From an Indigenous Perspective

Written by Robin Təkwelusʷ Youngblood

July 2026 Newsletter

There's an old story about a Chief who had a gorgeous stallion he loved deeply. One morning, the village woke up and the Chief's stallion was gone. "Oh, no," morned the people. "This is awful! Your beautiful stallion is gone!"

The Chief answers, "I don't know if it's good or bad. I just know my stallion is gone."

The next morning, the village rises, and the Chief's stallion is back, and has brought twenty brood mares with him. "Oh, Chief, this is wonderful!" shout the villagers. "Look, now you have a whole herd and will have dozens of foals."

The Chief answers, "I don't know if this is good or bad. I only know my stallion is back and has brought all these mares."

Next day, the Chief's son tries to ride the stallion. The horse throws him and the son breaks both legs. The villagers are shocked. "Oh, my, Chief! This is so terrible. Your son helps you with everything, and now he can't."

The Chief replies, "I don't know if this is good or bad. I just know my son has broken his legs."

At dawn the next day, a messenger runs through the village shouting, "War, there's war! Every able-bodied man, grab your weapons!" ... and the story goes on and on.