by James Hadman
Obediently, I attached four copper and shell earrings to each ear. “What do these represent, Auntie?”
“The long ones with all the abalone shell illustrate Raven giving shamans the power to speak to the spirit world. The others are more animals that help shamans. Did you take a look at the abalone-shell otter?”
I reached up and felt the earrings. “No. Which one is it?”
“That’s it––the one you’re touching.” I removed and examined the earring. The pearlescent otter was sitting up with its inquiring face looking back at me. The artist had even inlaid minute pieces of a black stone for its eyes. Sky Shaker handed me its mate.
“These are already my favourites,” I said, replacing them in my ears.
“We can add other things later, you’ll need a Soul Catcher and more suitable tunics. However, except for a rattle and a baton, this completes your basic costume.” With a flourish, she reached in the box and produced a round yellow-cedar rattle with flattened sides and gave it to me. The face of the moon was painted on one side and stared solemnly back at me. I gave it a tentative shake.
“Look how old and powerful this piece is,” she said, pointing out several tiny patches around its periphery. “It’s been shaken so much that the pebbles inside have begun to wear through its sides.” She reached in the box again and brought out a short baton. The center hand grip was smooth from being handled over the years.
“How perfect. With that rattle in one hand and your baton in the other, you’ll be able to ward off any evil spirit that tries to possess you.”
I wished I could see myself. Sky Shaker was admiring her handiwork and from her expression I knew I looked the part of a shaman, but I still didn’t feel like one. Inside the powerful costume was the same person I’d always been. Shaman’s regalia alone would not make a shaman of me.
Arrow came down from my sleeping area heading for the door. When she saw me in all my finery, the hair rose on her back. She snarled then began barking and retreating toward her pups. I called to her and she stopped. Then she approached cautiously until she caught my scent. She sniffed, then licked my hand and continued outside.
Sky Shaker laughed. “Now, if you scare small children too, I’ll pronounce your costume a success.”
When she told me she wanted me to perform at the feast, I was reluctant, but my aunt was persuasive and before I realized it, we were selecting what performance I would give, not whether I’d be giving it.
I saw Mother coming through the door. Before her eyes had a chance to adjust, I jumped toward her. I shook my rattle, waved my baton, and let out the same piercing shriek that had terrified my nephews.
Mother screamed and slumped to the floor.
Chapter Five
Give me some water,” Sky Shaker said, bending over Mother. I took off my scary headdress and dipped up a bowl. When I gave it to her, my aunt said, “She’s all right. You just startled the spirit from her body for a moment.” Her eyes fluttered open as Sky Shaker bathed her face with cool water.
“Mother, I’m so sorry. I certainly didn’t mean to scare you like that. Sky Shaker has been dressing me as a shaman and I guess I got carried away. Are you all right?”
She sat up and gave me a weak smile. “I’m fine. I was preoccupied with all the news I’ve heard–so many old friends have died. My, when you screamed and I saw that headgear, it was too much. If you wear that costume and control your spirits, you’ll get all the respect and attention you can deal with.”
I helped Mother to her feet and soon she was her old self, chattering on about the village news. Then she and Sky Shaker watched as Lina created a new hairstyle for me. She meticulously trimmed and braided my long copper-coloured hair into dozens of tight thin braids. A couple of times, Sky Shaker had her redo a braid.
“I’ve discovered the effect is more powerful if the hairdo is perfectly symmetrical,” she told Mother.
My neck was stiff and I hoped they were almost finished. Finally, Sky Shaker was satisfied. Little braids now covered my head and flowed down my back. Then she passed a small bowl of fragrant oil to Lina.
“What is that?” I asked.
“That’s hooligan oil,” Sky Shaker said as Lina began working it into my braids.
“Isn’t that the same oil you gave me for my salmon yesterday?”
“That’s right. Like I told you then, it’s expensive, so it’s good we can do more with it than just putting it on food.” We laughed and she continued, “It’s the best for highlighting colour and adding luster. Your braids are looking absolutely marvelous.” She motioned to Mother.
“Just look at your daughter. Doesn’t she look wonderful? Raven’s Bones! When she’s dancing, she’ll have a cloud of copper ribbons flying around her head, keeping time with her every step.”
Mother had trouble finding words–an unusual thing for her—but she soon recovered.
“I hardly recognize you, Abraham’s Copper Spirit. You are transformed from the daughter I have known all these years. With your hair done that way, wearing that regalia, and topped off with that terrible devilfish headdress, I could mistake you for a creature from the spirit world.”
“Come down here close to the fire, so we can see you better,” Sky Shaker said. “Now, shake your head. I want to see if your hairdo works the way I want it to.” I stood and faced the fire, bending from the waist, I rolled my head around and set my braids in motion. They swirled about my head, lashing my cheeks before falling back into place when I stood up and stopped moving.
“Perfect,” Sky Shaker said. “Look at how her hair catches the firelight, Wind Spirit. That’s the effect I wanted. Your daughter is ready for her debut. She may not be a shaman yet, but she’ll definitely look like one.”
“I’m concerned about performing at the feast,” I said. “You’ve made it clear that illusion is a big part of being a shaman. I hope I can convince my audience that I’m no illusion.”
Sky Shaker said, “When I’m finished, you won’t have to worry about that.”
“You’ve already convinced me,” Mother said. “Now, I’m going to need some help with my hair. I need to look like the mother of an important new shaman.” She smiled at Sky Shaker. “Can I borrow your Lina to help with my poor butchered hair?”
“Of course.” Mother and Lina headed back to her sleeping area and we heard the thump of lids hitting the floor as Mother looked through her chests to find what she’d wear to the feast.
“We haven’t talked about my actual performance. What do you want me to dance?”
“That’s really not important. You are gorgeous and wearing that costume will command everyone’s attention. You could clean fish and they’d watch your every move. I have an idea though. I don’t want you to wear the devilfish headdress to the feast. I’ll wrap it up and we’ll take it along. When your time to perform comes, you step back behind the screen and put on the headdress. Then I want you to let out that bloodcurdling scream, the one that impressed your mother, and leap out onto the dance floor. That should scare the audience into the spirit world. After that entrance, it won’t really matter what you dance. You told me you’re comfortable with that old dance I’ve seen Seal Killer perform, the one about the flight from Sitka. Are you willing to do that?”
“I’ve danced it for half my life.”
“Good. I know people really like that one. While we’re waiting for your mother, there’s another thing we have to consider. You will need assistants to help with ceremonies and medicine treatments and other spirit events. At first, two will be enough to see to your needs when you embark on your spirit quests.”
“I don’t know anyone who could assist me,” I said. “The only people I would trust are you and Mother.”
“We’re too old, Child. We need to find someone who can be with you for a long time.”
“How can I possibly find someone who would d
evote their life to being my assistant?”
“That won’t be as hard as you might suppose. Rewards for the assistants of successful shamans are many. If you cure important people, you will be rewarded handsomely. You could become very wealthy and if you do, you’re expected to share your success with your assistants. I already have a young woman in mind to help you. After your performance at the feast tonight, I don’t think we’ll have a problem finding you a second helper.”
Mother reappeared now dressed in her best clothes. Her hair had grown out quite a bit since the funeral and Lina had created an attractive style for her. I had insisted she wear the clasped-hand ivory hair ornament she had given me, and it suited her new hairdo perfectly.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” she said. “I hope we’re not late.”
“The summoning drums just began,” Sky Shaker said. “We’ll be on time.” Cold drizzle was falling as we helped Sky Shaker walk along the sodden path above high-tide line to Sea Beaver’s house. A slave carried a torch to light our way. Ushers met us at the door and escorted us to our seats beside Sea Beaver in the place of honour. I felt as if every eye was on me flaunting my impressive regalia as I followed my aunt and my mother across the big house.
Sea Beaver nodded and smiled at me and I was taken aback by his appearance. The tall thin man I remembered had become quite portly. He was standing and his wives and children were seated behind him. After he spoke the ritual greeting, a very handsome young man stepped forward, took Sky Shaker’s arm, and seated her.
As he released Sky Shaker’s hand, he turned to me and said, “Welcome to our house, young shaman. Please sit right here next to our yitsati in the place of honour.” I settled down where he had indicated and kept my eyes downcast, trying to ignore being stared at.
After he had seated her and gone off to assist another guest, Mother leaned over and said in a low voice, “That’s him. That’s Killer Whale Rider. I told you about him.”
I remembered her mentioning his name, but that certainly hadn’t done him justice. Raven’s Bones! This man was unbelievably handsome. I looked up at him and our eyes met. My heart leaped and I felt a little shock—the kind that happens when you touch another person during cold winter weather. When he touched my bare arm to hand me a bowl of water, the shock spread to other parts of my body. I was conscious of Mother smiling at my reaction. Was I being that obvious?
As more people found their places, we slid down to make room for them and Sky Shaker nodded to a man I didn’t recognize.
“Isn’t that man a shaman?” I heard Mother ask Sky Shaker in a low voice. “No one I visited with told me that another shaman had come to Howkan.”
She shrugged. “You’re right. That’s Bear Claw. He came up here from Haida Gwaii. I’m getting old, Wind Spirit, and some of the families worried about what they would do when I’m gone, so they sent word to their relatives down there for a shaman to replace me. I don’t agree with some of what he does, but people here seem to like him.”
I avoided making eye contact with the people who were staring at me, but I couldn’t resist sneaking another peek at Killer Whale Rider. He smiled at me and I looked away. Who knew what my mother had been telling people around the village? I glanced at him again, but his beautiful smile had faded. I was ashamed of myself. I relented and gave him a warm smile. He blinked his eyes and seemed confused. Perhaps he didn’t understand I was here in Howkan on serious business. To show him how serious I was, I frowned. After that, he no longer looked my way. He wasn’t the only one confused; I was too.
As tasty dishes were shared around the room, Sea Beaver spoke about the ties between our villages. The food was good and everyone was full and feeling mellow when Sky Shaker leaned over to me and said, “It’s time.”
I nodded and got to my feet feeling conspicuous in my outrageous costume. I stepped behind the screen and unwrapped the devilfish headdress. I was struggling to seat it properly over my new braids when I heard Sky Shaker launch into a flowery introduction naming my ancestors and my relatives. I managed to get the thing settled in place before she ran out of names.
I jumped out through the screen and let out my special scream. My audience reacted with gasps and shrieks. I even heard children crying. My entrance had certainly gotten everyone’s attention. I began to dance with exaggerated arm waving and hip shaking. I glanced at Sky Shaker and she nodded. I kept on dancing and as I established a rhythm, people began to clap. After that, it was all easy.
I began the movements of Seal Killer’s ‘Escape From Sitka’ dance. I didn’t do it like the men do with forceful gestures and lunges. I performed it with sinuous and subtle moves of my body and arms. I punctuated my motions with gentle shakes of the moon rattle and thrusts of my otter baton.
Someone began drumming a hypnotic rhythm and I looked for the source. Killer Whale Rider had a small box drum between his knees. I began a high-pitched chant in time with his drum. I danced all around the fire, showing my costume, my style, and more bare skin than I would have liked to the very appreciative audience. Clapping and drumming their heels on the floor, they kept time with me until I was sweaty and exhausted. I finally held up my hands, resumed my seat next to Sky Shaker, and took off my headdress.
“That was one impressive performance,” she said, smiling and patting my shoulder. “You will be a wonderful shaman.” I was thirsty, and as if he’d read my mind, Killer Whale Rider was there, refilling my water bowl. I took it from him and drank.
Maybe he could be one of my assistants. He was attentive and having the nephew of the yitsati as my helper would definitely enhance my status.
When he said, “You were spectacular,” I decided to take a chance.
Almost as if it were someone else, I heard my voice saying, “I need an assistant for my spirit quest. Would you like to help me?”
Both Sky Shaker and my mother were smiling, and I doubted it was for the same reason, but their approval must have encouraged him because he said, “I would be honoured, but I know nothing about being a shaman’s assistant.”
This was a sweet man. I smiled and said, “I’m kind of new to all of this too, but Sky Shaker can teach us both.”
“I think I’d like being your assistant,” he said. “When you danced, I could almost see your spirits surrounding you.” I had to work to conceal the pleasure I felt at his agreeing to help me. This arrangement should make both Sky Shaker and Mother happy. I had recruited an important assistant and he was the man Mother would have me marry.
Just before Sea Beaver got up to bring the feast to a close, Bear Claw, beckoned me to approach him. When I did, he reached up and placed an amulet on a thong around my neck. I stepped back as Sky Shaker made a hissing sound. When I resumed my seat next to her, she ripped the amulet from my neck and glared at Bear Claw.
“I only hoped to make your niece’s journey into the spirit world a bit easier with a bit of my special magic. Keep the amulet. Its power will still be hers when she needs it.” Without a word, my aunt stuffed the amulet into a bundle.
Sea Beaver thumped his staff until conversation died, then he spoke. “The performance of Abraham’s Copper Spirit brought new life to Seal Killer’s familiar dance. She has demonstrated her creativity and thrilled us with her artistry. We will welcome another powerful shaman among us soon.” I saw heads nodding in agreement as he concluded the feast.
On the way back to Sky Shaker’s house, the full moon was climbing above the trees, just high enough to give us light to dodge puddles.
“You did very well tonight,” Sky Shaker said. “You even made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. With a bit of training you will be able to hypnotize any audience.”
“You two go on ahead,” I said. “I’m too keyed up to go to bed right now, but I’ll be along soon.”
The rain had quit, but the wind was still blustery and the temperature was plummeting. I sat on a
drift log and let the moon’s pale light wash over me. How like my ancient moon rattle was the timeless face I saw in the sky. Who was the long-dead carver who studied that face night after night until he was able to capture its subtle features upon his miniature moon? Even though he was gone, his art had touched many lives and I hoped it would touch many more before it left my hand for the last time.
I was beginning to understand why people found comfort by linking themselves to our ancestors. The old songs, stories, and carvings served to weave each individual into the fabric of our traditional culture.
Clouds as black as ravens rode the speeding wind, racing across the moon, obscuring its light for long moments, and causing my shadow to vanish. Those light and dark intervals were like my spirits, still hiding from my view but already giving me glimpses into their world.
My reluctance to assume the role that had been thrust upon me was gone. First, I would dedicate myself to becoming a shaman. Then I would set out to warn my people of the danger Father had described. I had his legacy to guide me and I’d taken the first step. I hoped I had the strength and dedication to complete my journey.
I stood and turned away from the stark night scape. A few steps later I climbed through the mouth of the Thunderbird into the warmth of the great house. The only light was from the fire, but it was enough. I crossed the silent house to my sleeping area and checked on my little family. I bent down and Arrow’s muzzle met my hand. I gave her a pat and then touched the babies. Good. All three were nursing. I went to my bed and climbed under the skins.
The events of the evening mixed in with visions of Killer Whaler Rider ran through my mind. Remembering his handsome face made those odd twinges start in my breasts. I put my hands on them and squeezed my nipples. That was not enough. Seductive feelings rippled down my body. My hands followed and I touched myself between my thighs. Breathless moments later, my busy fingers brought relief and I slept.
March 26, 1778: Morning light was filtering through the smoke hole when I awoke. Feeling my little braids against my cheek reminded me of my decision to become a shaman. I had a lot of work ahead, but I wasn’t the same person I’d been yesterday at this time.