Child's Play

When the Europeans arrived in the New World, they brought with them a fear of the wariness of wolves that stemmed from their long history as shepherds. Their fears and misgivings came from centuries of struggling to protect their flocks and families from predation by wolves. In contrast, the Native Americans respected and revered the wolf for its prowess as a shrewd hunter. They even allowed their children to engage in play with wolf pups. Europeans traveling westward viewed this behavior skeptically and considered it further proof of the extraordinary difference between their respective civilizations. "Child’s Play" celebrates the wolf, now listed as an endangered and threatened species. The subtle hidden image of the two Native American children asks that we replace the deep superstitions of our European ancestors and awaken the joy and wisdom wolves bring to our world.