Star Mother

by Frances Murfy

44: by 27”

Pick up a Cottonwood twig and break it--you will see a star in the center of the stem. This star is common to trees of the willow family, but it is the Cottonwood tree that many Native Americans have elevated to sacred symbolism. The Dakota believe a little star wanted to hear the songs of humans and hid in the Cottonwood tree to listen. The Cheyenne and Arapahoe believe if the Night Sky Spirit needs more stars, it calls upon the Wind Spirit to break the Cottonwood twigs so that its stars can be released to the heavens