Ripe Cherries Moon 2007
Sparks erupted from the bark when the log was thrown into the fire pit. Flames crept up the
sides, blackening it and forcing the bark to crack and split. Sizzling gasses steamed from
the new cracks in the wood. Fully engulfed now, the log lit the faces of the men seated
around the campfire.
"Ni (I) was summoned to meet a man during his vision quest. Grandfather said he
has passed the test of the ancients and it was time we talked to him. This Ni did last
night," said the Keeper-of-the-Deer.
The fire reflected off his face and coat giving the impression of one, who was half man
and half beast. The face although covered in facial hair was no doubt human, as was the
man's body. His coat is what set him apart. It looked as if it were made of bearskin and
if removed a human would be standing naked in front of you. Only his coat did not come
off, he was neither human, nor an animal. He was a Keeper, one of many in the Old World.
The dancing light flickered in the eyes of other Keepers. Some had bark instead of fur,
while others had scales. They all had one thing in common. They were the keepers and
protectors of the Great Spirit's animals, forests and streams. This they have done.
Animals flourished, fish and those that crawl were in abundance; the skies were full
of winged creatures, all thriving until the past year or two. The Keeper-of-all-things-
that-Crawl spoke. "You look troubled my Brother. Speak, about what is bothering you."
"There are so many animals, my forests and meadows are being destroyed. Trees stripped of
their bark, left to die. The animals eat the grasses down to the ground and the grass dies.
When rain comes it cannot hold the soil and it runs off into the streams, affecting our
brothers and sisters, all things that crawl and live in the sea. The stream waters are
becoming muddy and fish are dying. All will start to starve this winter if the herd, flocks
and schools cannot be reduced. What we are sworn to protect, with our lives, will die slow
deaths, as their bodies melt away. Can this man help?" asked Keeper-of-the-Forest.
"The Great Spirit said he is the first of the hunter societies to have passed the test of
the ancients. Many men died when they were shown the universe and had it reside inside
their bodies. They decided to become one with the universe and stay with their ancestors
instead of returning to their people. He has returned to his people to tell them of our
plight, to see if he can guide the remaining followers of the Great Spirit to come to us,
to help reduce the numbers of animals, birds and fish."
Thoughtful nods of the Keepers around the fire indicated their agreement. "You have not
been summoned to meet with your society for over a hundred years. Now a man from the Deer
Society has passed the test. Ni do not understand," croaked the Keeper-of-all-things-
that-Crawl. Murmurs of agreement were spoken around the fire.
"The pipe hopoakan, used to summon me was broken in a war almost a hundred and fifty
seasons ago. But the keepers of the hopoakan did not despair. They continued with
the traditions of the society even if they could not summon me. That is why the Great Spirit
tested the man who would be the next keeper of the hopoakan, for the Deer Society.
Men from the other hunting societies did not pass the test, even when they could speak to you,
when they smoked the hopoakan; we gave to them over a thousand years ago. It was the
Lenape man, Talking Coyote, from the Turtle Clan, that passed the test. He will talk to
the members of his hunting society in five days time. Ni will meet with all of them, at
which time, Ni will tell them of our plight and that we must all meet before winter to get
the believers to return to the Old World in order to help keep balance or this world like
the Above World will fail."
Falling Leaves Moon 01
"Perhaps today I will kill that lying bastard," mouthed the man talking to himself,
hiding in the dark of early morning. A voice inside his head spoke. Yes my son, he is
at fault. Kill him. Fondling the edge of his flint knife, knowing it would do the job
he intended. He stared at the longhouse entrance, from the shadows, as he had done the
previous two days. "Walk by me today, Talking Coyote, and you are dead," a distorted grin
crossed the man’s face as he gripped the flint knife in anticipation.
The voice in his head laughed, Yes, you are right to do so my son. Kill him everything
is his fault.
Morning light filtered through the smoke hole in the top of the longhouse, illuminating
the dirt floor toward the back of the lodge. The Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl pulled
the hopoakan from his lips and handed it to Talking Coyote. "Thinking back to your vision
quest my Brother?" The Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl was a Xinkwelenowak. In ancient
Lenape legend he was a giant spirit, over eight feet tall, having the body of a man while
covered in scales like a snake. The Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl was not a legend. He
sat across from Talking Coyote, a living and breathing man, at least a thousand years old.
In the Above World the people knew them as Bigfoot, Sasquatch or Yeti. They were legends
in the Above World but teachers and protectors in the Old World.
"Yes," E'e he replied. Talking Coyote took the hopoakan and watched the smoke join
the flecks of dancing dust, as it swirled up and out, into the world, to be one with the
universe. "Life has been different from that day, has it not brother Keeper?" Things surely
have been different from the day he walked into the woods on his vision quest. Talking
Coyote had seen the universe, became part of it and had it reside within him; only to
decide to return and carry out the vision the Great Spirit revealed to him. To return
to the Old World with his Brothers and Sisters the four legged, winged and those in the
seas. It was a decision he did not regret, but one that weighed heavy on his mind, every
moment of every day. The constant stress of ensuring everyone in the camp was housed and
fed made his shoulders rounded as if a great weight were carried upon them.
"Any complaints or problems we Keepers may help you with my Brother?"
"Some of the other tribes, that came here with us, have asked for an Elder's council to
talk over problems they feel they have since arriving. We have been able to meet everyone’s
needs except for a few Sioux men. They have been talking to others and stirring up
discontent. They feel it is my fault that they came here without their families."
"Do they not understand that it was the Great Spirit who decided? Ni can speak with them
if you wish," replied the Keeper-of-all–things-that-Crawl.
"E'e, that would be most helpful brother Keeper. They will be trouble this winter
if we do not get them to understand reason. Ni cannot believe it has been a full month
since we came to the Old World and people are complaining already."
"What of the woman who cries? Has she been a burden?" asked the Keeper.
"E'e, you speak of Crying Woman. She is a white woman who my sisters were trying
to teach the native ways. She spent the first two weeks in Running Woman’s lodge, weeping.
Now she goes from longhouse to longhouse asking about everything and why things are done.
Ni fear she has gone crazy Keeper."
"Not crazy, she too was brought here for a purpose. Just as you bought the native peoples
back to the Old World, she has a place in its future, if she can find it," replied the
Keeper.
Sure, why not? Wading Bird is a half-breed and the Great Spirit made him chief of the
Unami. So why not have a white woman become important to the tribe. Talking Coyote
shook his head to clear the thoughts that plagued his mind for the past month.
Voices and shuffling in the bedding robes, told Talking Coyote that people were beginning
to awaken. Awakening seemed an awkward thought to Talking Coyote, since he led his people
to the Old World; he had not found much sleep. When he slept at all it occurred out of
sheer exhaustion and he did not truly awaken but come to. He had not the luxury of
awakening. He had to come to his senses immediately to deal with whatever problem
surfaced since he passed out.
Over five hundred people lived in this village. The Keepers had built five small longhouses
before the native people’s arrival to the Old World. However that proved to be not enough.
Each longhouse could accommodate five to eight families or about thirty people at the most.
Twenty were needed to house everyone comfortably. Sounds of hand axes and construction could
be heard, even though it was early morning. Winter lay upon on the land and more shelters
were needed before the ground froze too deep to set the frames for the walls. Three more
longhouses had been built and four more were in early construction. Many families made
smaller hide shelters but it was still a struggle to get everyone housed before the
bitterness of winter set in.
The first month in the Old World went fairly well; once people realized they had truly left
the Above World and that some of their loved ones remained behind. A ceremony conducted by
the Keepers welcomed those who came to this world to help the Great Spirit maintain balance.
Some mothers cried for their children who left the Native religion and were left behind,
but they took solace in knowing, they would see them again after their soul no longer
walked the paths of this life. The Xinkwelenowak and the Great Spirit assured the people
that those left behind, when Talking Coyote brought the true believers of Native religions
to the Old World, would one day meet again with them. The Keepers did not lie, nor did the
Great Spirit. Those left behind saw the error of not believing. It was hoped they were
trying to make the Above World a better place, to restore harmony with nature.
There was no illness. The Great Spirit healed all who came. No daily pills or shots to take.
No missing limbs or lost sight. Only what injury that happened in the Old World remained.
The only major mishap happened, when a boy was being taught how to knap obsidian for an
arrowhead. Beaver Hat, the Elder, told the youth that knapping obsidian had its dangers.
Shards of obsidian were sharper than a scalpel. One youth, not listening, struck a blow
to a piece of the volcanic glass, and he did not protect his work with a piece of leather
to help catch slivers. A shard shot off of the piece of volcanic glass and struck another
youth in his eye. The medicine woman tried to remove the shard as carefully as she could,
but the damage to the eye was too great, and the boy lost his sight in that eye.
It was this youth who came running into the longhouse looking for Talking Coyote. Bad Eye
had to let his good eye adjust to the darkness of the longhouse after being out in the snow.
"Uncle? Wading Bird needs your help with one of the Unami’s lodges," the youth stood by the
fire and stamped his feet to try to keep them warm. He was a handsome boy and showed promise
as a cordage maker. Bad Eye had no interest in knapping flint or obsidian since his accident,
but he learned fast how to make rope out of tree bark and hide. His skill was already
depended upon by those building the lodges to tie them together.
"Bad Eye, have you eaten?" the Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl asked.
"No Grandfather, our lodge is rationing our grain to make sure we have enough for the
winter."
The Keeper filled a wooden bowl with corn mush and broiled venison, passing it to the boy.
"This Keeper understands your mother's worries. We were told to prepare for your coming
by the Great Spirit, but he did not say how many would come. Your people will not suffer
for food to eat until the spring. There is plenty of meat to eat, since this world is so
overpopulated with your brothers and sisters the four legged, winged and those in the sea.
Worry not, my Grandson. Eat now, and come join us when you are warm and full." The Keeper
stood up and shook his long legs. He was so tall his head was only two feet from the roof
of the lodge. "Shall we see what needs brother Wading Bird has this morning?"
Talking Coyote nodded to the Keeper and went to his sleeping platform. Sitting on the edge
of his bedding, he started to stuff dried grass into a pair of outer moccasins that fit
over his regular moccasins. The outer pair was smeared in animal fat to help make them
waterproof, and to help keep the cold out. White Tail handed him a parka made from elk
hides.
"Here my Husband, Witawemak it is cold and you will need this to keep out the
cold north wind Lowanachen. It is strong out today, my love." White Tail pulled
the parka down over her husband and smoothed it out on him.
She is a good woman thought Talking Coyote; amazed that this kind and wonderful
woman could love him. In the Above World her name was Bernice, she stood about five foot
five, a plump woman with gentle hands. Her hair, mostly white now, was parted in the middle
and pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck. "This has been hard on you has it not, my
wife?" he said as he pulled her close to give her a kiss on her forehead. "Ni love the smell
of your hair. How do you do it? No matter what, you always find time to wash your hair and
to put scented oils in it to give it the smell of a meadow in spring."
"Go now and see what Wading Bird needs," she said as she swatted his ass and turned him
around. Life in the Old World was extremely hard on her and their children. Only their
youngest daughter, Fair Woman, still lived in the lodge with them. By default White Tail
became the head matriarch of the Turtle clan. Even though it was her husband who led the
people here, the women owned everything. And it was through the women that power in the
tribe and councils passed to the men.
Talking Coyote pushed back the heavy robe from the entrance of the longhouse. The camp was
busy as a beaver pond in the spring. The three new longhouses were around the outside of
the existing lodges. The four that were in the preliminary stages were on the west side of
the village. As Talking Coyote walked toward the lodges under construction, he looked around
at all that had happened in a month: The newly built lodges shown like jewels in the new snow.
Families had already moved into them and the smells of cooking fires wafted out of their
smoke holes. Wading Bird and his crew were burning small fires on the ground in the spots
where the lodge poles would be placed. "Good morning Wading Bird. Does this day greet you
well?"
"Good morning my Brothers, the ground has frozen hard and the fires are not thawing
out the ground very fast. The setting of the lodge poles is taking longer than expected."
Wading Bird was pounding in a smoking hole with a sharpened stave. As quickly as he pried
frozen ground loose another would reach down into the hole with a narrow shovel made of a
deer's scapula to dig out the dirt and ashes. Almost as fast, a third man put fresh tinder
in the hole, and pulled burning embers from the dirt just removed, to keep a fire going in
the hole. "Grandfather Winter does not seem happy to see us here, eh?" As cold as it was,
sweat poured from Wading Bird’s face, almost as fast, it was freezing on his eyebrows and
lashes.
Not now, Prairie Grass, too many people. Prairie Grass heard as he walked toward the
gathered men, the knife hidden up the sleeve of his parka.
When Father? When can Ni kill him? The voice in his head did not respond. Walking
past the men, he spit at talking Coyote's feet in disgust.
"How is it going on the other longhouses?" asked Talking Coyote.
"About the same as us," replied Wading Bird. "Some are hitting rocks and the ground is too
frozen to dig them out so they have to change the placement of the poles. It seems
Lowanachen, the North Wind is not happy we are here." Wading Bird pointed to a
lodge that had two poles closer together and a bigger gap toward the far end. "We are
afraid that lodge will not be able to stand a heavy snow without caving in. Crying Woman
pointed that out to us yesterday. We did not consider the weight of the snow until she
asked if it would support a heavy snowfall on the roof. We had to admit it would probably
not."
"Make that into a smaller lodge, and the other half can be used as a smokehouse for the
meats and to smoke hides," the Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl commented.
Wading Bird and the rest of them walked over to the new lodge. Pacing it off, Wading Bird
smiled at them. "That just might work! The back half is larger and can house at least twenty
people or four families. The front half will make a great smokehouse. Right now we are
smoking our meat in our shelters and many are complaining of the smoke and smell."
The Keeper smiled at the men and said, "Ni am glad my idea was acceptable to others. If
others run into the same problem, perhaps they can make two smaller shelters or make one
for living and a second for storage. Come spring there will be much work to do and many
plants and foods to store."
"Ni will tell my wife, White Tail, that the women will have at least one smokehouse and
that they will have to find another place for four more families who will not live in that
lodge since we are making it smaller." One problem solved and another takes it place.
Looking about he could see at least eighty lodges made out of hide in the shape of tepees or
wickups. "Thank you Wanashi Great Spirit, for giving us the knowledge to make lodges
for our families, for the food you have provided for us and for our brothers, the bison, who
gave their lives for our food and shelter."
The tribes realized early on that with winter coming wickups could be covered with hide or
tree bark and the plains tepee was a good shelter for cold weather, five hides would provide
a lodge big enough for two families. There was quite a hodgepodge of lodges in the valley.
Some clans decided to make the tepees because they planned on moving to their old homeland
come spring. Tepees could be dragged behind the people or on the backs of the camp dogs. It
was the first true mobile home. Easily put up, easy to take down and traveled well. The dogs
were another blessing the Great Spirit bestowed on the people. Almost overnight when the human
beings came to this world, the dogs sought them out, desperate for their companionship.
As with all the other creations of the Great Spirit, all could talk to one another when they
went into their lodges at night. When the dogs entered the lodges and removed their fur cloak
they were men and women in miniature. Not midgets, nor dwarfs, but men and women who happened
to be at most, three feet tall. Once in the lodges they could speak with the humans and they
would plan out the next day’s work. The humans were surprised at the intelligence of the Dog
men. Some also expressed great shame to the Dog men for how they treated their brothers in
the Above World. They did not truly realize that all things are related and some had treated
their dogs’ poorly, asking forgiveness, and it was given. Tribal bonds between the Dog men
and the human beings grew daily. While in their dog form they could not speak, but then they
did not need to. The human beings understood what they wanted or needed as they planned the
next day out the night before.
"Running Woman, you are kind to have taken me in but I am still confused." Naomi (known as
Crying Woman by the people in the Old World) cried. "Why did I come and not my daughter?
We were raising her Native like Will and I agreed to, so why didn’t she come with us to the
Old World?" she said sobbing.
"Little One, the fact that you are here proves the Great Spirit thinks of you as one of us.
You have been learning to follow our ways and our religion. That is why you came," replied
Running Woman, holding Naomi’s head against her chest.
"But why didn't Tewa come? Will, I can understand, he was against this all from the start
but we were raising Tewa native."
"I asked one of the Keepers why she stayed in the Above World. He said your husband and his
mother had Tewa baptized Methodist. Since she was too young to make the decision to come
live with you so she was left behind."
"That can't be the truth Running Woman. He promised me and Tewa’s mother that she would be
raised Native American. He has to be wrong Running Woman. He has to be, Will would not do
that behind my back."
Smoothing Crying One's hair, Running Woman looked as though she dreaded what she had to say
next. "It is true, Little One, the Keepers cannot tell a lie. He told me that Tewa's mother
asked Will to have her baptized, because she wanted a better life for her daughter than life
on the reservation. Tewa's mother only pretended to want her to be raised Native, so her
father and mother would go along with the adoption. If they knew, they would never have let
her go with you and Will. Grey Fox, talked to Will alone and made him promise to have her
baptized, or she would not allow the adoption."
Knowing what Running Woman said was true was too much for Naomi, Crying Woman to bear.
Pulling away from Running Woman's breast she ran from their lodge in tears. Running though
the village with no direction in mind she ran and cried until she was tired and fell to the
ground. People walking by looked away to spare her shame in her actions. They knew she was
a white woman who was trying to learn. Much can be forgiven the ignorant.
Half crawling and walking back to Running Woman's lodge she entered and collapsed by the fire.
Running Woman picked her up and carried her to her sleeping platform and covered her with furs
and bedding robes as if she were a child. "Sleep well my love." Running Woman said as she
kissed her mud-streaked forehead.
Waking to the smell of breakfast being prepared Naomi, Crying Woman lay in bed and listened
to Running Woman prepare their food. Rolling over to prop herself up on her elbow Crying
Woman said, "I am sorry about last night Running Woman. I cannot believe Will did that but
I have to accept it as true. Didn't the Keeper say if we followed the old ways we would be
together again after we die?"
Running Woman nodded yes. "He said if we followed the old ways and those in the Above World
changed theirs and went back to the old ways, then yes we would meet again after we cross
over."
"Will knows now that he made a mistake. He will go to the reservation with Tewa to learn
the old ways. I know he will. Then when we die we will all be together again. I know he
will do that. Running Woman teach me Lenape. I want to know everything I can learn. I want
to make sure I can see Tewa and Will again."
"All right we have been here a month what can I answer for you?"
"How did the people know how to build new lodges and to clean and fix hides? I mean
they haven't done that for centuries have they?" Crying Woman’s eyes now showed interest
in her surroundings, not the usual red eyes from crying.
"Did you not notice the longhouse on the reservation in the Above World? We still taught
our young to live in the old ways. We thought we were just teaching our history. Now we
know we were being tested to see if we could survive if we every came back to the Old World.
We still hunted in our old ways on occasion. Our children learned to clean and cure hides,
to decorate with porcupine quills instead of beads. We were keeping our culture alive. Now
we know why."
"Didn't Talking Feather tell me the youth had to make a new one every few years to learn
how? Now I remember! She said she taught the stories as she learned them because they were
told in that way. She said they long ago forgot why some stories were told but a chosen
one learned them all nonetheless. Now I understand Running Woman. What can I do to help?
Teach me."
Falling Leaves Moon 01
The morning drew clear, like water taken deep from a pristine lake. There were no hints
of the wisps of fog that Standing Bear had woken up to a few hours ago. Just a glorious
morning of cold weather that caught on one's breath. It is a good day. "Ni do not
know if Ni will ever get used to the smell of the world with no pollution," he said aloud
while shaking his head as if to clear his mind of the memory of smog. Beaver Hat and Crying
Woman walked up to him by the stream.
"Does this morning find my Brother, Standing Bear, well?" Beaver Hat walked like a man
half his age. In the Above World, Beaver Hat would have been dying of cancer. The Great
Spirit healed all who came to this world so they may start a new life whole and healthy.
He greeted Standing Bear with the smile of one who was given a second chance at life,
whose every breath tasted like a new sensation.
"Ni am well my friend, Ni am glad to see you," Standing Bear replied to Beaver Hat,
slighting Crying Woman by not addressing her as well. "How many others are in your area
and are they getting along well?"
"By others do you mean people of other tribes or not Lenape?" asked Crying Woman ignoring
the slight.
Beaver Hat quickly answered her, "When the Great Spirit bought the people to the Old
World they were brought to the camps that were nearest to them or they found their own
way to the camps after a few days as the Chippewa woman did." Looking at Talking Coyote
and answering his question he stated, "There were fifteen tribes and at least double those
in clans. It makes for an interesting gathering does it not my Brother?"
Crying Woman injected, "All of us speak English, but here it was decided, all would speak
their native tongue? They speak English to me, only when necessary, to facilitate the
planning for the coming winter. The sounds of Lakota are mixed with Chippewa with smatterings
of English and I can't understand but every twentieth word or so. All I want to do is learn
the language, and Running Woman is so busy, she does not have time to teach me all I need
to know."
All knew that the Old World offered much and a tremendous amount had been lost when they
left the Above World. Speaking with the animals was an altogether new experience. The
animals spoke their old languages fluently and now the animals became the teachers. For
many people, it became a humbling experience.
Beaver Hat said, "We could use a larger lodge for the young warriors. Ni have twenty-two
youth that Black Otter and Ni are teaching the ways of the warrior. We do not have a man
to cook for them, so we are using an elder woman who is Chippewa; she lost her grandchildren
to the Above World. She treats the youth as her children, instead of future warriors but her
heart is good and the youth respect her."
"Do you suspect we will need warriors?" asked Standing Bear, in disbelief. "We all have
come to the Old World to follow the old ways. Not to fight and kill our fellow man."
"Brother, Standing Bear did we not fight in the old days? Was a youth not considered a man
until he met a warrior from another tribe and killed him in a fight, or struck coup on him
and lived? Ni think man has not changed and we will need warriors. Maybe not soon, but need
them we will, Ni can assure you, we are teaching them what we can. Black Otter, has some
different methods that are most intriguing. His teaching will be an asset to the youth who
learn from us." As they were walking along the stream and talking to each other, they
approached the large river that the stream fed into.
A fish rose up in the stream, his head just breaking the clear, smooth surface, and bid
good morning to Standing Bear and Beaver Hat. "Come spring can you feed our children the
left over maize from your stores so that they may grow fat and breed again next fall?"
Talking Feather came upon the men and Crying Woman talking to the salmon. "Your children will
be looked after," said Talking Feather. "Is there anything else we may do for you?"
The old male salmon replied, "There are many beavers and they have damned up most of the
tributaries of the stream. Some are too high to jump so we must spawn in areas that are not
the best for our survival. The streams are too low to spawn in. Could you remove some of the
dams in the spring? It would help us to make it further upstream to spawn."
"We will do what you ask," Talking Feather spoke. "Ni will tell stories this winter to the
children and the others about what you have asked for this day." With those words in his
ears the elder salmon went off to talk to his people and tell them of what was agreed.
"Ni am old and this will be my last winter," Talking Feather said to the gathered men. "Ni
want to teach the stories to at least three young ones. Little Coyote is one and this woman
would like two others to learn. Come spring the different tribes will set out to their
ancestral grounds and Ni wish to send two of the youth with them when they go. That way
they can come back when the tribe settles in their new place and tell us where they are.
We will need trading partners in the coming years and we must keep in touch."
Standing Bear spread out a bear hide mat on the ground for Talking Feather to sit upon.
Taking her hand, he helped the wise old woman to sit down. "We were talking about how to
set up trading paths last night. We know where the natural resources are, since this world
mirrors the Above World. Many things will make our life easier once we have a way to get
what we need from other places and people," all heads nodded in agreement with Standing
Bear's comments.
"Ni am teaching Crying Woman here, to speak Lenape. One of the Dog women is helping me."
Talking Feather said as she motioned for Crying Woman to sit next to her.
Beaver Hat spoke, "We have built our lodge around a large log that will become a trader's
canoe in the spring. We are setting our lodge fires in it so that we may hollow out the
center and use the shavings to help other lodges have kindling for their fires. We should
be able to make it inland to the Great Lakes and from there to almost anyplace we will
need resources from. One large canoe can carry more than ten men with pack dogs and move
twice as fast."
Standing Bear nodded in agreement. "One man in the Unami clan lived as a smelter in the
Above World and worked with copper. Copper is an abundant resource here and will make
better tools than of stone. He has already found a small supply and is busy making axes
and hoes for the builders. Already they have been able to make new lodges faster with
the better tools."
Beaver Hat spat out, "Bah! Once Ni finish teaching my skill in making stone tools you will
see that stone is the better tool. Metal has it place in cooking pots but for the best tools,
stone is still best."
"I am grateful for a metal knife Beaver Hat. At least I can sharpen that if a youth or
Running Woman is not around to re-edge my flint knife." Said Crying Woman.
The Keeper-of-all-things-that-Crawl walked up to them and overhearing Beaver Hat's comment,
he laughed. "Is a stone arrow point better than one made of copper? Can you make a better
fishing hook with stone or bone than can be fashioned from metal? Or a needle, or a saw?
Stone has its place, brother Beaver Hat but metal does, too." With that, the Keeper removed
two arrowheads from a pouch at his side. One was made of copper and the other flint. "Notice
that both are about the same size and weight," he said as he hefted them in the air to Beaver
Hat.
"Ni agree that both are about the same weight, but feel the edge on the flint head. It is
much sharper and does not need to be reshaped or re-sharpened once made," he said, as he
handed them back to the Keeper. The Keeper placed both of the arrowheads side by side on a
flat rock. He then picked up another rock and dropped it on both the arrowheads. Lifting the
rock revealed that the flint arrowhead had splintered into a hundred pieces while the copper
arrowhead was unscathed.
"Brother Beaver Hat, can you re-sharpen the flint now? The flint is of no use but the
copper arrowhead is still usable. One day your life may depend on a copper arrowhead or
ax. Do not be against them Brother. Each has their place, and your place, as a teacher of
flint knapping is not in danger. There will always be a need for that skill," the Keeper
picked up the copper arrowhead and tossed it back to Beaver Hat. "Keep that as a reminder
that all is not as it may seem here. Sometimes it is better to be soft and flexible to what
hardship comes your way than to be crushed because you could not bend."
Turning to see who called after him the Keeper-of-the-Deer stopped and waited. "Your name
is Prairie Grass is it not?"
"Ha Yes, Brother Keeper it is. May I seek your council?" replied Prairie Grass. He
stopped to catch his breath. The wind was cold on his face and his leather parka stiff,
from the cold, as much as from its poor tanning.
"What may this Keeper do for you, brother Prairie Grass?" asked the Keeper-of-the-Deer.
Seeing Prairie Grass shiver, he asked, "Would you like to speak in my lodge? It is warm
there and we can speak in private as well as in comfort."
Watch what you say to this one my son. He too is to blame for your problems.
Prairie Grass stamped his feet and flapped his arms to help generate some warmth. "Your
lodge is an excellent place to speak Brother. Some tribal members and I are unhappy."
The Keeper nodded his head, switching to English he said. "I see, come, we will go to my
lodge." Prairie Grass had to run behind the Keeper to keep up with his long strides, until
they arrived at tree with a large hole in its trunk. The Keeper ducked into the hole in the
side of the tree, with a five-foot diameter, and disappeared.
I must remember all things are not as they appear to be in this world, he thought
to himself. Ducking and entering the hole in the tree, Prairie Grass stood up inside a
room that was at least twenty feet wide and thirty feet deep. The hole behind him turned
into a hide-covered doorway at least seven feet high. "Brother Keeper, I how do we enter
a tree, and have this lodge reside in it? Do we shrink when we enter?"
"Ho," laughed the Keeper. "No Prairie Grass we do not shrink. My lodge is a three-day walk
from your camp, in what you knew as the Shenandoah mountain range. Any Keeper can walk into
a hole in a tree or walk into a body of water and arrive at their lodge. It is one of the
wonders the Great Spirit has bestowed upon us. All we have to do is think where we wish to
be when we walk out of our lodge and we are there when we step through the door."
"Keeper, why was my family left behind?" Prairie Grass, blurted out. "They were good people
who lived life following the good red road. They honored our ancestors. They honored our
traditions." Grief, started to make Prairie Grass’s shoulders quake.
Gesturing toward a bearskin robe next to the fire the Keeper said, "It was not that simple
Brother. The Great Spirit wished to bring those who followed the old religion, the old ways,
not just our ancestors and traditions. He wanted those to come that still believed in him, as
he was, not as how the Christians thought of him. After all he is their God too."
Prairie Grass was shocked to hear that the Great Spirit was also the Christian God. "But
Keeper, my family belonged to the Native American Church. The church honored the Great Spirit
and yet they were left behind. I do not understand."
"In the beginning, all religions were the same. They all worshiped the Great Spirit. Each
knew him with different names but the worship was the same. Treat each other as you wish to
be treated. Honor your parents. Honor nature, and all his creations because we are all related.
If you damage one thing, it has an effect on another that you may not see.
The religions of the Above World have left the path that was laid before them to walk and
discover. The personal plans of man took place of the respect for nature and mankind. When
this happened they began to kill or hate others because they did not believe the same way.
Animals that were Brothers to man, were no longer respected: They were used for food with
no regard to their spirit, to be used as beasts of labor instead of working together to make
things better for both of them. Man lost his vision. He lost his ability to see the universe
and all that were in it, reside in a mustard seed."
"But my family believed," cried Prairie Grass. "They should have come with me."
"No Prairie Grass, they did not believe. If they had believed, then the Great Spirit would
have brought them to this world too: In their hearts, they believe in God in the Christian
sense, abandoning the native belief that all things are related. The Old World has become
overrun with animals the Great Spirit saved. The Above World now knows that they were wrong.
The Great Spirit spoke to all in a way that they cannot deny it was he who spoke. Some had
visions, others dreams and others still, saw miracles. He told them they had left the path
and that the old religions that treated nature and all things as equals were the correct path.
He told all that changed, and returned to the old ways would be reunited with their loved
ones, when they crossed over at the end of their lives. If your wife and children return to
the old ways you will see them again Prairie Grass. They are not gone forever. You will see
them again later. It is a matter of faith."
Rage built up in Prairie Grass as he listened to the Keeper talk. The blood pounded in his
ears, and his vision turned to red.
He lies son, he is an evil spirit to have taken your family away.
When he spoke it was through clenched teeth and sweat dripping from his face. "You are no
spirit Keeper; you are a demon, a trickster, just like Talking Coyote and his kin. You
speak of compassion and treating another as you wish to be treated, yet you take my family.
Would Talking Coyote be as compassionate if he lost his family here and could not see them
again?" Standing he started to run towards the lodge door. I must speak to Five Bears
he thought as he ran through the door. As soon as he was through the door he ran through the
fire in Five Bears' tepee and ran into the opposite wall of his lodge. The force bounced him
back into the fire pit, smoking and singing his parka. Rolling out of the fire the men in
the lodge started to pat out the flames and cinders on his clothing.
Wonder shown in their faces, because one moment they were talking about the Above World
and their loved ones, the next, Prairie Grass materialized in the lodge and ran through
the fire. Five Bears spoke, "Were did you come from Prairie Grass?"
"I will tell you tomorrow morning. Tell the others that we must speak at sunrise tomorrow
morning. I will only repeat this story once. Then wish to forget it forever."
Contact Information:
P.O. Box 561282
Rockledge, Fl
32956-1282
Art From The Soul designed the book cover for A New Dawn. Please visit Julie's site for some truly amazing artwork. I am proud to call her a friend and am very happy she honored me by doing my cover's artwork.
The photo used in the making of my book banner above was obtained from Don Paulson Photography, please visit his site for some truly inspiring photos of nature at its best.
Wanishi, (Thank you) and Grandfather's Blessings.