Chnawaway and the Sky Coyote by H A Bustos
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
H A Bustos seamlessly blends storytelling with practical knowledge, bringing stories to life through his unique perspective and passion.
In this latest fictional tale, inspired by a unique discovery in the hills above Santa Barbara and rooted in the rich cultural heritage of the Chumash people, H A Bustos aims to provide an enjoyable reading experience while imparting knowledge about the Chumash Indians and their myths.
"Chnawaway and the Sky Coyote" serves as the origin story for his upcoming non-fiction book, "Beyond 'Alaxulux'en: Starry Secrets, Sacred Connections", to be released in the fall of 2025.
CHAPTER 1
Long, long ago, before the sun painted the sky and the ocean sang its lullaby, there was only Hutash, the Earth Mother. She was big, bigger than the tallest mountain, with skin like warm clay and eyes like sparkling obsidian, but she was lonely too.
Then, one day, Shnilemun, the often-mischievous Sky Coyote, whispered in her ear. "Hutash," he chuckled, "why don't you fill the world with laughter and stories?"
Hutash's heart swelled with joy. She gathered the finest clay from the earth, soft and pliable like dough. With her strong hands, she shaped tiny people, each one special and unique. Some had eyes like the sky, others had hair like fire. She breathed life into their lungs, and they giggled and squirmed, waking up for the very first time.
But they were tiny, and the world was so vast and empty. So Hutash looked up at the starry sky and asked 'Awa'y, the Moon, and Father Sun for help. 'Awa'y gifted them with the magic of fire, to keep them warm and cook their food. Father Sun shared his laughter, teaching them to play and dance.
And then, Hutash remembered the mischievous Coyote. "Oh, Shnilemun," she called, "what gift do you have for these little ones?"
The Sky Coyote winked and flicked his tail. "Seeds, of course!" he replied, scattering hundreds of colorful seeds across the land. "Plant them, care for them, and watch them grow into food, medicine, and beautiful stories."
So, the very first people, filled with gratitude and wonder, planted the seeds. They learned to hunt and fish and to build 'aps - houses round in shape, with a frame of long poles interwoven with grass and reeds. They also learned to weave baskets, called 'apuqwni and 'antas, which were made either from three slender rods of Juncus rush or from whole Juncus rush stems or split tule or bulrush. Although members of a tribe had their own roles to fulfill, together they would sing songs to the mountains and dance with the wind. And as they grew, so did the world around them, bursting with life and color, just like the dreams of Hutash, the Earth Mother.
Chnawaway hugged his grandfather and slowly drifted off to sleep in his arms. Grandfather smiled and watched the embers glow as they made their way up to the sky.
It wasn't that long ago on a night like this, Grandfather warmly remembered, that young Chnawaway arrived full of love and life.
Under a sky dusted with a million stars, his voice cried out from .inside the 'ap, the gentle ocean breeze welcoming the newborn into the world. As firelight darted across the woven walls, the aging 'alchuklash, cloaked in ceremonial feathers and revered wisdom, approached and cradled the child, his old and weathered hands gentle against the baby's smooth skin.
To the Chumash Nation, the 'alchuklash was held in high honor. He was a weaver of knowledge spun from starlight and the whispers of the wind. He was a vessel, chosen by the spirits themselves, his eyes and ears tuned to the whispers of the cosmos, interpreting the language of the stars and the dance of constellations, translating them into wisdom, and serving as a living memory of the ancestors, ensuring that the tribe would never stray from the path illuminated by generations past.
"This little one," he announced, placing a seashell adorned
with intricate symbols beside the baby boy, "this little one arrived on a night when the constellations sang of exploration and hidden meanings. From here forward, the boy shall be named Chnawaway, discoverer of profound mysteries". He kissed him tenderly on the forehead, looked deeply into his eyes, and rendered softly, "The world has been waiting for you, Chnawaway."
The seashell held the whispers of the ocean, a reminder of Chnawaway's connection to the natural world, for the Chumash believed that children arrived on seashells, carried by currents guided by Hutash.
One by one the tribal elders painted his tiny body with ochre, symbolizing the sun's warmth and protection. Throughout the village that night laughter and music filled the air, celebrating the child who would one day bridge the gap between heaven and earth.
And so, under the vast canvas of the coastal sky, where the ocean met the land in a breathtaking embrace, the journey of Chnawaway, the discoverer of profound mysteries, began.
CHAPTER 2
From early childhood onward, Chnawaway was nurtured in all things by his loving and devoted grandfather.
On warm, clear nights young Chnawaway would sit on his grandfather's lap in front of the fire and, under a sky full of stars, would listen and learn about how the earth and all that was in it came to be.
Grandfather taught him about the Sky People - Father Sun; the Golden Eagle named Slo'w; Venus, the Morning Star; and Shnilemun, the Sky Coyote - and how they ruled the light. He taught him how each star was significant as was each constellation it was a part of, just like each of the members of their tribe.
Chnawaway found enjoyment in the stories about the stars his grandfather was fond of telling hin1. Each one became a comforting bedtime tale, gently lulling him to sleep.
"In the time before time," his grandfather began, pointing up to the heavens, "the sky was nothing but an endless expanse touched by light, while down here on earth lived the 'alchuklash, keepers of the tiny bright lights called stars.
One night, as they gathered around a warm fire, they decided, 'Let's wake up the sky, with twinkling stars, like fireflies!' And so they went about carefully choosing special spots, high up in the sleepy sky, gently placing each star so that the sky could one day tell the stories of gods and heroes. One by one, they chose their spots, tracing inv1sible lines across the heavens, placing each star into its destined place forming the constellations.
"Like the mama bear and baby bear?" said young Chnawaway, pointing towards the Big Dipper, Ursa Major, the Little Dipper, Ursa Minor, and the North Star that glittered like scattered diamonds.
"Just like those," acknowledged his grandfather.
"But then, along came Shnilemun, the Sky Coyote!" Grandfather playfully exclaimed. "He hopped and skipped, his ears twitching with mischief. 'Why paint the sky so slow?' Shnilemun whined. 'Let's play with the stars!' And just like that, Shnilemun scooped up a handful of twinkling lights and tossed them up high, scattering them like fireflies across the darkness.
We hope you enjoyed this excerpt of “Chnawaway and the Sky Coyote”. “Chnawaway and the Sky Coyote” by H A Bustos is now available in Paperback, Hardcover, and eBook on Amazon.com.
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A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book goes to support the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation.
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