This Native American folktale comes from the Apache
people.
The Old Man
Long ago, there lived an old man who so
cherished the taste of badger meat for dinner
that he hunted the badger nearly every day.
This troubled his grown son greatly, for
badgers were wise animals and the medicine
men attributed many important and
frightening powers to them. Fearing mortal
consequences, the son had repeatedly
pleaded, "Father, hunt no more! For surely
some terrible misfortune will befall you should
you continue. When the father persisted
despite these warnings, the son reluctantly
decided to change his father's mind for him.
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What cultural value does the author impart
through the character of the son?
concern for the administration of fair punishments
respect for the wisdom of the medicine men
appreciation for material possessions
regard for the preservation of natural resources