Читать книгу Algonquin Quest 2-Book Bundle - Rick Revelle - Страница 12

Happiness

and Sorrow

OUR SHELTERS WERE OVAL wàginogàns (lodges) made out of birch bark and held together by saplings intertwined on the inside. On the outside we used slabs of cedar to hold the birch bark down, tying them to the frame. The birch bark was overlapped so as not to leak. The saplings on the inside were not tied end to end but were joined side to side to avoid poking holes in the birch bark. The young trees were bent in a curve and fastened together with spruce roots.

What caught us by surprise was that no one was on guard and that we could only see smoke coming out of seven of the wàginogàns.

“Wàgosh, announce our homecoming.”

“E-ya-ya-ya-ya,” Wàgosh sang. “The hunters have arrived with food and tales of adventure.”

Then Wàgosh sang a death song announcing the death of Makwa. With that his wife and our sister See-Bee-Pee-Nay-Sheese (River Bird) came out of her home, wailing and crying. I took my sister in my arms and told her that Makwa died a warrior’s death, and he would enter the afterlife with great honour.

See-Bee-Pee-Nay-Sheese would enter her home and douse her fire. She would mourn face-down on her mat for six days covered by her robes and receive only cold food for nourishment. The families would give her gifts to comfort her. She would not be allowed to marry again until our mother gave her permission.

When an Algonquin warrior marries, he always lived with the wife’s family and helped hunt and protect the family unit.

Nìjamik (Two Beaver), one of our elders, followed my sister out to the centre of the village leading the rest of the people.

“Mahingan,” he said, “we are happy to see you. This food will keep us from starving. We have lost one of the older women and a small child since you have left. Wajashk (Muskrat) took two of the young warriors three days ago to see if they could spear any fish through the open ice of the big river. Hunger has stalked us like an enemy on the warpath. We have huddled together in seven shelters to save wood. The people were getting too weak to forage for wood to burn. Thus the decision was made to come together. Now, though, we see that the Chief and his warriors have returned successfully with meat. Tonight we will feast and hear your stories and how Makwa died. The older women will take turns sitting with See-Bee-Pee-Nay-Sheesh and help her with her mourning. The rest of us will visit her in the days to come and help ease her grief with gifts. The moose and deer will get us through the winter until the bear wakes from his sleep and the elk come to the south from the deep woods. You have saved us, Mahingan. This will be a story for the ages.”

When Nijamik finished talking to me, I could feel a hand on mine. I looked around and saw a beautiful smiling face — my wife, Wàbananang. Tonight I would celebrate in many ways.

I followed Wàbananang to our shelter; she had been staying with my mother and her sisters-in-law while I was absent. The lodge was cold from the lack of heat but in a short time we had a fire going. The light from the fire enhanced her striking looks. As we sat and ate she told me what the last days were like with very little food and the people starting to lose heart that our hunt would be successful.

“Mahingan, five nights ago my father came to me in a dream and told me that you and your men had not failed and would be bringing the meat to the village soon. Upon waking, I told everyone my dream, and it raised their hopes. Then you arrived as my father had told me you would. You are a good husband and leader.”

“Thank you, my love. Your belief in me strengthens my heart.”

With that I led her to where we slept and felt the warmth of her body and the aura that always came over me when we made love. That always was an experience that quenched my soul and gave me the strength to carry on. Making love is a gift from Kitchi Manitou that is one of the great mysteries of being one of his people.