Pontiac 1955 Owner's Manual page 65

Jndian Cegends
CRATER LAKE—A truly beautiful mountain lake in the heart of
the Coast Range in Oregon. Ancient Indian tradition holds that the
lake was a scene of battle between the Good Spirit and Evil Spirit
in which the Good Spirit finally won out. The Eagle and Antelope
were allies of the Good Spirit in overcoming the Bad One. The Evil
Spirit is reputed to have been buried in the lake and an island is
supposed to be the head of the Evil One.
Six miles wide and two thousand feet deep, Crater Lake is set in a pre-historic
volcano without inlet or outlet. Its brilliant blue waters dazzle visitors.
JlT. SHASTA—A majestic and inspiring scenic point in northern
California. Its imposing, snow-capped grandeur, standing alone,
naturally made it a focal point in Indian lore. Their belief is that the
Great Spirit raised Mt. Shasta in order to provide himself with a
stepping stone from the Heavens to the earth. Finding the earth cold
and dreary, he created the sun to give warmth, gave each living
thing its color and to each bird, a song. Originally, the grizzly bear was the master
of all creatures. To the Indian, he remains a symbol of veneration associated with
this legend.
BRYCE CANYON—The many colorful minarets and rock formations
in this natural mountain wonderland are a memorial to an Indian
tale, hoary with age. The tale of the Canyon involves creatures and
animals who had been led to safety in this beauty spot by a legendary
figure known as the Coyote. After finding themselves safe, they
became ungrateful to their benefactor. Angry at their unbecoming
actions, he turned all of them into colored stone to be eternal reminders of the
penalties for ingratitude. They remain today as rocky memorials to this event.
In the heart of the Rockies, in southwestern Utah, Bryce Canyon is now a great
national park and a favorite with tourists in our mountain states.
SHIP ROCK—In extreme northwestern New Mexico, is a famous
Navajo Indian landmark. It is reputed to be the original home of
the Navajo. After a ceaseless and bloody war against stronger
enemies, the Navajo people were assembled on the heights by the
Supreme Being and, enormous peak and all, were transported through
the air to the present location. The eagle and the owl are symbols
of the event to the Navajo people.
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