"The moral of the story is…" We’ve all heard that saying, but what does it really mean? The dictionary defines the word, moral, as a noun to mean, a lesson, especially one concerning what is right or just, that can be derived from a story, a piece of information, or an experience.

We as natives use storytelling to teach these principals, to bring greater meaning to our world and a direction of how we as the people should conduct ourselves. Many indigenous cultures have stories of a trickster in their legends. None more tricky than coyote! He is forever into mischief and trickery but is also considered a hero in his own right. He is often described as witty, clever, obscene, vulgar, and a thieving individual. Coyote is often breaking the rules and bringing teachings through his adventurous mishaps. These teachings have strong ties to core values, traditional knowledge, cultural understanding, spirituality, and the greater world that we all live in. Today, I bring to you two stories of coyote and his adventures, along with another form of storytelling; song, and a fourth story, by a young inspiring storyteller. I ask humbly to open your hearts, minds and imaginations to the telling of these stories. I hope these stories will bring a smile to your face, make you laugh and inspire you to do good things. So, sit back, get comfortable, turn it up, and let us take you to on a journey to when the world was a beautiful place. If you like the show, please like, follow, subscribe, and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcast. It will truly help spread the word to our families, friends and fellow Rez Dogs. You can reach me on Instagram @lifedogrez.podcast or by email at, lifedogrez@gmail.com. Thank you for listening to the Life of a Dog on the Rez Podcast. I wish you happiness, joy, and blessings we all deserve! Below is the translation of the story I sing in this episode. Enjoy!

"Today, it's going to rain, and the waters will flow. A butterfly and a hummingbird fly over the fertile lands, singing of the emergence of the clouds and the fog that will provide moisture to the land. They sing of the coming of the rains and the female corn plants and vines are filled with happiness. They dance to the song of the butterfly and the hummingbird, for this is how all the fruits and plants of the world are created!"