The myth comes from the Blackfoot tribe and is titled The Orphan Boy and The Elk Dog. It tells the story of Long Arrow, a deaf orphan boy, and his sister. Despite being shunned by the villagers, Long Arrow is cherished by only his sister, who eventually gets adopted by a family from another village, leaving him alone. The villagers, realizing that the game nearby has been depleted, decide to move to a different location.
The boy was informed by them of their disinterest in his presence. Consequently, the boy chose not to accompany them. However, he soon understood that unless he followed them, he would face starvation. Distraught, he diligently tracked the trail they had left behind, shedding tears, stumbling, and breathing heavily. Suddenly, a popping sensation resonated in his ears, causing a worm-like object to emerge. This event granted him the gift of exceptional hearing, enabling him to perceive sounds in its entirety for the first time. Eventually, he succeeded in locating his own people, prompting the old chief, Good Running, to feel remorseful over abandoning him. Consequently, Good Running extended the offer of food to the boy.
The boy is no longer deaf, and as a result, Good Running adopts him as his grandson. Long Arrow grows up to be a remarkable young man. However, the villagers continue to remember his past. Long Arrow desires to make his grandfather proud and seeks his guidance on achieving something great. Good Running suggests bringing back an Elk Dog as a way to accomplish this. Long Arrow embarks on a journey to find an Elk Dog and discovers a magnificent lake where a boy informs him that he can locate the Elk Dogs there.
He is taken to his Grandfather and stays there for several days before returning home. While on his way back, he encounters some Elk Dogs on his left. He rides one of them and continues his journey home. Upon reaching the village, the people are initially frightened but he calls for his grandfather. Good Running becomes overjoyed and sheds tears of joy because he had thought Long Arrow was lost forever. The arrival of the Elk Dogs enables his people to become skilled riders of the Plains, making it difficult for them to imagine life without these extraordinary animals.
Despite his sister leaving, Long Arrow does not give up and continues to strive for survival, despite the absence of the only person who loved him. When the villagers depart, he does not simply surrender and stay behind. Recognizing that his survival depends on it, he determines to follow them, regardless of their acceptance. Even amidst tears, stumbling, and a frantic search for his people, the boy persists in his efforts.
I believe that the boy’s continuous hope is the reason why he was eventually blessed with the return of his hearing. Furthermore, his perseverance also led to a family as well as the privilege of introducing the Elk Dog to his community. Throughout his extensive quest to find the Elk Dog, Long Arrow never loses faith and ultimately succeeds. I think the moral of this tale is to always maintain hope and resilience, as if one diligently pursues their desires without giving up, they will ultimately be granted rewards.
