Little Bear watched his son with closeness and measured his words with care. He told Lightning Bolt about the need of defending oneself, or Nation, and as a last resort that sometimes one must choose to kill a fellow human being in battle. He emphasized that this should only happen under pressing circumstances. He also explained to his son what responsibilities he would face as a young brave, if and when their Nation had to go to war with an aggressive country.
Although repelled by the thought of humans killing other humans in anger, Lightning Bolt was surprised and disappointed to learn that he and his peers would not be permitted, because of their age, to join in battle should war become necessary, except if it was an instance of dire need. But, he was somewhat mollified to learn that under the command of experienced warriors they would be expected to be part of the home guard left behind to protect the community from enemy raids during the absence of most of the men. The boys of the community viewed their potential war duties on the home front with great pride.
Being on the verge of manhood, at fourteen Springtimes, Lightning Bolt’s societal responsibilities increased substantially. The humble and dignified manner in which he accepted these new tasks surprised no one because he had already displayed the courage, humility and sense of responsibility needed for almost any task. His sense of responsibility had developed early. As the oldest child, he had helped his younger siblings learn about life and was very protective of them. He had also shown a well-developed sense of respect and devotion for his peers and for other members of the community.
In later Seasons, Lightning Bolt would recall with nostalgia and appreciation the many wonderful memories of his youth — his first successful Hunt, canoe trips, winning prizes at physical contact sports. But the memories from his childhood that were most profound and would provide him with the most pleasure were those times when he felt the love, devotion and dedication shown to him by his parents and Elders. These memories guided him through youth and gave him much consolation as an adult.
He appreciated that the Great Spirit had blessed him many times over by giving him a family life that was filled with tranquility and peace. His devoted parents had taught him and his siblings how to accept and manage the responsibilities of life with enthusiasm and care.
All in all they were outstanding parents. During the many ups and downs associated with raising children, never once had they showed any resentment for the time they had to set aside for their children. Throughout his life, Lightning Bolt always emulated this unselfish love, respect and devotion. Little Bear and Early Blossom’s example was deeply embedded in their children’s hearts and minds and was a guiding source of strength for Lightning Bolt in the seasons ahead.
THE THREAT OF WAR
With the coming of Spring, unbeknownst to the Mi’kmaq and their allies, the worth of their alliances was about to be tested. War was on the horizon. Threatening warfare to influence the outcome of Nation to Nation negotiation was not an option used by the Mi’kmaq until all peaceful alternatives had been explored and exhausted. Even then, it was used only with the greatest reluctance. This deeply ingrained aversion to war came from the civility and respect for human life, instilled in them by learning, and holding in high esteem, the democratic tenets of their culture. Also, like most humans, the vast majority were in no hurry to face death. In fact, the Great Spirit willing, they wanted to live long and enjoy happy lives before joining their beloved ancestors in the Land of Souls.
The seven Mi’kmaq Nations, a large and powerful group of fraternal Nations spread out over a large land area, had in ancient Seasons formed a mutual defence organization capable of raising a mighty army of warriors. This army had the capacity to chastise, punish and repulse any enemy. Prior to forming the Grand Council of the Mi’kmaq, any one of these seven Nations, when suitably aroused, could raise an army powerful enough to pose a formidable threat to a potential aggressor; when combined they were practically unbeatable. One rarely bites one who can bite back hard, and almost assuredly fatally.
Although the alliance was exclusive to the Mi’kmaq Nations, whose seven leaders comprised its council, the Chiefs often permitted leaders of allied Nations to sit in on their deliberations. Most of those who were permitted came from the Wabanaki Confederacy, an alliance the Mi’kmaq countries had formed with most of their smaller eastern neighbours. Both alliances had their allotted spheres of influence and were much valued by their citizens for the protection and services provided.
In the case of the Grand Council, besides defence, it provided a forum where the Mi’kmaq Nations came together to discuss political and social problems of mutual concern. Created as an advisory body, the council had no authority to impose or implement decisions. Thus, before any decision it made could take effect in a member country, it had to be ratified by that country’s own council and approved by its People.
To activate the mutual defence agreement of the Grand Council, a country under enemy attack had to request a council meeting held at the earliest possible Moon. On the appointed Sunrise, the aggrieved party or parties brought the details of their problems before the council to request military aid or other forms of assistance.
The Wabanaki Confederacy was not as structured as the Grand Council. Mutual defence was its prime reason for existence. However, from time to time, it was also used by member Nations to come together for discussion of international issues not related to war, such as a forum to settle disputes among them. Its member Nations, although close friends, had many cultural differences, including distinctive languages. But they also had many similarities. For instance, the rituals used for pipe smoking and Sweet-grass Ceremonies were almost identical throughout the lands of the Confederacy. Due to the brotherly regard these Nations had for each other, their citizens were able to socialize freely and mixed Tribal marriages were common. Related to this mutual regard, at ceremonies and celebrations throughout member countries it was common to hear many languages being spoken.
Mi’kmaq Elders had the responsibility of teaching new generations when, how and why the Confederacy was created. They had a very short story to use for the purpose:
“Back in ancient Sunrises the small Eastern Nations, because they weren’t capable of defending themselves, were being constantly invaded and robbed by the larger Western Nations. The Westerners appropriated the Easterner’s food reserves and other personal property as spoils of war. This left the Easterners poor and hungry. The Mi’kmaq, who had many relatives and friends among the Easterners, finally had enough and decided to put a stop to it. They didn’t envision that it would be a hard thing to accomplish because our Nation’s armies were more powerful than the Western armies and if they attacked us we would easily defeat them.
“To accomplish their goal, our leaders started the Wabanaki Confederacy, which was strictly a defence alliance that would enforce this rule; an attack on one was to be considered an attack on all. They asked the Easterners to join and they happily agreed. The terms of the agreement were worked out and then it was ratified.
“The Western Nations were advised by runner of the new alliance and its purpose. They, now knowing that an attack on the Eastern Nations would bring the Mi’kmaq Nations to their defence, stopped attacking them. Our Nations can be proud of this accomplishment. It’s a demonstration of our humanity at its best. We’ve also benefitted from the agreement. For instance, when their armies are combined with ours it forms an even more formidable defence umbrella that a belligerent Nation only challenges at its peril.”
If a member Nation attacked another without a valid reason, the mutual defence provisions of either alliance were not automatically activated. In fact, if it was proven that the member Nation engaged in battle did so without reason, its membership in either alliance was revoked. But not one had ever been evicted.
CHAPTER TWO
LIGHTNING BOLT, during the last Moon of his twentieth Spring, was visiting and chatting with his father, w
ho was now Village Chief, when a runner arrived, carrying an urgent message from Grand Chief Big Elk — who was also National Chief of Sipekne’katik — detailing a war situation developing in Kespek. The messenger related that Big Beaver, Kespek’s Chief, had advised that twenty Sunrises before the last Moon of Spring, while the People still slept, warriors from several Western Nations had launched an attack on Chief Running Fox’s village, causing many causalities and much destruction. The location of the sacked village was near the headwaters of the Great Salmon River. The attack was followed within Sunrises by several other random raids, the forerunner of an all-out invasion of Kespek, setting the stage for Lightning Bolt to taste the bitterness of bloody conflict between men.
Lightning Bolt told his father, “I think Kespek can handle the situation without any aid from our country. After all, they’ve repulsed similar attacks and thoroughly punished attacking Nations before.”
Lightning Bolt was wrong. While he was relating his opinion to his father, the better prepared Western armies were attacking and terrorizing many Kespekian villages.
The Kespekian war report detailing these outrages, which would assure the future involvement of Lightning Bolt’s District, Kespukwitk, in Kespek’s bloody battles, arrived eighteen Sunrises after the first Moon of Summer. A weary runner delivered the oral report from the chairman of the Grand Council, Grand Chief Big Elk, to Kespukwitk’s leader, Chief Big Timber.
The message was short and to the point. The Grand Chief had received a message from Big Beaver requesting that he call an emergency meeting of the Grand Council at the earliest possible Sunrise. Big Beaver wanted to relate how his country had come under full attack from the Western Nations and make an urgent request for military assistance. The meeting, which was expanded to a joint Grand Council–Wabanaki meeting, was set for ten Sunrises before the last Moon of Summer.
Lightning Bolt, Crazy Moose and hundreds of other warriors accompanied Village Chiefs and Elders for their protection. Protection was necessary because of an ever-increasing number of reports of sightings of enemy scouting parties throughout Mi’kmaq and allied Nations. It would not help the war cause to see one of their leaders killed, or worse, taken prisoner. The latter would provide the enemy with a huge psychological boost. The Chiefs, their anger over the unprovoked attacks reaching seething levels, were determined that the Western leaders would not be given any such help without first paying a heavy price.
Five Mi’kmaq Nation Chiefs and most of their Wabanaki counterparts arrived in Grand Chief Big Elk’s Sipekne’katik village during the few Sunrises before the meeting’s opening. However, Big Beaver, because he was delayed making many urgent decisions related to the war, looking exhausted from his hasty trip, arrived as dawn was breaking on the Sunrise of the joint meeting.
Immediately after he and his travelling companions had been made welcome and given a hearty breakfast, the meeting was convened by Grand Chief Big Elk. In acknowledgment of their respect for a higher power, he called upon Swift Eagle, the senior Elder of the community, to lead a talk with the Great Spirit before deliberations began.
Swift Eagle asked the People to stand and raise their hands with him to the Land of Souls to thank and praise the Creator for his benevolence and to implore Him to help the Chiefs make wise decisions. The prayers were followed by traditional Sweet-grass and Tobacco Ceremonies. Then the Chiefs got down to the somber task at hand.
Grand Chief Big Elk opened the meeting for deliberations with, “Big Beaver, please relate the war news, then we’ll discuss a plan of action.”
“Thank you, Big Elk, my esteemed noble friend, for arranging and convening this meeting so quickly. And, from the bottom of my heart, my brothers, I thank you a thousand times over for coming at such short notice. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t dream of disturbing your peace and tranquility, but the events that caused me to request this meeting are not normal; disaster is a more fitting description for it.
“Brothers, the aggression against my country that I’m about to detail is serious enough that if left unchecked it will very probably end the freedom of all our Peoples for uncountable Moons to come. The reason I make such a chilling prediction is that the war situation in my country is so bad that I’m hard pressed to find adequate words to describe it. The Western Nations, because they are so well armed and prepared, are running rampant. They must have been planning on invading our country for many Seasons.
“With grief in my heart, I will now, for clarity purposes, give a short overview of the unprovoked attacks against my country that have caused us to convene here this Sunrise. The first, as most of you are now well aware, occurred twenty Sunrises before the last Moon of Spring. Without any forewarning or provocation a small war party of Western warriors attacked Chief Running Fox’s village and killed a great many people.
“Before they began withdrawing towards their home territories they set a great many wigwams on fire and destroyed the personal belongings of survivors. They took many of our People prisoners.
“Fortunately for the well-being of our kinsmen that were taken as prisoners, when the news of the raid spread to surrounding communities their leaders hastily raised a large party of warriors and set off in pursuit. They caught up with the enemy before they crossed into their own territory, engaging them on two occasions. During these clashes our People escaped from custody and our warriors managed to take several of their warriors prisoners.
“The objective of the attack, revealed by the Western prisoners under intense interrogation, was to assess our preparedness and capability of defending our Nation. The captives also revealed a rumour circulating in their countries that a full-scale war was set to be launched against Kespek by the Western Nations within a few Moons.
“By weaving together other tidbits of information gleaned from interrogating the prisoners, we have concluded with near certainty that their first objective is to overrun and subjugate our country. After consolidating their positions they will move against your countries with the ultimate goal being to win complete domination over all Mi’kmaq and allied territory.
“We have delivered a message to the aggressors that our will to oppose foreign aggression is intact. However, the fact is that we are ill-equipped to respond. In shame my friends I have to report, based on the information supplied by the captives, that the enemy is well aware of how we have let complacency lull us into a false sense of security. We have failed, without excuse, to keep prepared for action our tools of war needed to defend our Nations.” After filling in more details Big Beaver responded to questions about the war data he had related so far.
Chief Little Eagle of Eskikewa’kik asked, “My brother, I have three questions: did the prisoners give any estimate of how many warriors were being mustered by the Westerners? Is there any truth to the rumour that they are killing a great many civilians? And what is the extent of the invasion?”
“My brother Little Eagle, there probably are as many as twenty thousand warriors involved. To your second question the answer is yes, many civilians are being killed and brutalized, many taken prisoner and many of our villages have been burned. This has resulted in panic spreading among the People. Many Elders, women and children are abandoning their homes and seeking refuge in my village.”
After fielding several other similar questions Big Beaver continued, “My brothers, our situation has gone from grave to desperate. One Moon after the first attack, and in addition to several other smaller attacks, the Western Nations invaded in force. And, early this Sunrise, before we arrived, a runner from War Chief Mighty Water informed me that the enemy has taken effective control of over a quarter of our territory.
“Their assault is so intense that our forces are being pushed back rapidly on all fronts with very heavy causalities. To try to reverse their successes, we’re recruiting and sending more warriors into action and will, if possible, mount a counteroffensive. However, at this point they se
em unstoppable.
“As an indication of how well prepared they are, their offensive is being carried out with the same ease a good hunter displays when tracking his prey. Their attacks appear to be so well planned and coordinated, that their objective to quickly overrun Kespek and then on to their next target seems perfectly feasible. The situation is so bad that without the immediate infusion of major assistance from your countries I predict that Kespek will fall within the next four Moons. I’m sorry to report that we were unable to determine from the prisoners which Mi’kmaq or Allied country is next.
“My friends, if we are to demolish the dreams of the Western leaders to make us their inferiors, we must undertake a united effort to contain and reverse their invasion of my country very quickly. Undue delay will cost additional lives and may result in our universal defeat. Should this happen, it will be all but impossible to remove them from the land that the Great Spirit has permitted us to live on for uncountable Sunrises.
“The danger is great. In recognition of it, many Eastern Nations represented here this Sunrise have already sent in warriors to help, but their assistance is only enough to slow the tide. Therefore, my brothers, I beseech you to come to our aid and muster a great army to accomplish two things: expel the Westerners from Kespek and eliminate forever the threat they pose for the citizens of our countries. They must be informed emphatically, by the might of our collective will and numbers, that peace is their only salvation.
“Thank you my brothers. I await your decisions with much hope in my heart. My esteemed brother, Big Elk, I thank you for permitting me the honour of addressing our brothers.”
Chief Lightning Bolt Page 4
