Sea Lion Mask
Fog remained in Klauck for five days, keeping the suitor party from beginning the hunt. Hayoqwis washed away his body paint and each morning bathed in the bay and the fresh water stream that cascaded over the clay bank of the beach following the custom of Kaw-Seth young men seeking a wife. Meanwhile, still secluded from the others, he prepared for the journey to bear hunting grounds stowing Half Moon with necessary gear purchased by his cousins from chiefs in the village.
To pay his gambling debt Spe-eth taught the creation song to Somkin, repeating it several times over the next days in the lodge while a few old women listened. Beginning at the base, he followed the figures carved on the model totem in telling each part of the story. When he reached a bird figure at the middle of the totem, the women gasped and Somkin’s face grew pale hearing about Raven stealing the Sun, Moon and Stars Box from the Creator and tricking first man and first woman to eat the death camas that released the reign of demons and plunged the world into spiritual twilight.
Somkin knew that this story would have to be changed when it is told to the people. If Grandfather Whirlwind or any of the shamans heard the story in it’s Kaw-Seth form, they would kill the dancer and hang his body in the trees as food for the children of Raven.
He repeated the story quietly with the approval of Spe-eth, and then asked, “If Kaw-Seth braves turn their face away from Protector Raven, why did you take part in the initiation as my grandfather says? How can you live with the spirit of Raven in your blood if you hate him?”
“The inclination for lies and rebellion taint the soul of every man. I ate Raven’s food many seasons ago as a young man not in my right mind. I admired the Selawik people and wanted to live among them as a brother. I accepted the cutting ceremony and joined in the meal with the Raven Society shaman to please my mentor. But, when I married an Island Home bride, I turned my steps to follow the Kaw-Seth path alone. You yourself know that Raven is a trickster and thief. Your own stories tell you that. One day that old bird will be shut up in the storage box of the heavenly bodies – the same one that he stole. I don’t want to join his fate. That is why I now sing to the Wonderful Doer. Only the Highest One is worthy.”
Somkin pretended not to be offended and instead began asking Spe-eth many questions about Butterfly Woman – what she looked like, where she lived and if the stories about her powers to impart life from the dead were true.
“Uma-kwee Butterfly stands like a proud cedar covered in snow, pure and gentle. She is witness to powerful medicine embodied in the worm that died and was reborn. When my nephew takes her as his wife, my clan will share in her power along with her children. It is unlike any Selawik story. We will tell it at some future Winter Song Ceremony. You can be our guest then,” said Spe-eth.
Somkin told his father Tseycum everything that Spe-eth had said and Tseycum was furious that Spe-eth had renounced his manhood rites and insulted Raven with the false creation story – even if in private. Together they devised a plot to get revenge for tricking Somkin to learn the blasphemous song. When Shaman Mowa'kek heard of the creation story, he at first refused to be the bear hunt guide, but then joined in the scheming against the suitor party.
Continued
To pay his gambling debt Spe-eth taught the creation song to Somkin, repeating it several times over the next days in the lodge while a few old women listened. Beginning at the base, he followed the figures carved on the model totem in telling each part of the story. When he reached a bird figure at the middle of the totem, the women gasped and Somkin’s face grew pale hearing about Raven stealing the Sun, Moon and Stars Box from the Creator and tricking first man and first woman to eat the death camas that released the reign of demons and plunged the world into spiritual twilight.
Somkin knew that this story would have to be changed when it is told to the people. If Grandfather Whirlwind or any of the shamans heard the story in it’s Kaw-Seth form, they would kill the dancer and hang his body in the trees as food for the children of Raven.
He repeated the story quietly with the approval of Spe-eth, and then asked, “If Kaw-Seth braves turn their face away from Protector Raven, why did you take part in the initiation as my grandfather says? How can you live with the spirit of Raven in your blood if you hate him?”
“The inclination for lies and rebellion taint the soul of every man. I ate Raven’s food many seasons ago as a young man not in my right mind. I admired the Selawik people and wanted to live among them as a brother. I accepted the cutting ceremony and joined in the meal with the Raven Society shaman to please my mentor. But, when I married an Island Home bride, I turned my steps to follow the Kaw-Seth path alone. You yourself know that Raven is a trickster and thief. Your own stories tell you that. One day that old bird will be shut up in the storage box of the heavenly bodies – the same one that he stole. I don’t want to join his fate. That is why I now sing to the Wonderful Doer. Only the Highest One is worthy.”
Somkin pretended not to be offended and instead began asking Spe-eth many questions about Butterfly Woman – what she looked like, where she lived and if the stories about her powers to impart life from the dead were true.
“Uma-kwee Butterfly stands like a proud cedar covered in snow, pure and gentle. She is witness to powerful medicine embodied in the worm that died and was reborn. When my nephew takes her as his wife, my clan will share in her power along with her children. It is unlike any Selawik story. We will tell it at some future Winter Song Ceremony. You can be our guest then,” said Spe-eth.
Somkin told his father Tseycum everything that Spe-eth had said and Tseycum was furious that Spe-eth had renounced his manhood rites and insulted Raven with the false creation story – even if in private. Together they devised a plot to get revenge for tricking Somkin to learn the blasphemous song. When Shaman Mowa'kek heard of the creation story, he at first refused to be the bear hunt guide, but then joined in the scheming against the suitor party.
Continued
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