How The Rattlesnake Got Its Rattle - Delaware A long time ago there was a young Native American boy named Snek. Snek was part of the Leni Lenape (or Delaware) tribe. The Lenape are separated into three different groups (Munsee, Unami, and Unalaqtgo), symbolized by three totems (the Wolf, Turtle, and Turkey). Snek and his family were from the Munsee section of the Lenape. Snek's favorite toy was a rattle made out of a gourd and a couple nuts. One day a messenger came to Snek's village to tell everyone about a dangerous slithering creature. Moon Owl, the chief of the village gathered all the warriors and hunters. They burned the ceremonial Tobacco as an offering to the Creator. They searched all the forests and woodlands surrounding the village, but they could not find the creature. Meanwhile the slimy creature had come into the village. It headed straight to Snek's wigwam. His father, Sun Hawk, was one of the hunters and had gone with Moon Owl. His mother, Daisy Flower, was at the chief's house along with some other women, planning the victory feast for the warriors and hunters. When the creature slid into the wigwam Snek picked up his precious rattle. The slippery animal came closer and closer. In one swift movement Snek took the animal by surprise and shoved the rattle in its mouth. The creature was taken by surprise and slithered off, rattling all the way. When the warriors came back they saw the animal going away so quickly they couldn't catch it. When it passed them it made that funny rattling noise. When Sun Hawk came home he saw that his son's rattle was missing. He checked everywhere, but he couldn't find it. Then Sun Hawk put two and two together. He realized that his son Snek had foiled the animal, and told Moon Owl. Moon Owl knew that Sun Hawk never told lies, but was nonetheless amazed that such a little boy defeated such a dangerous animal. After that incident, Lenape children were treated more respectfully. The tribe decided to name the creature Rattle Snek, after the young boy who defeated it and the tool he used. After centuries of different accents and languages the name became Rattle Snake. Here our story ends. http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/LS/5th/namyth/01mythh/kwmyth.htm