Biblical Implications in “The Life and Death of Sweet Medicine”

I’ve noticed some very interesting parallels between many of our Native American tales and Biblical stories and lessons that I’m familiar with. For example, “The Life and Death of Sweet Medicine” has a great deal of similarities with the story of the birth and life of Christ. Sweet Medicine is born to her without the involvement of a male father, but sent to her from “Sweet Root,” a spiritual entity; similarly, the Virgin Mary is told in a dream that she will bear the Son of God, and Jesus is born without the involvement of Mary’s betrothed, Joseph. One major difference, however, is that when Sweet Medicine is born, the girl in the story is ashamed and gives him away for fear of being misunderstood; Mary and Joseph accept their holy assignment in raising the Son of God as they know they have been chosen to do so. The minute detail that the girl “wrapped him in soft moss” before releasing him into the “wikiup” (a name for a type of Cheyenne housing) just after giving birth to Sweet Medicine rings similarly with one of the most famous details of the story of the birth of Jesus – “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). An old woman discovers Sweet Medicine and has “nothing to offer him but love” – this parallels with the adoring way in which all who worship the newborn Christ look at him; though wise kings from the East bring him rich gifts, even the lowly shepherds come offering their love and praise. Once found by the old woman, Sweet Medicine becomes a kind of savior to the people that he grows up with, feeding them through miracles similar to Biblical stories about Jesus. An example is Sweet Medicine’s killing of the buffalo calf and it creating a never-ending supply of food for the people; similarly, Jesus fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fish: “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish” (John 6:5-10). These similarities most likely stem from the early Christian influence placed on the Northern Cheyenne. After the Battle of Little Big Horn, the tribe was scattered all across the Plains, and many were forced onto reservations in 1884, where their Christian education began. St. Labre’s Mission was established and taught majority of the children in the area. Seeing as our version of this tale was recorded in 1972, it is no surprise that small details reflect the tale of the coming of the Christian savior and Biblical influences.