A Pack of Wolves
To the American Indians, the wolf is more than just an ordinary animal. It is regarded as a wise and powerful animal that has many qualities that are essential for survival in the wild, and the Indians have adopted these qualities to become competent hunters themselves. Whether as an individual or a pack, the Native American wolf is similar to the Indian in many ways.
The social structure of a pack of wolves and an Indian tribe are very much alike. Wolves are responsible animals that hunt to provide for their families, just as Indians rely on hunting to bring food home to their loved ones. Both wolves and Indians are great hunters because they work in groups, and they know how to use the environment to their advantage. A pack of wolves usually splits up when they are not hunting, but when hunting season comes around, they will come together to form an efficient hunting group. This is similar to the way the Indians organize their hunting activities.
Wolves and Indians hunt the same kinds of animals, and they will relocate their families as they follow the game herds that they are targeting. They also employ the same hunting techniques. For example, the Cree Indians are known to drive buffalos onto icy lakes, where they would lose their footing and become easy preys, which is the same strategy that is used by the wolves. When they are attacked by enemies, wolves will fight fervently to defend their packs and Indians will risk their lives to protect their tribes.
To contribute to the success of a pack, a wolf needs to be a strong individual. Likewise, an Indian has to be a capable person to be of value to his tribe. Every individual wolf is a competent hunter. It moves silently when it is approaching its prey, and it will strike at an opportune time. It has sharp hearing and extraordinary sight, which allows it to sense changes in the environment very easily. The Indian is much like the wolf when he approaches a prey or an enemy.
The wolf and the Indian also share the same views about death. An Indian does not think that death is a tragedy. When the time comes for him to die, he should face the situation with dignity, so that it will seem that it is his own choice to die. When a wolf encounters its prey, it communicates the same noble and fearless spirit by way of eye contact, in the hope that the prey will die with dignity.
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