PANTALEON TUNTSANDE

THE SYMBOLISM OF THE APACHE CRESCENT MOON & THE APACHE STAR

 

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Legend says that many, many, moons ago, a church was being built outside of a small town called Paint Rock, in Texas.  In the area between San Angelo, Texas, and Paint Rock, Texas, the Kickapoo and the Lipans were doing agriculture work.  The Lipans were also helping with the building of this church.  When the construction was finished, the Priest told the Lipan Chief that the church was for the Lipans as well.  To make the Lipans feel at home, the Priest pointed to a wall and told the Chief to paint a picture of their home on the wall, in order to make them feel welcome in the church.  The Chief agreed.

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When the painting was finished, the Chief told the Priest that the painting was completed.  The Priest rushed over to see the painting, and was puzzled.  On the wall the Priest saw a crescent moon with a star below it and to one side.  The priest asked the Chief, “Where is your village, where is your home?” With an open hand toward the star, the Chief said, “This is our home, this is where we came from.  This is where Usen, brought us from. He brought us here to this land for us to survive, live, multiply, and to be one with the land.”

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The priest did not know what to say, and just nodded his head in acknowledgement of the story the Chief had just told him.

 

I have been told by those who remember the church,  that it was a large wooden church built right beside the river. They tell me that the church no longer exist, due to there being a big storm one season, that flooded the whole area, washing the church away and destroying it, along with the painted wall.

 

For years scientists have said that the Native Americans came across to the Americas, by way of the Bering Strait, following the animals who traveled that way. The Bering Strait was a solid mass of ice that connected Russia to Alaska during the Ice Age. The scientists created this story due to the fact that they also believe that all life begin on the other side of the world.  We have all heard the story of the Garden of Eden.

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The fact is, that even with today’s technology, scientists are stilled puzzled, because the Native Americans have a remarkable difference in their DNA from that of the Europeans, and others from the other side of the world. Scientists still cannot explain, even to this day, how the Native Americans came to be located in the Americas.

 

The star that was painted on that church wall many, many, moons ago by our ancestors, is clearly a star from Orion’s Belt in the star constellation of Orion, which can still be clearly seen today.  As you look up into the night sky, you have to wonder…..

 

Hold fast to the traditions of the ancestors, honor your heritage, and as always, enjoy living as a Lipan Apache.