Seal Mask
The next morning the horizon looked calm and the chief and his spokesman made the decision to launch the canoes, packed with storage boxes and roof planks, into the bay for the two-day voyage to Kwath-killum. Thirty families with their children each with their dogs joined in the move to the summer village, hauling belongings, fishing gear and food and water for the trip. A band of young warriors stayed behind to protect the very old and nursing mothers.
Uma-kwee brought her ceremonial dress and jewelry box for the first time to the Island, since she would be honored at the Test of the Suitor dance. She could hardly contain her excitement and anticipation at seeing Hayoqwis -- who might become her fiancé -- for the first time.
At mid day the weather turned dark and stiff winds from the northwest blew against them, rocking the canoes up and down. Above the waters to the north, bursts of lightening flashed in clouds that spread out in the shape of an avenging Thunderbird flying their way. Waves began splashing up across the bows and spilled into the hulls. While the men, striped of clothing, paddled as hard as the fierce wind, the women and children matched the frantic pace bailing water over the side, passing the cedar bark basket bails, sometimes dropping the bails when the canoes rocked too high.
Uma-kwee was glad that Qkizacool, with her aching hip, was spared the beating of the storm. She then began to sing the victory song and the other’s joined in. The men matched their paddling to the music and the women passing the bails also sang in time with the song. Singing in defiance of the ocean’s fierce power made the danger exciting. Uma-kwee rose up on her knees with her face in the wind and let the rain wash her hair and whole body as the canoe sped across the choppy waters. She was not afraid.
The storm meant that the tribe would have to find shelter on one of the small islands for the night and the group of canoes, now spread out in a long line, turned toward the gray beaches of Fireweed Island. It was dark before the last canoe beached safely. While the rain stopped, the wind kept blasting throughout the night and thunder boomed in the distance.
Most of the people slept in the canoes, except the warriors who lit a large fire of drift wood and camped on the grass above the beach. Long into the night the women and children heard the men sing the protection song, beating drift logs like drums, begging Wonderful Doer to spare them from the storms and any harm from the blood spirits that were believed to dwell on the island. They also prayed for good weather for the next day.
The storm and the blood spirits were quieted the next morning, which shown warm and clear from the moment the sun rose red over the peaks of the mainland, turning the snow- tipped mountains of the western Big Island the color of fireweed flowers. Qkizacool would say that the lit up sky was a good sign for the people.
The last water was bailed from the bottoms of the canoes and the tribe again set out for their destination, the inlet that lead to the white hills of Kwath-killum camp, joining in paddling songs to keep rhythm. Along the way seals poked their heads up from beneath the black ocean to listen curiously, then dove to escape long before one of the hunters might decide to pursue some fresh meat.
Continued
Uma-kwee brought her ceremonial dress and jewelry box for the first time to the Island, since she would be honored at the Test of the Suitor dance. She could hardly contain her excitement and anticipation at seeing Hayoqwis -- who might become her fiancé -- for the first time.
At mid day the weather turned dark and stiff winds from the northwest blew against them, rocking the canoes up and down. Above the waters to the north, bursts of lightening flashed in clouds that spread out in the shape of an avenging Thunderbird flying their way. Waves began splashing up across the bows and spilled into the hulls. While the men, striped of clothing, paddled as hard as the fierce wind, the women and children matched the frantic pace bailing water over the side, passing the cedar bark basket bails, sometimes dropping the bails when the canoes rocked too high.
Uma-kwee was glad that Qkizacool, with her aching hip, was spared the beating of the storm. She then began to sing the victory song and the other’s joined in. The men matched their paddling to the music and the women passing the bails also sang in time with the song. Singing in defiance of the ocean’s fierce power made the danger exciting. Uma-kwee rose up on her knees with her face in the wind and let the rain wash her hair and whole body as the canoe sped across the choppy waters. She was not afraid.
The storm meant that the tribe would have to find shelter on one of the small islands for the night and the group of canoes, now spread out in a long line, turned toward the gray beaches of Fireweed Island. It was dark before the last canoe beached safely. While the rain stopped, the wind kept blasting throughout the night and thunder boomed in the distance.
Most of the people slept in the canoes, except the warriors who lit a large fire of drift wood and camped on the grass above the beach. Long into the night the women and children heard the men sing the protection song, beating drift logs like drums, begging Wonderful Doer to spare them from the storms and any harm from the blood spirits that were believed to dwell on the island. They also prayed for good weather for the next day.
The storm and the blood spirits were quieted the next morning, which shown warm and clear from the moment the sun rose red over the peaks of the mainland, turning the snow- tipped mountains of the western Big Island the color of fireweed flowers. Qkizacool would say that the lit up sky was a good sign for the people.
The last water was bailed from the bottoms of the canoes and the tribe again set out for their destination, the inlet that lead to the white hills of Kwath-killum camp, joining in paddling songs to keep rhythm. Along the way seals poked their heads up from beneath the black ocean to listen curiously, then dove to escape long before one of the hunters might decide to pursue some fresh meat.
Continued
0 Comments:
Post a Comment