Snow Eagle (11 page)

Red Hawk stood admiring the Buffalo head atop the tall totem. The Potlach was over and everyone was returning to day- to-day tasks.
The people have shown you great respect with this wonderful totem, my dear friend. One day a similar totem bearing the symbol of a Red Hawk will rise beside you. How I miss our laughter and long talks. One day soon we will be together again
. Tears rolled down her wrinkled face.

Snow Eagle watched his mother grieve, Buffalo Woman was a dear friend and a great elder, she would be missed. He approached his mother and put his arm around her bony shoulder. She looked up at him and smiled. How proud she was of her son. “Do you cry for Buffalo Woman, or for yourself Mother?”

“A little of both I am afraid. One day soon, your father and I will go to Kiwa-a in the Land of the Dead. The good of the Tlingit will be up to you and your sons, Snow Eagle. It was good to see that Brave Beaver has become a great Shaman like his father.”

“Yes, I am glad he was able to bring Walks with Fire back from the land of the dead. It appears our Tagish friend has also found a squaw. The woman, Moon refuses to leave his side. Brave Beaver requested that she be allowed to remain here and the Haida Elders agreed.” Snow Eagle laughed.

“Our Tagish friends seem to be very adept at attracting the women. Perhaps that will put the united tribe in good stead.” Red Hawk and Snow Eagle laughed together. Her mood was lightened. “Do you think Gray Wolf and Songbird will produce a strong leader? I do worry about her not speaking.”

“ Giant Bear explained that to me. It is a very sad story.” Snow Eagle paused to remember what Giant Bear had told him.

“What happened to that dear child?” Red Hawk's curiosity was peaked. She waited for her son to speak.

“It seems that Songbird's mother was killed when she was only a very small child. Giant Bear and the warriors were off on a raiding party. Another tribe attacked and Songbird watched them abuse, beat and then kill her mother. It was a brutal death. She never spoke again. Giant Bear was deeply concerned but nothing could be done.”

“ Oh the poor child, what a terrible memory for her to live with. So she is able to speak?”

“Apparently, she was a talkative youngster who loved her mother deeply. The attack scarred her forever.”

“Why did the warriors not harm her?”

“She was hidden in a large basket. Her mother put her there as soon as the village was attacked and told her not to make a sound. They were the last words that her mother spoke to her. ‘Don't make a sound.' She has not spoken since.” Snow Eagle looked at his mother who had tears rolling down her old face. “Don't cry Mother, she has learned to live with it. The whistling sound that she makes enchants the people.”

“Perhaps Gray Wolf will make her happy enough to speak. Or her own child, may bring her voice back to her.” Red Hawk shook her head from side to side. “Life is very hard for some. I will go and find your father now.” With that she walked slowly away leaving Snow Eagle to stare after her.

“Yes Mother, life is very hard.” He too felt very sad when he heard the story of Songbird. Because of the preparations and the celebration, he had kept it to himself up until now. He must tell Little Fawn so that she can console his mother. Snow Eagle watched the fishermen go to sea and then he turned toward the healing hut where Walks with Fire was recuperating.

“How are you today, my friend?”

“Charging Elk was here earlier to ask me to go hunting. I told him that as long as he didn't want to fish, he could count me in.” Walks with Fire laughed out loud. Snow Eagle smiled, happy to hear the strength returning to his voice.

“Where is your caregiver? She never leaves your side.”

“Little Fawn came to get her a few minutes ago. She is going to show her where we will be moving to later today. I will be happy to join the living once again.” Walks with Fire sat on the side of the mat, his knees tucked under his arms. “Snow Eagle, what would I have to do to request Moon be my wife?”

“I thought you might ask me that. I will ask the Elders and you will ask Moon. Very simple-she is a lovely woman and now that you have the Haida's permission for her to stay, you are different moieties so you can be wed.”

Walks with Fire beamed from ear to ear. “She is a very lovely young woman, and very caring.” Snow Eagle patted him on the shoulder. “I did not think that one day I would live with the great Tlingit and marry a Haida woman. My life has given me many surprises.”

“My job is done here. Brave Beaver brought you back to the living and Moon will take care of you from now on. You can leave as soon as Little Fawn comes to get you.”

Snow Eagle moved through the village, satisfied that all was well. Charging Elk and several young men passed him as they headed into the forest to hunt. Snow Eagle raised his hand in greeting.
Giant Bear and I have done a good thing in uniting our tribes; Gray Wolf and Songbird will be the future of our people. Now Walks with Fire, a Tagish, marries a Haida. Yes, we are uniting as it was meant to be
. He felt pleased with himself.

Little Fawn, Walks Tall Woman and Moon prepared the house for Walks with Fire. Moon and Walks with Fire would share the house with Charging Elk and Walks Tall Woman. The women arranged the mats, put many utensils made of bone, antler and wood around the central fire, shook out the blankets and made the house ready. Moon was a lovely young woman. Walks Tall Woman looked forward to them becoming friends. Little Fawn and Walks Tall Woman were fascinated by the tattoo on the back of Moon's hand. The design was a full moon with an eagle flying past. “That is lovely, we do not tattoo our bodies. Only the men of nobility have tattoos. This makes you very special here in the village. We welcome you into our family, Moon.” Moon smiled, her life had taken a wonderful change for the better the day she met Walks with Fire. “Now we plan the wedding. It is fortunate that the Haida are close by. We will have a wonderful celebration.” Little Fawn was satisfied that everything was perfect. The young women were like daughters and she enjoyed being with them but the giggling was more than she could handle. She excused herself and walked in the village.

Dove, Walks Tall Woman's sister would also live with Charging Elk. The elders had decided that she could stay and had traded two slaves for her. She would remain a slave but would live with her sister. Both women were thrilled at this arrangement. Dove was gathering seaweed at the shore with the other slave women. Little Fawn waved to her as she passed. She had been pleased to discover Dove was a very good seamstress. She would join her later to sew several shirts and dresses as well as the wedding garments for Walks with Fire and Moon. Little Fawn was the best seamstress in the village. She was pleased to have Dove assist her. Being older than Walks Tall Woman, she and Little Fawn had more in common. The two were fast becoming friends. Little Fawn went to her longhouse to prepare the work for herself and Dove. Snow Eagle found her there.

“What is this? It looks like you have become one of the commoners, piling your work high.” Snow Eagle wondered why Little Fawn had so much to do. As nobility, she was not expected to sew for the village.

“Dove is coming today. We will begin stitching these shirts. I want to be sure she knows how to do it properly. Each stitch must be small and tight.”

“My wife, you are always wanting perfection. I am sure Dove knows how to sew a shirt.” He laughed at his wife. “You are just lucky you have the perfect man.” She scowled at him, ignoring his teasing.

“I don't like sloppy work. Besides Dove and I have lovely conversations. The Eyak are a fascinating people. I am learning a great deal.”

“Speaking of traditions of the others, let me tell you about my visit to Giant Bear and the Tagish. He explained to me, why his daughter does not speak.” Little Fawn turned, giving him her full attention. She had wondered about this for a long time. Snow Eagle related the story to his wife. She was deeply disturbed to hear it.

“I hope that one day Gray Wolf will help her to speak again. She is a lovely young woman. Our people have increased in number and now we include many from different tribes. Walks with Fire taught me much about the Tagish. Now Dove teaches me of the Eyak. Soon your wife will be smarter than you, the great Snow Eagle.” She pecked his cheek, laughing.

“I will go and leave you to your woman's work. It appears you have a new friend. I am glad that you and Dove have much to talk about. I will make sure Walks with Fire gets settled. He has much to do, preparing the gifts for the Haida before the wedding.” Little Fawn organized her sewing supplies. She smiled at Snow Eagle as he left the house. It was nice to have him home.

Snow Eagle found Raging Bull wandering through the village. “What is the matter? You look as if you have lost something.”

“I have been looking for Sunflower. She has been very evasive since White Fox's death. I want her to make sure Prairie Flower is well prepared for the next elder council but I can't seem to find her. Something is up with that young woman.” Raging Bull looked very concerned.

“I am sure she is just grieving for her son. She must handle his death in her own way.” Snow Eagle walked on, but he too had wondered where Sunflower had been. No one had seen much of her since White Fox was put to death.

Meanwhile, Little Fawn and Dove sat together chatting and sewing. The time passed quickly.

“We will need to make a dye to apply the design to this shirt. We use many different plants for the various colors.” Little Fawn explained the procedure. The Eyak did not use dyes and Dove was not familiar with the plants. Little Fawn wanted her to know everything about the Tlingit way of life. As a slave she would have many jobs. Besides, Little Fawn was enjoying the other woman's company very much.

“Come and I will show you where to gather the right plants.” Little Fawn and Dove left the house and headed into the meadow to the rear of the village. The women walked through the meadow, gathering many roots and plants. They chatted about Dove's life and her people and Little Fawn taught her much about the Tlingit.

“Tomorrow we will go in search of more plants.” Dove was very fond of Little Fawn. She was happy to be reunited with her sister and now she had a new friend as well. Being a slave was not a hardship for her. She picked up her basket of plants. The two made plans to go further into the forest the next morning.

A young mother stopped Snow Eagle as he walked through the village. She asked him to look at her son's leg. The boy had a large gash just above his ankle. Snow Eagle applied a salve made from Sitka Spruce pitch, to the abrasion and then bound it with soft leather. He enjoyed his position as medicine man. Five years earlier, he had brought this young man into the world. The midwife could not turn the breached baby and the young woman was suffering terribly. Snow Eagle was called in to assist. The youngster stared up at him. “I want to go hunting. I caught five squirrels this morning,” the young boy bragged.

“I think you should rest this leg today, tomorrow you can join the great hunters.” Snow Eagle patted the boy on the head, smiled at the mother and then continued across the village. Traders were filling their huge canoe preparing to travel south. The traders traveled hundreds of miles bringing back many exotic items. In the summer months the Tlingit would travel to their valley inland and the traders would branch out deep into the interior. The trade routes were generations old and the more routes a clan had, the more prestigious they became. Snow Eagle stopped to talk with the men.

“I am surprised we still have goods to trade after such a big Potlach.” The head trader laughed.

“We wisely kept some goods hidden. Otherwise all of us would live in empty houses, the generosity was so great.” He and the others laughed.

“Very wise of you. Have a safe trip may Kah-shu-gon-yah, go with you on your journey.” Snow Eagle spoke some words of blessing over the great canoe. The men would be gone for many weeks. “It feels like rain. Hopefully the sea will remain calm for your departure. Travel safely my brothers.”

Just as he reached his home, the rain began to fall. Little Fawn sat beside the brightly burning fire, a large piece of meat roasted on a spit. The smell was tantalizing. “Whatever you are cooking smells delicious.” She did not turn toward him. “Little Fawn?” She jumped; startled that he was beside her.

“Snow Eagle, I'm sorry. I did not hear you come in.” She trembled.

“What is wrong? You look frightened.” He sat cross-legged beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him. Dare she tell him of this feeling of impending doom that would not go away? “Little Fawn, is something wrong?”

“No, nothing, I was just thinking about my day with Dove. She has led a very hard life. Her brother was killed by a bear, when he was only a small child. Her mother died when she was only twelve and she raised Walks Tall Woman and her sisters, by herself. Her father was always gone from the village, hunting or trading. When Walks Tall Woman was captured, Dove followed the men that took her. Then she was lost and captured herself by another tribe. The poor woman is just happy to be here with her sister.” Snow Eagle looked at her. She was trying too hard.