Grandfather Gray Owl – A Pima Legend.

In the time when the world was still new, Ban, known as Coyote, took an old woman’s chu’i, a kind of pinole. The village chief, angered by Ban’s theft, set off in pursuit of the mischievous Coyote. In his attempt to evade capture, Ban soared into the sky, spilling the white chu’i, which scattered like stars across the night sky. The chief chased him into the heavens and, upon finally catching him, was so enraged that he hurled Ban all the way to the moon.

Now, on nights when the moon shines brightly, the desert coyotes gaze up and howl for their lost brother, Coyote. If you look closely at the night sky, you can still see the pinole sprinkled across it, serving as a testament to Ban’s playful mischief.

This legend is shared as a lesson for children, a cautionary tale against stealing. It carries the message that those who take what is not theirs might find themselves like Coyote, forever wandering the moon.

A Pima Legend