Offset Print, “Old Father Storyteller” [SOLD]

Signed by the artist and numbered 791/1500. Framed.

Condensed from the book “Old Father—The Storyteller” by Pablita Velarde, Published 1960 by Dale Stuart King—Globe, Arizona:

The children have settled in the plaza around Old Father, for tonight he would tell them a story.

As he gazed up at the stars with a faraway smile, this oral historian of the people began the story of the migration of the Tewa people.

“Long Sash (Orion - Upper Right) was the guide of our ancestors; He led our people to this beautiful land where we now live. He was a great warrior who had grown tired of the suffering and misery of our people in their old lands. They traveled for many years along that milky white belt in the middle of the sky. It was an endless trail. After much hardship, sickness and hunger, some people lost faith in Long Sash. At those two bright stars (Gemini), the stars of decision, many people wanted to turn back. After much soul-searching the people decided to follow Long Sash with lighter hearts and greater hopes on this endless journey. Even Long Sash despaired after a time: he wept and prayed for guidance. He had a dream which told him the most difficult part of the journey was over. See those stars in the shape of a bonnet? That is the War Bonnet (Cancer) of Long Sash. He left that there as a reminder to us of the greater spirits who guided him in his hour of need. As the people wandered they learned many new things. The younger men teamed up in pairs to drag the heaviest loads on poles, thereby saving the people from further hardships. See the three stars (Leo) north of the bonnet? They represent the love, tolerance and understanding our people developed in this great journey.

After a time they came into darkness and they were afraid. They walked toward a bright light coming through a small opening. They found a mole busy digging and they thanked him for showing them the way out. He replied, “Go, and when you again find my sign, you will have found your home”. There was a cord hanging through the hole and when they climbed out they found Spider Woman busily weaving. Long Sash asked permission to enter and Spider Woman replied, “You are welcome to pass through my house (Earth). Do not destroy anything and I will help you find your way and show you the direction to take. When you see my sign again, you will have found your home.”

They traveled to the north and came to a land of ice and snow. This was the Land of the Bear, for you had to be big and powerful to live in this harsh land. They rested for many years, but they found no signs of the mole or the spider.

They again took up the journey, this time they traveled to the West. They came to a land that was hot and dry. This was the Land of the Coyote. They rested, but after a time, again began the search for the spider and the mole.

They traveled to the East and came to a land of tall trees, green fields and much water. This was a beautiful land, but the seasons of warmth were short and the changes were too swift. It was the Land of the Cougar, who was as dangerous and unpredictable as the seasons. They decided to travel south in search of the signs.

They came to a land where the seasons were mild. Food was easy to find, but they could find no sign of the mole or the spider. The people were tired and Long Sash again asked for help from his spiritual ancestors.

After Long Sash's prayer, an eagle flew overhead and dropped two feathers from its tail. One feather pointed West and one pointed to the people. They followed this sign and came to a land that had seasons, wet and dry, hot and cold, but no season was extremely harsh. The land had good soil and bad, but there was also game to hunt. Then they found a small creature they had never seen. He made the tracks of a mole and on his back he plainly carried the sign of the spider. This is where the people settled and this is where we are today.

Look around you: To the North is Bear Mountain (Taos), beyond that is the Land of the Bear; To the West the Coyote Mountains (Mt. Taylor); To the East and beyond, those mountains (Sangre De Cristo Mountains) is the Land of the Cougar; To the South are the Turtle (Sandia) Mountains. Within these boundaries our people found their home.”

The children sat spellbound, hearing the voices of the past, as Old Father rose and stretched, saying, “I will pass here again with other stories. Go home to your parents and sleep well. Songe-de-ho, Goodbye!”