Question

a comanche story: the liberation of buffalo
traditional native american creation stories often deal with important elements of their cultures. some stories explain the origins of the world and the people that are especially important to be. other stories tell how resources that are especially important to a people came from the comanche, a people of the great plains, came to be. a people came to their lands.
primary source: traditional story
long ago two persons owned all the buffalo in the mountains, so that they could not get out. they kept them penned up. he summoned the indians to a council. coyote came to these people. when we came over there, young cousin. coyote woman will not give us any buffalo. a very small animal shall go out. \after four nights,\ said coyote, \we will again hold a council as to how we will release the buffalo. when the child gets water, it will take the old woman has drawn her water, she will object; but the child will think so much of the animal that it will begin to cry and will burst out of their pen and run away. when the old woman begins to cry, the buffalo will burst out the kill - dee.
the animal will run off at daybreak, and the boy will send it home. \look at the animal. it will take it home for a pet. the old woman will be allowed to keep it. the animal will run off at daybreak, and the buffalo will burst out the kill - dee.
when the boy went for water, he found the kill - dee and took it home. \look here!\ he said to his cousin, \this animal is mine is very good.
replied, \oh, it is nothing! there is nothing living on the earth that is not a rascal or schemer.\ the child paid no attention to her.
when the boy went for water, he found the kill - dee and took it home. \look here!\ he said to his cousin, \this animal is mine is very good.
replied, \oh, it is nothing! there is nothing living on the earth that is not a rascal or schemer.\ the child paid no attention to her.
so coyote sent a third animal. coyote said, \if she rejects this one, we shall surely be unable to liberate the game.\ the animal went to the spring and was picked up by the boy, who took a great liking to it. \look here! what a nice pet i have!\ the old woman replied, \oh, how foolish you are! it is good for nothing. all the animals in the world are schemers. ill kill it with a club.\ the boy took it in his arms and ran away crying. he thought too much of his pet.

o! this animal is too small,\ he cried. when the animal had not returned by nightfall, coyote went among the people, saying, \well, this animal has not returned yet; i dare say the old woman has consented to keep it. dont be uneasy, our buffalo will be freed.\ then he bade all the people get ready just at daybreak: \our buffalo will be released. do all of you mount your horses.\ in the meantime the animal, following its instructions, slipped over to the pen, and began to howl. the buffalo heard it, and were terrified. they ran towards the gate, broke it down, and escaped. the old woman, hearing the noise, woke up. the child asked, \where is my pet?\ he did not find it. the old woman said, \i told you so. now you see the animal is bad, it has deprived us of our game.\ she vainly tried to hold the buffalo back. at daybreak all the indians got on their horses, for they had confidence in coyote. thus the buffalo came to live on this earth. coyote was a great schemer.
examine the source

1. explaining what is coyotes plan for releasing the buffalo?
2. interpreting how does this story reflect the importance of the buffalo to the comanche?

Explanation:

1. Coyote's plan involves sending animals to distract the old woman and child so that a specific animal can howl to scare the buffalo into escaping their pen.
2. The story reflects the importance of the buffalo as a central resource. The old woman's concern about losing the buffalo and the people's reliance on Coyote to free them show that the buffalo were crucial for their livelihood and well - being, likely for food, clothing, and other needs.

Answer:

1. Coyote sends animals to distract the old woman and child, and then a chosen animal howls to scare the buffalo into escaping.
2. The story shows the buffalo were central to the Comanche's livelihood, as evidenced by the old woman's concern and the people's reliance on their release.