Cheyenne-Arapaho elder shares tribal knowledge of tornadoes

Friday, August 9, 2013  

Gordon Yellowman Sr., an elder of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, shared some Cheyenne knowledge about tornadoes and storms with The New York Times.

Yellowman said there are three primary words in Cheyenne for tornadoes: hevovetaso (tornado), ma’xehevovetaso (big whirlwind) and ehohaatamano’e (threatening weather). He said the storms serve a purpose -- to restore balance in nature.

Prior to the May 31 tornado that hit Oklahoma, Yellowman and other spiritual leaders met to pray and talk to the storm. They asked for pity and the storm largely bypassed the tribal area around El Reno.

Get the Story:
The Weather God of Oklahoma City (The New York Times 8/11)