Snow Eagle

by Shirley A. Roe

  “Because Gray Wolf is my son, I feel that I should not offer my opinion unless the rest of you desire to hear it.” He moved his eyes from one to the other looking for approval. One by one they nodded in affirmation. Sunflower glared at him but after a moment's hesitation, she nodded her agreement. Snow Eagle moved his gaze to Little Fawn, seated behind the Elders before speaking. She nodded, speaking volumes with her eyes. “It is my feeling that Gray Wolf will be a powerful leader one day. It is also my feeling that his impatience and impetuousness must be controlled. Punishment is the best answer in my opinion. I had not considered that the captive woman might be with child. If this comes to pass, it could be cause for celebration or have great consequences. I would have to travel to her father, the chief of the Caribou Hunters to inform him, hopefully before they plan a raid on us to recapture her. I would suggest that Gray Wolf should accompany me on this mission if it becomes necessary. What say the rest of you as to an appropriate punishment?” Just then an icy blast of air entered the hut, blowing tiny red sparks from the fire around the room. A tall, muscular young man stood defiantly in the doorway. He was a much younger, more handsome version of Black Rain.

  “Starting without me? We have combed the area and there is no danger within a full moon of here.” He confidently swaggered to the place behind Buffalo Woman and settled his muscular frame on the soft earth. The hut was filled with an eerie silence.

  “Gray Wolf, you will rise and face the council.” Snow Eagle's tone was serious and Gray Wolf rose immediately; the cocky smile quickly replaced by a serious frown. “We are just about to decide your fate. It is the decision of this council that you have made a grave error in capturing the daughter of the Tagish chief. We also feel that you have endangered your entire tribe with your actions. What have you to say before we pronounce your sentence?” Snow Eagle stared unblinking at his son. The eagle headdress and the red dye on his cheeks gave the older man a menacing look. There was no joy in his heart at this moment. His son stared back, open mouthed.

  “Mistake! My warriors and I have wiped out most of the threats to this tribe. Taking the woman was my reward. I am shocked that this council thinks of it as a mistake.” Gray Wolf raised his voice, his confidence returning as he spoke. “Black Rain, you understand why I did what I did. You were once a fierce warrior like I am, taking the spoils of the raid and you Raging Bull, did you not take a white woman for your own, in a raid years ago?” His eyes rested on Sunflower, who returned her own cold steely gaze. “ I have come tonight to tell you that tomorrow we will ride north to take the Gwitchin. Once that is done, we can ride for the sea but the woman stays!” Defiantly Gray Wolf placed his hands on his hips.

  “We will decide if she stays or if she goes.” Red Hawk glared at her grandson. “Gray Wolf you are too young and foolish to dare compare yourself with Black Rain and Raging Bull. These men have wisdom that you could only wish for. They have performed deeds of courage that would send you running for your mother. Now silence.” Red Hawk gave her grandson a look that defied argument. She turned her head toward Snow Eagle signaling the council discussion to begin. Gray Wolf, whose respect for his grandmother was great, reluctantly let his arms relax, hands dropped to his side as he waited in silence. He was still confused at the reaction, usually he was highly praised for his raids.

  The discussion went on for hours; the fire was now reduced to a pile of red-hot embers. The warm hut was filled with the smell of perspiration and smoke. The rain had stopped and the hide that covered the doorway was pulled back to allow fresh mountain air to enter. It was finally decided that the captive would be removed from Gray Wolf's hut and kept by Black Rain and Red Hawk. Gray Wolf was ordered to stop all raids and begin packing up the village for their trek down to the sea. Gray Wolf's closest rival and Sunflower's son, White Fox, would replace him as leader of the warriors until the next council meeting but it was ordered that no raids were to take place. The warriors were to patrol the area for any aggressors, striking only if attacked. The satisfied council dispersed as the harvest moon stood high overhead in the black night sky. Snow Eagle and Little Fawn were grateful that their son had not been banished from the tribe and were most agreeable to the punishment. Take from him what he most desires and you will get quick results. Hand in hand, they returned to their hut, the moon casting a golden glow over the village.

  Gray Wolf was livid. They had taken from him the two things he wanted most, his power as lead warrior and his woman. He lay in his hut alone, every muscle in his body tense and rigid. Anger coursed through his veins. He wanted to grab the woman and leave but his upbringing prevented him from disobeying the council. They expected him to pack up the village like a slave woman, while White Fox led his men. White Fox would try to turn this to his advantage. Gray Wolf and White Fox had fought to decide which one of them would be the leader of the warriors. White Fox was never satisfied with the decision. Gray Wolf could not imagine doing menial work in front of the other warriors. The others would laugh at him; he would be shamed. He could not believe what had happened. He thought the Elders would be proud of what he had done. He intended to bask in glory at tonight's council meeting, not be disciplined like a child. He tossed and turned for hours. The words of an old native love song haunted him:

  ‘To me, your love is the pain of fire traveling downward, the pain moving down. To me your love is a sickness. It is like a body all boils, on fire. She will be taken far away, and leave me. My body is numb because of what I said, Goodbye my love.' Over and over in his head, he could not stop the song. It tormented him. Sleep avoided him for most of the night but exhaustion final overtook him and he fell asleep as the sun started to rise in the east.

  Several days later, the entire tribe assembled to move out. Hides, food, belongings and tiny children were packed on travois, which would be pulled along as they traveled over mountains and through valleys to the sea. Many beautiful woodcarvings, famous throughout the land, were safely stowed in the bundles ready for trading. Once the tribe reached the sea they would live in long houses, each family together under one roof. Snow Eagle, Black Rain and Red Hawk led the procession of four- dozen men, women and children along the riverbank. Gray Wolf angrily pulled a heavy travois loaded with hides and wood for shelters. Small children pointed and gestured at him as they passed. His anger festered. Little Fawn and Sunflower walked with the captive between them. Little Fawn watched her as they walked. The captive was young, barely a woman with large dark eyes full of fear. Little Fawn spoke to her but received no reply. The girl walked, eyes downcast, petrified of the unknown. Little Fawn decided to call her Frightened Deer, since they did not know her name and she could not be referred to as ‘the captive' forever. This young woman's state would dictate their future. White Fox and two warriors, Dancing Bear and Salmon Catcher took up the rear, ever watchful for anyone following them. Dancing Bear was a huge man, with a jagged scar down one cheek; although he was intellectually slow, his size was his greatest asset and he was White Fox's closest friend. White Fox was enjoying his new position of authority. If he had his way, it would be permanent. He needed every advantage and his large friend was easily influenced. He promised Dancing Bear that he would be his second in command once the change was permanent. Dancing Bear grinned from ear to ear as he lumbered along at the back of the pack.

  As they rounded the curve in the river, several of the travelers looked back with regret, to the fertile valley that had been their home for the warmer summer months. Women carried babies on their backs in leather pouches; men carried packs filled with weapons, tools and food. The journey would be long and hard but once they arrived at the sea, food would be plentiful and the climate would be more temperate. Their valley would soon be filled with ice and snow, making it impossible for them to survive. Slowly, one behind the other, the band walked the beaten paths used for centuries by their ancestors.

  CHAPTER TWO

  The weary travelers stopped for the night. They had climbed the trail for several
days and were now near the place where the ice melt formed the river. Ice-cold water dripped from the side of the rocks, a thin stream cascaded down over the rock cliff forming the river below. Water bags were filled to capacity with the clear refreshing liquid. The water was too cold to bathe in but sufficient to wash away the dust and dirt from the trail. Children were settled for the night under the stars and a fire was lit. The weather was mild during the day but the nights were growing colder and the fire would provide the warmth and the light they needed. Gray Wolf, still bearing the weight of his punishment, carried firewood into the center of the camp. Dropping the wood carelessly, he spotted Frightened Deer, as she was now known, walking towards the river with Red Hawk and Buffalo Woman. The young woman's step so light and easy compared to the two old women. Her long, black hair swinging as she walked. Just the sight of her brought an aching to his loins and a pounding of his heart, why could they not return her to him? He was obsessed with nightly thoughts of her, as he lay on his blanket alone. The shame of performing the work of a slave was nothing compared to the ache in his heart for Frightened Deer.

  Snow Eagle sprinkled tobacco on the fire to ask the Great Spirit to watch over them on their travels. Through the rising smoke, he watched Gray Wolf's eyes follow Frightened Deer to the river. His son was hurting but perhaps this would teach him a lesson. If the Caribou Hunters had attacked them in the valley, they all would have been slaughtered. As it turned out, most of the Tagish men were off on a hunting party when Gray Wolf and his warriors rode into their camp. This was the only thing that had saved them from certain slaughter. Gray Wolf had taken the woman on impulse, but it was obvious that his feelings for her ran deep. Snow Eagle would consult Kah-shu-gon-yah, the Great Spirit that controlled the sun, moon, stars and daylight for guidance in handling the situation with Gray Wolf and Frightened Deer. He chanted: ‘Mother Earth, Father Sky we are your children. With tired backs we bring you gifts you love. Then weave for us a garment of brightness, its warp the white light of morning, weft the red light of evening, fringes the falling rain, its border the standing rainbow. Thus weave for us a garment of brightness, so we may walk fittingly where birds sing, so we may walk fittingly where grass is green. Mother Earth, Father Sky.'

  As he stared at the large clouds against the darkening sky overhead, Snow Eagle thanked the Great Spirit for the people of his village. Although he could not understand Gray Wolf's warrior heart, he realized that Great Spirit gave each person a gift, a talent that would benefit the entire village. He smiled when he thought of Little Fawn and the way she fussed over everything. Whether a blanket or a basket, every detail had to be perfect, it was her way. His mother Red Hawk with her gift of sight, many times she had saved his people. He was filled with gratitude and peace.

  Seated on a large rock, Red Hawk watched the young woman washing herself. Frightened Deer had not spoken since she arrived at their camp. Carefully, she washed her long hair, combing it out with a bone comb that Red Hawk had given her. Her large eyes came to rest on Red Hawk and the old woman saw such sadness there. “Frightened Deer, please tell me what you are thinking. We will not harm you. Gray Wolf should not have taken you from your home but you are here now and we are now your people. You must try to adjust.” Slowly she approached the young woman. The language of the Tagish and Tlingit was very similar, so Red Hawk knew that the girl understood what she was saying. She placed a wrinkled hand on the younger woman's shoulder. Frightened Deer stiffened at the initial touch but Red Hawk did not move. After a few minutes, she turned and crumbled into Red Hawk's waiting arms, sobbing as Red Hawk held her close. The old woman closed her eyes, her body rocking, calling for a vision. Suddenly she saw a baby. Strong and handsome, a son of Gray Wolf surrounded by Tlingit and Tagish alike all smiling down on him. Could this young woman be the bearer of their future chief, a leader of a united nation? Or did they face certain death at the hands of the Tagish? Red Hawk returned her attention to the sobbing woman and rising slowly, led her back to the camp.

  The trail grew rugged and climbing much more difficult during the next few days. Travois had to be hoisted up the rugged mountainside and small children and women had difficulty climbing on the rocky, often narrow ledges. Frightened Deer stayed close to Red Hawk but still not a word was spoken. The trail led the tribe from bare rock to thick, green forest and back to rock cliffs. For days and days they traveled always with their eyes on the setting sun as their guide. Late one evening, a sudden storm drove them into caves along the mountain cliffs. Rain pelted them mercilessly. The deep, dark caverns provided shelter from the torrential rain and jagged spears of lightening that lit up the sky. The thunder echoed in the caves with near deafening volume. The tribe split into two groups, finding shelter in two separate caves.

  Snow Eagle took advantage of this time to find a solitary cave where he could meditate and commune with Spirit. As Shaman, in complete solitude he could travel spiritually to other worlds. Several thousand yards from the communal caves he found one that suited his purpose. The cave was small with an opening only wide enough for a man of his size to squeeze into. Once beyond the entrance, the cave widened into a round area approximately ten feet across and slightly higher than the top of his head. Remnants of a fire long extinguished told him that another traveler had used this cave before him. He added dry kindling and wood and the flames roared to life. Snow Eagle stripped himself of his wet clothing and sat beside the fire. The heat felt good on his naked skin. The orange and red flames danced higher and higher creating strange shadows on the ancient rock walls. Several faded painted figures decorated the wall, telling of a hunter who long ago took shelter there. He lifted his pipe, filling the bowl with tobacco and special herbs that would help him reach the spirits. A small tendril of smoke rose from the bowl of the pipe. He lifted the carved pipe to his lips and inhaled deeply, holding the smoke as long as he could before exhaling. Several times he raised the pipe. He had placed a number of large rocks in the fire and once they were hot, he carefully moved them to a smaller pit. A bowl containing a small amount of water sat beside it. He carefully poured the cool water into the pit. Hot rocks and cool water produced an instant steam that cleansed and warmed his entire body. He chanted: “Aho Mitakuye Oyasin…. All my relations. I honor you in this circle of life with me today. I am grateful for this opportunity to acknowledge you in this prayer….

  To the Creator, for the ultimate gift of life, I thank you.

  To the mineral nation that has built and maintained my bones and all foundations of life experience, I thank you.

  To the plant nation that sustains my organs and body and gives me healing herbs for sickness, I thank you.

  To the animal nation that feeds me from your own flesh and offers your loyal companionship in this walk of life, I thank you.

  To the human nation that shares my path as a soul upon the sacred wheel of Earthly life, I thank you.

  To the Spirit nation that guides me invisibly through the ups and downs of life and for carrying the torch of light through the Ages. I thank you.

  To the Four Winds of Change and Growth, I thank you.

  You are all my relations, my relatives, without whom I would not live. We are in the circle of life together, coexisting, co-dependent, co-creating our destiny. One, not more important than the other. One nation evolving from the other and yet each dependent upon the one above and the one below. All of us a part of the Great Mystery.

  Thank you for this Life.”

  The herbal mixture was taking effect and he stared into the flames. Soon visions of men in battle appeared, many men, women and children lay dead and bleeding, a village burned as they fought. Snow Eagle listened as the voices of the spirits spoke to him. Your people have come to a fork in the road. One way leads to unity and success, the other to death and destruction. Both will have many obstacles. Be wary, there is evil amongst you. Confused, Snow Eagle asked Spirit, “How will we know which way to choose? Who is the evil one?” He waited but received no answer
. The heat from the steaming rocks caused him to perspire greatly. His eyes became heavy and his head began to swirl. He watched as the walls of the cave seemed to move first toward him and then away. Soon he stretched out beside the low burning fire and fell asleep hoping for an answer in his dreams. He awoke with a start when he was sure he felt the cave shaking around him. He soon realized that he had been dreaming of an earthquake. Puzzled, he wondered what the spirits were telling him.

  The torrential rain continued for more than a week, holding the travelers captive in the caves. Red Hawk and Frightened Deer stayed close together performing whatever duties were necessary but never speaking. Gray Wolf and several of the men were in the second cave, but his thoughts remained with Frightened Deer. As he sat cross- legged on the damp earth, his knife transformed a piece of hardwood into the form of a small deer. Every detail was carefully carved and tenderly rubbed until the wood shone. Next to him, Salmon Catcher worked on a long pipe, manipulating the block of wood until the figure of a large salmon began to appear. He brushed the wood chips from his lap, some of them landing on Gray Wolf. His friend, lost in thought, didn't notice. The two continued in silence. Carving was a way for the warriors to relax, taking them inward to contact their inner spirit; balancing the fierce warrior personality with the gentler spiritual side. Balance was very important in all things. The Tlingit's art was highly valued by the surrounding tribes and was traded for shells, flint and shale, wooden beads or any other specialty of the trading tribes.