The Milky Way (Seminole/Hitchiti)
This Seminole and Hitchiti story explains the origin of the Milky Way. Long ago, a father was angry with his son and banished him from the village. The son, heartbroken, wandered the earth. A great dog took pity on the boy and decided to help him escape his sorrow. The dog ran through the sky, scattering sparkling dust from its fur across the heavens, creating a luminous path. This path — the Milky Way — would forever remind people of the dog's compassion. Another version tells that the Milky Way is the path of souls traveling to the spirit world. The story reflects the Seminole reverence for