Excerpt from book: Walking Spirit in a Native Way
Excerpt from book: Walking Spirit in a Native Way
Man or Spirit
Drawing by Brian Matrious aka Nish Nung |
It
was still dark out. I thought I heard
something outside my tent and awoke with a start. What was that I wondered? Then I heard a crackling of a fire and saw
light on the side of my tent. The
crackling was close. That is my
fire! I had put it out last night so how
could it have started up with no wood. I
heard someone pick up a piece of kindling and put it into the fire. It couldn’t be the kids?!
“This
is my camp!” I said, in as strong and firm a voice as I could muster. “Can I help you?” I tensely waited for a response.
A
quiet, yet also strong, male voice came back.
“Are you looking for someone to tell you about the Iroquois
people?”
“Yes
I am.” I answered.
“Why
don’t you come out and we can talk?”
Said the voice from outside my tent.
I
quickly put on my pants and shirt, thinking to myself, this can’t really be
happening. Who is this guy and what have
I gotten myself into this time?
As
I came out of my tent I looked up at the man standing on the other side of the
fire. He was tall, about 6’2” and had a
strong solid looking build. His hair was
black with gray streaks and hung loosely over his shoulders and down his
back. Even with the gray in his hair he
didn’t look much older than his mid forties.
His jeans were weathered and he wore an old sweatshirt with a faded
picture of whales on it. The features of
his face were unmistakably Indian and he had a proud and contented look about
him. He looked to have a quiet and
gentle demeanor and to be very much at peace with himself.
“I
knew you were coming.” he said. “I had a
dream two weeks ago that you and your children would be here and would camp in
this place.”
I
was taken back a little. How could this man find us out here? I thought, what did he mean, he knew we were
coming?
“I
brought coffee,” he continued, and handed me a cup of Dunkin Donuts
coffee. The coffee was hot, fresh and
strong. No sugar added. It was just the way I like it.
I
went over to my car and took out a red wrap of tobacco to give him. I wanted him to see that I was aware of the
customs of the Native people.
“I
brought tobacco.” I said, and handed a cloth wrap of tobacco to him.
He
took it and said; “I know.”
What
is this? I thought. This isn’t
believable.
He
invited me to sit down and he sat on the other side of the fire. He put a donut bag down beside him, and said,
“My name is Maize and I am from the Cattaraugus Reservation over by Lake Erie.”
He
looked up at me and straight into my eyes, yet somehow deeper. “Why do you ask about us?” He said.
I
thought to myself; well that is cutting to the quick of it.
I
answered; “I want my children to know the truth about Native American
people.”
He
didn’t say anything for a moment and looked back at the fire. Then he slowly looked up, looking me straight
in the eyes again, and asked more slowly; “Why
do you ask about us?”
I
told him that I want to understand spirit teachings of the people. What I have found about my own ancestors
doesn’t give me what I am seeking and I am looking to the Indian to see if what
I seek is there.
Now
I had said it! I am seeking an
understanding of the spirit teachings of the Indian. I have felt drawn in this direction as I have
become aware of the Indian over the past year or so.
He
answered; “There are those who are Indian in heart, which must be why I heard
you. I will talk to you and your
children. Wake them and ask them to join
us. I brought donuts for them. I will smoke this tobacco you gave me tonight
when I get home.”
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