What did wolves mean to the native americans?

[SilverClaw]

I have been led to believe that the wolf was a respected creature. That some native american names actually mean wolf and there there ceremonies held in honor of the wolf? or is all of this true or made up, i know they sonetimes hunted them for skins but how was the wolf viewed.
Ps- i dont mean werewolves i mean real wolves

[mtnglo]

Native Americans have often held timber wolves in the highest esteem in their culture. In truth, they are many times seen as a sacred animal and featured significantly in ancient songs, dances and stories that have been handed down for generations. Their role in Native American life was a given and often revered and welcomed.

Timber wolves played a big part in the ecosystem and delicate balance of the land and the Native Americans recognized that role. Many Native Americans credit the wolves in teaching them about the importance of family and how to hunt and forage for food. In other words, they were credited with the livelihood of the tribe. Other tribes believed that the timber wolves were spiritual beings that could impart magical powers.

[Masterhen857]

depends on the tribe. I don't know any who have ceremonies in honor of wolves, though. Wolves aren't great or noble creatures, you know. They are cowardly and selfish.

In my tribe, we kill wolves on sight, and calling someone a wolf is a very serious insult.


edit*****Wolves are NOT brave. A single wolf is a coward. They will only attack in groups. They are not loyal, and will drive out their sick, elderly and weak. They turn on each other. Only the alpha female is allowed to breed, and if another female has puppies, the alpha female will kill those puppies.

I'm tired of people who have these overly-romantic images of wolves, and perpetuate stupid stereotypes.

[TheRavenAZ]

Wolves mean different things to different tribes. Some have no contact with them and, it seems, Navajos kill them on sight (which, by the way, is disrespecting nature - very UN native like, and something that all Indians avoid at all costs - I'm really disturbed by what the Li'Ni' said), while others respect them and their place in nature. The tribe I belong to doesn't worship them but we do respect them and hold them in high esteem as brothers in nature. And calling someone a wolf is never an insult. It means cunning, bravery and loyalty. There's a group on the rez of teenage boys that refer to each other as wolf brothers. Again, it's not an insult. It means they consider each other family and are loyal to each other.

Anyone willing to sit and watch wolves can see they're not cowards and are definitely not selfish. Those two words are far from an accurate description of them. Maybe the younger members of that tribe have forgotten their tribes relationship with wolves in nature, and the elders teachings have fallen on deaf ears, because there hasn't been any wolves living on their land for hundreds of years. It's sad really. A lot of the ways of the old - including respect for all living things - are being rejected by a younger generation more interested in iPods, Facebook, Twitter and technology. Native culture is quickly being forgotten.

.

[Brenda]

This depends on the tribe, where they lived, how much they traveled, etc. Yes, some of it is made up. Remember, wolves are predators. There's some overlap in the food supply and travel routes. There are ecological advantages to having wolves in the food chain (keeping down vermin, helping protect from certain kinds of soil erosion), but the more settled any populace is, the less they want wolves around. (No one wants predators to become scavengers--they become a serious danger to your own population.)

I have a friend who served as a liason for many nations within California, who also adopted wolves who failed to be integrated properly into the wild, but she *never* let those two circles of her life overlap. (She was the stern alpha in her house and could give lectures on both the human cunning and the innate cowardice of wolves, but she also saw how wolf behavior was unconsciously exhibited in cruel places like corporate boardrooms.) You'll want to get in touch with people who actually work with wolves (and even in that community, there are some MASSIVE differences of opinion), as well as people from the tribe(s) you specifically want to research.

[faintcast843]

That is new-age fluff.

Some Nations have Wolf clans. Many don't. The view of wolves changes from tribe to tribe.....but it is false to think they are worshipped or honoured in the way non-Natives assume.

[ƝɨѕhÒ Ñ¡e]

My people have many teachings which are remembered because of the wolf. The wolf is held in high esteem.

It was the wolf who first walked with original man as he completed the responsibility he was given. Because of this they are spoken of as brothers. At the completion of the task, man and the wolf parted ways.

They shall not come together again like brothers, and for this reason we must remember the teachings and our responsibly.

I also find what "Li'Ni'" says very disturbing because:

"It is said that the destiny of the wolf will be the destiny of the Anishinaabek people."


Ansihinaabe