the most beautiful and fascinating fossils I’d ever seen,
we stood around our cars, sipping strong black coffee. 

Pat Pumpkin Seed caught my eye and held out his hand. Slowly he opened his fingers,
revealing a bunch of small cottonwood twigs. 

Pat handed us the twigs, and turned his eyes up to the sky.

“I’m holding many new stars, here, here in my hands,” he said. 

“Did you know my ancestors believed all things come from Mother Earth? 

They believed that the stars in the sky above begin their life in the earth beneath our feet. 

When they’re ready, they search for the roots of the magical cottonwood trees.
They wriggle their way inside the roots, and begin to climb up the tree trunk.
The tiny stars finally come to rest in the small twigs at the end of the cottonwood branches.
Here, they wait................and wait………….until they are needed. 

When the Spirit of the Night Sky decides that she needs more twinkling, beautiful stars,
she calls on the Wind Spirit to shake all the cottonwood trees. 

The Wind Spirit blows and blows, and, as the cottonwood twigs break off, the twinkling stars
are released and race up to a special place in the Night Sky. 

So,” said Pat, “if YOU want to add a new star to the night sky, find some dry
cottonwood twigs, wait for a clear night, and hold up your twigs to the sky - and SNAP. 

Then, look up into the night sky again. Look closely. You will see YOUR star twinkling. 

Imagine,” continued Pat, “you can add a beautiful new star to the night sky kingdom
whenever you want.”

We broke the dry cottonwood twigs at the growth rings, and, sure enough, there,
in the middle, were the homes of the tiny stars, which, now, said Pat, were shooting up
to the sky above. 

We dedicated the stars to Pat and his family.

What a wonderful story, I thought - and what a way to celebrate something special. …………

The next time you’re out and about, pick up a few dry cottonwood twigs,
tell your kids the story,  and break them at the growth line.
You’ll be delighted with what you see.

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