Kelsey Steven - Ghost of White Deer

An old Chickasaw myth, Ghost of White Deer is about a man who wants to wed a chief's daughter but the chief does not like the man. So, the chief tells him that the price to wed his daughter is to kill an albino deer, for he knows that these are very rare and it's unlikely that the man will ever find one. The night before the man leaves on the hunt, he tells the daughter that he will return in one month. The man goes out hunting and actually finds a white deer, which he swiftly shoots with an arrow. The deer is struck but does not fall and starts running toward the man with eyes glaring and antlers poised to strike. The man did not return in the month's time he promised so the people presumed he would never come back, but the daughter knew better. Whenever the moon would shine bright she would see the white deer running in the smoke of the fire. The Chickasaw People have revered the white deer ever since and consider it to be the best wedding dress material. I found this myth to be beautiful its imagery and interesting how they came to consider the albino deer to be rare.