Читать книгу American Environmental History - Группа авторов - Страница 38

Elements of the earth and sky are imbued with spirits and consciousness, much in the way of living things, and there are codes of proper behavior toward them. Certain landforms have special powers that must be placated or shown deference, for example. Even the weather is aware: if a man brags that storms or cold cannot stop him from doing something, “the weather will take care of him good!” It will humble him with its power, “because it knows.”

In falltime you’ll hear the lakes make loud cracking noises after they freeze. It means they’re asking for snow to cover them up, to protect them from the cold. When my father told me this, he said everything has life in it. He always used to tell us that.

The earth itself is the source of a preeminent spiritual power called sinh taala’ in Koyukon. This is the foundation of medicine power once used by shamans, and because of it the earth must be shown utmost respect. One person who was cured by medicine power years ago, for example, still abides by the shaman’s instructions to avoid digging in the earth. Berry plants have special power because they are nurtured directly from the earth. “People are careful about things that grow close to the ground,” I was told, “because the earth is so great.”