Chapter Six

Shadow sat in front of his home staring into the rolling hills that surrounded his little valley. He felt there was no hope. The words of Tekumsila were strong. They held the power of truth. The truth was that there was no where to go, no place away from the white’s, his people had been robbed of their power, and the earth mother was without her center. What was to become of the true human beings? How could his people survive when everything around them had been killed, abused, or annihilated? Tekumsila had eventually told him that the day his village had been burned was the day he began to wander. He had searched for many years to find a place to bring the remnant’s of the people of his village to, but in every direction he went the white’s were there. The truth of Tekumsila’s words left Shadow with no hope for the future of his children. He sat in silence on the stump in front of his home for days without uttering a word.

"My heart is on the ground for my husband," Slow Woman said to Tekumsila. "He does not even acknowledge his son when he approaches," she continued. Tekumsila, nodded his head silently. He knew the pain of Shadow’s spirit, because he felt it himself. The days when a warrior hunted well and took care of his family were taken away. The warriors who had once been proud to provide for and lead their people were now a wounded race, reduced to scavenging through filth and waste for their very survival, and then had to watch helplessly as their families were ripped apart. Tekumsila sat on the ground next to the stump Shadow occupied. He too looked out to the hills and beyond. "I also sat without hope," he said quietly. Shadow did not move. Tekumsila, continued to stare out beyond the hills, "you must go seek your center from creator" he spoke softly. After a moment Shadow turned his head and stared at Tekumsila, the old man returned the gaze, and said, "Spirit has shown me that you must go to the sacred place to speak with creator, it is the way back to yourself. The glazed look in Shadow’s eyes cleared for just a moment and then returned. Tekumsila searched Shadow’s eyes to see if he had understood his words. "I will go and help prepare the purification lodge for you," Tekumsila said softly. He waited only a moment then stood and began to walk. He did not look back but knew that Shadow had finally stood and was quietly following him.

Tekumsila put more twigs on the fire. He wished for the solid rounds of wood that made the fire hot enough to heat the stones. "Grandfather please forgive my pitiful fire. It is very difficult to find enough wood to make a proper fire to honor you." Tekumsila spoke apologetically. "I come in a good way to help my Blackfoot brother who has lost his center." Tekumsila gathered more twigs and carefully laid them on the fire. He looked over at Shadow who sat quietly on the ground. He is a handsome warrior Tekumsila thought to himself. His thin body was riddled with finely chiseled muscle, and his waist length black hair had no signs of gray. If not for the lost look in his eyes, Shadow could have passed for the strong young warriors of the old days. Tekumsila turned his attention to the willow branches he had used to create the purification lodge. He had no hides to put over the top to seal the willow frame with, so he had woven many more willow branches together than was necessary to create the turtle shell-shaped lodge. It was nearly dark and Tekumsila inspected his work. He hoped creator would understand why he had not been able to construct a proper ceremonial lodge.

Tekumsila looked up at the night sky. Millions of stars winked back at him and he checked the stones in the fire. "We are ready, Shadow," the old man said. Shadow did not move. Tekumsila limped over to Shadow and placed a hand on his shoulder. "You must purify before I take you to speak with creator," he said. Shadow did not look up, but stood and disrobed. Tekumsila, smiled and removed his clothing also, and the two men entered the lodge.

Tekumsila poured water on the hot stones, and the steam enveloped them as he sang the ancient spirit songs to creator. Shadow sat silently, head bowed, lost in his torment. When the purification ceremony was complete, Tekumsila led Shadow to the top of the tallest hill. "I will come for you in four days," Tekumsila said to Shadow. There was no sign of recognition from Shadow, but he turned his face toward the east, and Tekumsila slowly walked back to the fire.

On the morning of the fourth day Tekumsila made the long walk to the sacred spot where he had left Shadow. Tekumsila could tell by the way Shadow stood that creator had indeed come to speak with him. The two made the journey back to the fire in silence and entered the purification lodge. "You must speak to the stone nation who heats the water and tell them of your message from Creator," Tekumsila instructed Shadow. Tekumsila put water on the stone people and listened as they hissed their magical words through the dancing beads of water on their back. Shadow began to cry and Tekumsila sat quietly and waited until Shadow was able to find his words.

"Great Spirit has shown me that our people will be lost to themselves. They will choose to be of different races. They will go far away from the creator and be ashamed to say they are of the first Nations to live among this land. Creator has said that it is the only way to save the future generations of our people. We must hide ourselves in full sight of the white’s and steal our own children away from their homeland to ensure their survival. We must remember our ways and hold them sacred for the day we can teach our children openly who they are, and awaken the ways of the true way of being in their hearts. Spirit has shown me that some of us will hide so well that we will forget to come back to the ways of our people because it will be easier to deny who we are than to continue to suffer as we do now." Tekumsila listened with wonder at this message. Creator was truly wise. Shadow continued to speak of what spirit had shown him during the four days he stood on the hill and when he had finished Tekumsila followed the ancient instructions to complete the ceremony. Then he and Shadow moved out of the ceremonial lodge to sit in the cool air.

The sun was coming up and the darkness was swiftly being replaced with the soft hues of light that danced across the landscape. Tekumsila handed Shadow a gourd of water and chuckled to himself. He did not know how things would come to pass, but he did know that creator had heard his people, and would make the way for them and their future generations to survive. He also made a vow to himself not to be one who would forget creator. He was an old man and thought he was too old and too tired to hide himself for any longer than necessary.

Shadow sat next to the fire trying to figure out creators’ message. How could his people hide themselves in front of the white men? Where would they steal their own children to, and how could anyone hide themselves so well that they would forget who they were and where they came from? Shadow felt the life returning to his body and the challenge to his mind in figuring out creators’ puzzle brought new hope into his spirit.

The two men made their way back to the little one room shack, and Slow Woman ran into Shadow’s arms as he entered into their home. Shadow held her for a long time then told her of all that spirit had shown him. She to had a difficult time deciphering what he had been shown and what it could mean for their people, but she was very grateful to see the life in her husbands eyes once more.

Hawk had been sitting in the corner and listened to all that his father had said. When his father was done speaking Hawk climbed up into his father’s lap and said, "I can hide very well, father! I will hide so well that not even the squirrels can find me!" Shadow looked at the innocent face of his young son and smiled. Sweet Water climbed onto Shadow’s other knee and told her father how well she could hide. Before long, both children had squirmed down from their father’s knee and were hiding in various places within the cabin. Shadow and Slow Woman laughed at the creativity the children displayed. Hawk stepped before his father and said with a serious face, "father, I have the perfect hiding place." Shadow looked down at the small boy and said, "well then show me young warrior, where is this perfect hiding place?" Hawk pulled himself up as straight as he could then slowly closed his eyes. Shadow, Sweet Water, and Tekumsila watched in silent respect. Hawk squinted one eye open and whispered, "can you see me now?" Confused, Shadow said, "yes, my son. I can see you now." Hawk quickly closed his eye and whispered, "now I am gone! With my eyes open I am in plain site and can be seen, but with my eyes closed, I am invisible!" Shadow, Slow Woman, and Tekumsila roared with laughter. "You are indeed gone my little warrior," Shadow bellowed out then pretended to look for his little son. Sweet Water giggled and Hawk did his best to stand perfectly still in his invisible state.

Tekumsila left the giggling children and their mother and father who were searching the inside of their little shack for the invisible warrior, and stepped outside. He took a seat on the stump just outside the door and smiled to himself. There was hope for the people after all, he had no doubt about it.