The Release of the Buffalo (Arapaho)
In the time before buffalo roamed the plains, all the buffalo were confined in a cave beneath a mountain, guarded by a powerful spirit. The Arapaho people had only small game and were often hungry. A young man on a vision quest learned from a mouse spirit that the buffalo were hidden underground. With the help of various small animals, he found the cave entrance. Using songs given by the mouse spirit, he opened the cave. The buffalo stampeded out, covering the plains. The guard spirit, angry at the release, cursed the Arapaho to always need the buffalo, but also blessed them that the buffalo w