In one of the larger cities in the new world, there was once a changing group of people living "on the streets" that called themselves "The Tribe Of Crow". These were ordinary people, just like you and me, in the sense that they all grew up in houses, went to school for some time, have mothers and fathers, some are smart, some are witty, angry, mean, funny, jealous, beautiful, creative, curious..., and at times -- confused. Confused about some things, but not confused about feeling unhappy living the way they had been. They, unlike many others living on the streets, chose the streets as their new home, knowing it wouldn't be easy, but thinking that it would be better.

They soon learned firsthand the difficulties of their chosen life, for most lacked the necessary skills to provide adequately for themselves. Just like ravens, marmots, and gorillas, humans are no different in the respect that they too are not born with the necessary skills to survive, these skills must be learned. Their two biggest concerns, shelter and food, had been provided for them in the past and now it was time to obtain these things on their own. Living on the streets among others like themselves, they soon made friends.

One day, three of these friends were relaxing in the park, when one of them noticed two crows near the path doing something that he couldn't quite figure out. "What are those crows doing over there?" he said to the others, squinting to try to see better.

They all three watched as one of the birds held the bottom of a white bag with its beak, and the other unfolded the top with a combination of beak and talon moves that left the humans impressed. The bird holding the bottom of the bag, then lifted the bag up, stretched his neck up toward the sky and tilted it until all of the contents of the bag were emptied onto the ground. After a couple of good shakes, the crow set the bag down and joined the other in feast. The three onlookers were amazed at what they saw and said things like, "Can you believe that...?! Did you see how they worked together...?! Have they done that before...?!"

It brought them joy to see these birds joined together, as a team, working to feed each other. They sat motionless, mesmerized by the black birds and after a long moment of silence, the girl spoke softly and with passion. "We could do the same", she said. "We could work together to find food and other things that we need. We could form a tribe, and everything that we get, we share with the others in the tribe. We will be opportunists, like the crows, and be smart about what we do. There is much around here if we take advantage of the strength we will have working together under common goals. We will call ourselves, The Tribe Of Crow."

And this is how it began. In time, the Tribe Of Crow thrived off the disposable culture they had left behind. By putting that culture's waste to use, the tribe no longer relied on handouts for food or money or cigarettes or most anything, for they had what they needed all around them, free for the taking. The more they watched the crows and the patterns of life around them, the more they learned, and the more they learned, the more efficient they became at getting the things they needed.

Some of the members would spend hours at the public library or talking to others on the streets, doing research on survival skills and learning more about the native edible plants of the area. Some would spend hours, sometimes days observing the patterns of life around them, making notes about things like: when certain restaurants take out their "garbage", safe places that are overlooked by most, where and when possible trouble appears, and then fitting themselves into these patterns to use these opportunities for the good of the tribe.

They were feeling good about themselves and their situation for the first time in awhile. They were a part of something, similar to a family, but different, for they all felt needed in this tribe, and indeed they were. For they were all providers at times and recipients at times, and they only had one rule -- SHARE.

There was never a time when one went hungry while the others did not, they were all hungry, or all full, or all somewhere in between, but they always shared, and this worked well for them.

-- anonymous