The makers of the colourful clothing celebrants wore on the first Sunrise of festivities were profusely complimented. They were treats for the eyes. But the makers of the outfits were especially pleased by the oohs and ahs uttered when Lightning Bolt turned out in his new outfit. The sight of the handsome young Chief in all of his glory was enough to warm the hearts of the coldest young women.
Big Timber, as Kespukwitk’s National Chief, automatically presided over any meeting held in the country when he was present. He opened the celebrations by asking senior Elder White Dawn to lead a prayer to the Great Spirit. When she finished and the Sweet-grass and Pipe-Smoking Ceremonies were over, Big Timber extended a warm welcome to the guests and wished them an exciting and happy visit. He then asked Grand Chief Big Elk to say a few words.
The Grand Chief began by extending greetings to the several thousand people in attendance. “Brothers and sisters, on behalf of Sipekne’katik and the Grand Council, I bring you greetings! It gives me great pleasure to be here to help an outstanding young man celebrate his appointment to office. Adding to the pleasure is the opportunity it provides to renew relationships with beloved relatives and dear friends from far away places who we haven’t seen for many Moons. To see their smiling faces again is like a taste of honey. My friends, I can tell by the excitement that these next three Sunrises will provide us with sweet memories that will last into eternity.
“My friends, partying is a wonderful way to celebrate with our brother Lightning Bolt his elevation to the office of Village Chief. But he has another reason to celebrate this Sunrise; he is also celebrating his twenty-second birth-Spring. Please join with me in extending best wishes to him on reaching this landmark in his life.”
The wishes came from the crowd in a mighty roar.
Grand Chief Big Elk continued. “Brothers and sisters, our brother Lightning Bolt is a young man who has demonstrated to all during his twenty-two Springs on Mother Earth that with determination and dedication to duty one can achieve great things in life. He is an inspiration to all young people. The fact that the villagers have made him their leader at so young an age is a testament to his abilities and potential.
“Already, even at this tender age, he has shown wisdom far beyond his Seasons. As a result, many are seeking him out for advice and guidance. And he has demonstrated beyond challenge that he is a man of honour who carries out responsibilities with dignity and humility. He has indeed displayed all the qualities required of a great leader.
“My friends, I want to make a prediction this Sunrise that I firmly believe will come to pass. I predict that Lightning Bolt will one Season lead his country, and later be appointed Grand Chief. Further, he will live to see the passage of his hundredth Spring in good health. In great age he will be greatly respected and loved by all. During his lifespan, he will become renowned for his efforts in bringing people to appreciate the folly of war. As a matter of fact, he will be widely known as “the Peacemaker.” Upon his death he will be honoured as one of the greatest Chiefs our People have ever known. Now, my children, have a wonderful time and may the Great Spirit be with you.”
Several other Chiefs and Elders took turns in wishing Lightning Bolt well and showering him with praise. Then, with great ceremony, the symbols of office were presented to him. Afterwards he addressed the People.
“My friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your confidence. I’m still bewildered by it all, and have some doubt about the wisdom of appointing a person of only twenty-two Seasons to an office that would normally be filled by someone with far more experience in life. However, my fellow villagers have spoken and as a man of honour it is my duty to serve them.
“I want to confess that at the time the villagers appointed me their Chief, I had some serious misgivings. To try to deal with them I decided shortly after getting elected to take seven or eight Sunrises and revisit many of the places in the forest where Father and I had camped when I was young. These places, as you can appreciate, brought back fond memories of our loving relationship and many of the enjoyable Sunrises we had together.
“During our lives most of us find places on Mother Earth, or in our imaginations, where we can enjoy peace and quiet, and to meditate. Father’s favourite was deep in the forest at the head of a spring brook, surrounded by gigantic pine trees. The exhilarating scent those mighty trees give off is wondrous. And the taste of the sparkling spring water that feeds the brook is wonderfully refreshing! Even during the hottest Sunrises of Summer the springs produce water that is icy cold and refreshing. This beautiful spot has also become my favourite.
“Because of this I decided to camp there for a few Sunrises to contemplate my future. During my first night, surrounded by the peaceful stillness that sometimes settles upon a forest, I retired early to the coziness of my bed of fresh boughs. Snugly wrapped in sleeping furs, I drifted off to a deep and untroubled sleep. Some time during the night my father visited me in my dreams.
“He told me, ‘Son, when you return home, please tell your mother that although I miss her dearly and greatly anticipate the Sunrise when we will be reunited, I’m very happy in the Land of Souls. My happiness is sustained in this magnificent land by the wonderful memories of the loving life we had together. However, my son, sending a message to your mother is only one of two reasons I came to visit with you tonight. The second is to help you overcome your doubts about your ability to honourably lead our village. These misgivings are, my son, without foundation. You have within you all the essential qualities needed by a man to provide strong and wise leadership. Our People have recognized these qualities and with confidence have entrusted their fate to your hands.
“‘You must have faith in yourself my son. When striving to fulfil their expectations, you won’t fail if you take up the challenge and go forward with honour, wisdom, bravery and confidence. But, when doing so you must always remember that the Great Spirit is the guiding hand behind all our accomplishments, and thus we must always be humble before Him. Have peace of mind, my son, and may the Father be with you always.’
“After my dearly beloved Father’s words of encouragement, I drifted back into a deep and untroubled sleep. When I awoke at the crack of dawn to the sounds of birds and the wind singing in the air, I felt a sense of peace and renewal. It was in this state that I spent the rest of the Sunrise drinking in the beauty around me and meditating about the future. I have, my friends, with the help of the Great Spirit and my father, overcome as much as possible my misgivings.
“However, I don’t believe they have dissipated to the extent where I could live up to the predictions that my beloved Grandfather Grand Chief Big Elk has made. But I do thank him and all of my other friends who spoke for the kindness of their words. This Sunrise has given me memories that shall provide comfort to me for the rest of my life.
“In closing, my brothers and sisters, I wish to offer my humble and heartfelt thanks to those of you who have come from near and far and honoured us in our wigwams with your presence. I also wish to thank the People of our village who have expended so much of their time and effort to make sure that everything needed was in place to make the party a resounding success. Most of all I wish to thank the Great Spirit for giving us the means to come together and bask in the glory of His creations and benevolence.
“Stay with us, my friends, as long as it pleases you, and during your stay be part of our family. We cherish your company and will miss you greatly when you leave. Now, my dear brothers and sisters, please enjoy in peace the excellent food and make good cheer.”
With the end of his speech began a party that would be talked about for many Moons afterwards. The food was succulent and great entertainment delighted all. With this atmosphere of mutual love and admiration surrounding him, Lightning Bolt, at last, began to feel comfortable with his appointment as Village Chief.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Sunrise after the Chief-installation c
elebrations ended, Lightning Bolt and Crazy Moose made arrangements to meet in the evening with the fathers of the women they had secretly loved for some time. They would ask for courtship permission. Although these meetings held the promise of future happiness, they each were arranged with a great deal of pessimism. The fear these warriors carried regarding their ability to win the love of their chosen brides filled them with trepidation. The obviousness of their feelings also promised to provide their prospective fathers-in-law with many Sunrises of fun.
That evening, with despair in their hearts, they approached the fathers. The fact that they did this at the same time, during the same evening, was a feeble attempt at bolstering each other’s resolve. At least they could dare each other on toward their dreaded goal of facing these fathers and their almost certain demise. But when they faced each father of their special dream and their beloved, they were completely alone. As if standing stark naked and exposed, each entered the wigwam of the father of his beloved feeling as if this encounter was bound to be a battle he would lose in great humiliation and despair.
As if like clockwork, both fathers appeared with a great deal of disapproving grumpiness. Lightning Bolt’s heart raced. Across the encampment, Crazy Moose felt the same panic rising to his throat like bile threatening his ability to breathe. As if by some fate of the stars, they each mysteriously remembered that the other was facing the same trial by fire. This did not help them much, but it did give them a form of solidarity.
The fathers put them through the paces. In reality, Lazy Beaver and Silver Fox were as happy as loons in Spring with nests full of eggs in the security of marshes. They were overjoyed at the prospect of having a proven young man as their son, knowing full well how tested these boys had been and how they had both displayed the highest qualities of personhood anyone could hope for in a son-in-law.
The two boys did not yet know the hidden skills of reading hearts, nor did they foresee the age-old ways that father-in-laws tended to behave, because this knowledge tended to remain hidden within the traditional culture. And even if they were aware, such awareness could too easily be registered as a false sense of self-assurance. Because, after all, the right of the father of any girl remained firm; he could refuse the courtship for any number of reasons and many a father had done so. Regardless of how many battles were won or how many Hunts brought home with success, every young man who came asking for permission to court a young woman had not two legs to stand on. And it certainly felt like legs turning to pine sap when it came to such an uncertain undertaking. After sweating them out for several grueling hours with an appearance of great reluctance, each father gave his prospective suitor permission to ask his daughter if she would see him.
Afterwards, with hearts thumping at the thought of it, they met each other in the middle of the village. Their eyes were afire. Their hands waved in the air with large gestures of victory. Anyone looking on would have been astonished and would think they had just won a great victory in war. They quickly described the events that each had endured, making it sound as if each had suffered the greater humiliation. But their hearts were aglow with passion, so they quickly decided to approach the ladies of their dreams the evening of the next Sunrise. Their bodies went limp and silent. Anyone watching might have thought they had come to the part of any story of conflict where the warriors remembered their fallen comrades. A solid two moments of silence was respected between them. They each knew, with little doubt, they would be rejected. They each knew they had never summoned the courage to speak to their beloved before this moment. To give each other courage, and as moral support, they agreed to also face this trial at the same time.
When the moment of truth was near, as the next Sunrise arrived, they were in a near panic and approached the daunting task with an air of the condemned. If someone had stepped forward at this crucial moment and given them a valid excuse to disappear, they would have done so immediately with gratitude. However, shortly after arriving at the wigwams of the ladies of their dreams, they posed the question and were told to return the following evening for answers. This increased their agony and tension tremendously.
When the heroes returned the following evening, after Spring Flower and Little Moonbeam had accepted their proposals with enthusiasm, they were completely flabbergasted. In great relief, and filled with happiness, they exchanged news. “Crazy Moose, my brother, how goes it? You look as if you have just realized every pleasant dream you’ve ever dreamed. I gather that Little Moonbeam said yes.”
“She did my friend, she did! The Great Spirit had pity on me and answered my prayers. I was so happy when she said yes that I had to use all of my willpower not to dance with joy. But, my brother, you must feel the same way because I can tell by the happiness showing on your face that Spring Flower has also said yes. What say, my friend, we have a double wedding?”
“My brother, my brother, yes Spring Flower answered my prayers to the Great Spirit and agreed to see me. As a matter of fact, when she said yes, it felt as if the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. In fact my friend I still find it hard to believe, but she seemed enthusiastic. You know, I believe she really likes me and looks forward to our courtship with as much enthusiasm as I do. However, I think it’s a little early to be discussing a double wedding. After all, we haven’t even spent one Sunrise with them yet. But, if things go well, and they agree to it, I can’t think of anything more pleasing than to be married at the same time as you.”
With the same exuberant enthusiasm that they applied to everything else they did in life, they courted the ladies of their dreams and eventually were rewarded with acceptances of proposals of marriage. And, as hoped, the women agreed to a double wedding. The fifth Sunrise after the first Moon of Summer was chosen for the ceremony. Their families and friends helped them plan a wedding party that they believed would be rated a great event by attendees.
Planning for a double wedding was a new experience for the community. Making it even rarer was the fact that one of the parties was Village Chief. Under normal circumstances a few relatives and friends from other Mi’kmaq Nations and most of the villagers would be expected to attend. In this instance, where the grooms were two esteemed young men and the brides were two of the most beautiful, intelligent and sought after women in the Nation, the wedding was expected to attract a very large crowd of well-wishers from most of the Mi’kmaq and allied countries. Therefore, plans had to be made to feed as many as a thousand guests, or more, for several Sunrises. A daunting task!
A few Sunrises before the big event, guests began arriving in Lightning Bolt’s village from far away places for the second time within four Moons. The villagers welcomed them back with open arms. Some visitors, in mock anger, teased their hosts that they were not able to do without their company.
When Kespek’s Chief Big Beaver arrived, even though he was very pleased to have another opportunity to visit with beloved friends and relatives, he, with mirth in his eyes, remarked to Lightning Bolt in an exaggerated crabby manner, “My son, I love you like one of my own, and thus receive news of your accomplishments and successes in life with pride. But, as an act of kindness to an old man, can’t you put a little space between celebrating your milestones in life? It seems, on account of your achievements, I’ve been in travel constantly for the last several Moons. I had just arrived home and barely had time to greet my family properly before I had to start preparing to return here for your wedding. In the future please try to put at least twelve Moons between such events. If I keep travelling at this pace, I’ll soon be nothing but a faint memory in the minds of my grandchildren.”
Lightning Bolt, with love for his aged friend showing clearly on his face, responded in kind, “Welcome back, my beloved father! Your presence and caustic comments bring me great joy. If I could manufacture a thousand reasons to keep you coming back here constantly, I would, because when you’re gone, I pine for your company. Just the thought that I can look fo
rward to sitting around a campfire with you tonight, if you feel up to it after your long journey, to hear more of your wonderful tales, fills me with anticipation. And, I promise you my father, that I will, if your absence from Kespek makes your image grow foggy in the minds of your grandchildren, with joy in my heart, travel to Kespek and reintroduce you to them.”
“My son, you make me feel welcome and at home.”
The weddings were a resounding success. The rites, food and celebrations were enjoyed tremendously by all. The happy young couples thanked the Great Spirit for their happiness and their family and friends for their generous love and support. That night, after consummating their marriage, the love Lightning Bolt and Spring Flower had for each other was reflected in the vows of undying love they made as they lay in a cozy embrace, covered by warm furs in their fir-scented bed of soft boughs. Lightning Bolt made his straight from the heart. “My precious Spring Flower, if it was even possible to love you more, I would, but my love for you already knows no bounds. To put in words how I feel is probably impossible, my sweet flower, but I’ll try. Having you in my arms this night is like having a wonderful magical dream come true for me. If in reality it proves a dream and you are lost to me forever when I awake, my heartbreak would be inconsolable. My darling, knowing that we will now share in the most intimate way our lives, and be there always to comfort each other through both good and bad times, this is my idea of the Land of Souls on Mother Earth. I promise you, my little flower, that I shall love and cherish you forever.”
Spring Flower’s response was equal in heartfelt intensity: “My husband, they say the pleasures that our ancestors know in the Land of Souls far outshines any we can ever know on Mother Earth. If such is the case I truly look forward to going there for I can’t imagine knowing more happiness than I know tonight. My love for you, my darling, is also indescribable. I promise, my precious, that it will remain so for all eternity.” With more such words of endearment tickling their ears and warming their souls, the young lovers talked until the first light of dawn about their hopes and dreams for the future.
Chief Lightning Bolt Page 12