174 | BLrffy Sainte-Marie Compatriots | 175

Oh it's Written in books and in songs Compatriots :

That we've been mistreated and wronged

\!'ell, over and over I hear the same words lucy heard lhe cart motor wind down before it.turned"off th-e gravel rbad a quarter of
a mile west of the house. Maybg it was'B!.rqky. She hurried and left the outhouse. She
From you, good [ady, From you good man. 10
\Well listen to me if you care where we stand, couidnl.run if she wanted to' It would be such a relief to have this pregnancy over.with.
She couldn't see the colour of the vehicle, for the slab fence was between..the house and
And you feel you're a part ofthese ones.
the road. That was.just as well. She'd been caught.in the outhouse a few times, and it
\When a war between nations is lost still embarrassed her to have a car approach while.she was in there. .:
She got inside the house just as the car came into view. It was her aunt,,Flora. Lucy
The loser we know pays the cost
looked at the clock. It.was seven.thirry.She wondgred wha! was:going on.so. early in the
Bur even when Germany fell to your hands 15
morning. Flora,and'a young:white w,oman apprp,ached.the house. Bob:barked furiously
Consider, dear lady, consider dear man.
at them.. Lucy dpenedthe door and yelled at.him..'I don't know what's w-rbng wi.th Bob;
You left them their pride and you left them their land,
hF,never barks a! me,'caid Flora..-,
And what have you done to these ones.
'Hek probably barking at her,'. explained Lucy. 'Not mar-y whites'come here.'
'Oh, this is,'FJildaA-flerbach..She's from Germariy,'began Flora. 'Remember? I rold
Has a change come about Uncle Sam
20 you I met,her at the Calgary,Stampede? IVell,, she'goi offthe severi olclock bus, and
Or are you still taking our land
A treaty Forever George'$Tashington signed ' I,dont have tirne to driv.e.her'all theway' dpwn.to;.my house. tr took her over to my
He did, dear lady, he did, dear man.
mothert, bur 6he's getting feady"to,go to Lethbridge.,Can she stay with, you till I get
offwork?'
And the treaty's being broken by Kinzua Dam,
Lucy smiled. She khew,she was boxed in. 'Yeah, but I've got no"running water in
I, And what will you do lor these ones?
the house, You have to-go,outsiderto-use thE toilel,l she said, looking at,Hilda.
iro, '

)5 'Oh, thatt okay,'her aunt answ€red. 'Shet studying about.Indiaas, anyway. Might
I
f,' ,, i Oh it's all in the past you can say
as well get the true picture, right? Oh, Hilda, this is my niece, Lucy.l p16t" lowered her
l*, Bur ir's still going on till today
voice anil asked, 'lWhere's Bunky.?' .il
,,[,1 '"
The government now want the Iroquois land
'He never came home last night. I was hoping it waS hirn coming home. He's not
That ofthe Seneca and the Cheyenne.
supposed to'miss any more work. I've got his lunch fixed in,case he shows up.'Lucy
It's here and it's now you must help us, dear man,
30 poured some water from a blue plastic water jug into a white enamel basin and wdshed
Now that the buffalo's gone.
her hands and face. 'I .haven't even had time to.,rnake coffee, I couldn't sleep waiting
for him to come home.'She poured water into a coffeemaker and'measured out the
coffee into the paper filter.
Emma Lee Warrior b.1941 'Ild have some coffee if it was'ready, but I thir.rk I'd better get to work.'We.have
to punch in now; itt a new rule. Can't travel on Indian time anymore,' said. Flora.
Peigan She opened the door and stepped out, then turned to say, 'I think the lost has returned,'
and conrinued down the steps,
Emma Lee \(arrior grew up on the Peigan of that early repression: 'i find grert freedom The squeak of the dusty truck's brakes signalled Bunky's arrival. He strode toward
Reserve in southern Alberta, close to the in writing. I 6nd myself.'
the door,. barely acknowiedging Florat presence. He came in and took the lunch
American border, a nrember of the North 'Warriort stories and poems hav: appeared pail Lucy had. 'I stayed at Herbie's,' was all he said before he turned and went out.
Peigan (Blackfoot) band. She attended a in Wicazo Sa, A Gathering of, Spiit, Harper\
He started the truck and beeped the horn.
boardinq school there, but she remarks rhat, Anthologt of Tuentieth Century Natiee Arnerican
Poetry, and Canad.ian Fiction Magazine. She
. 'I'll go see what he wants.' She motioned to Flora to wait.
rhorrgh rhc school was not far from home, 'When
'u,ith all the rulc.s and resrrictions, it might acquired a Master of Arts degree from the Bunky left, she went to Flora: 'Maybe itt a go:d thing you came here.
as well not have been anywhere near home.' University of:'Washington but remairis tied to her Bunky didn't want to go to lvork .'cause he h3d a.hangover. \(hen he found out Hilda
\Tarrior says she writes to overcome the effects home community: 'Thatlandscape iswithin me.' was going to be here all dan he decided he'd rather go !o work.'
 Comiratriots | 177
176 | Emma Lee Warrior

,llI
dont have tdleave the office this afternoon. I'll bring the car over ar-r{y9u ca4
. '.. Lucy smiled at heleager.riess.i.'.]'Jo, ! don'ucare.to go, It's mostly those mixed-up
pe"ople who are'in jt. You sbe,r Indian'rellgion just came,back.hereon the reserve a little
drive Hilda around to look at the reserve' okay?'
,Sure, while ago, and'thereare different groups'who all qirarrel over which way to'practise
that'll be good. I can go and do my laundry in Spitzee.' She surveyec the
itr,some"use Sioux ways, and others,use Cree.,ltt'justa big mess,'she said, shaking
distant horizon. The Rockies were spectacular, blue and distinct.'It Would be a nice day
her head. l, '
lor a drive. She hoped it would be a repeat ofyesrerday, not totl hot, but, as she stood
be a re:eat, , Hildalooked at Lugy, and''Lucy got the feeling slie was teliing hbr things she didn't
rhere, she noticed tiny heat l{'aves over rhe wheat field. \7ell, maybe it won't
wanttohear. .' ) .,.'i, :' ' i
shethought. Her baby kicked inside o[her and she said, 'Okay, I'd better go terid to the
. Lucy had chosen this time.of day, to do her wash.'The Ftrappy Suds Laundromat
gu.rr.' Si. didn'r relish having a white visitor, but Flora had done her a lot of favours
would. be empty. As a iule , the.Indiand didn't show up till after lunch with their endless
and Hilda seemed nice.
garbage bags oflaundry.
she was. Hilda made friends with the kids, Jason and Melissa, answerihgtheir
l
And
After they had deposited their laundry in the machines, Lucy,'Hildat and the' kids
many quesrions abour Germany as Lucy cooked. She ate heartily complimenting Lucy
sauntered down the main street to a caf€ for lunch: An unkempt Indian man dogged
on her cooking even rhough it was only the usual scrambled eggs and fried potrtoes
rhem, talking in Blackfoot. : :
with toast and coffee. Aft., p"yday, there'd be sausages or ham' but paydaywas Friday
,

lDo you know what he's.saying?' asked Hilda.

and today was only Tr,resdaY.
'He wants money. He's related to my husband,,Don't pay any attention to him.
'Have vou heard of Helmut Walking Eagle?' Hilda wanted to know'
He always.does this;' said Lucy, 'i used to give him moirey but he just drinks it up.'
'Yeah, x'ell, I really don't know him to talk to him, but I know whar he 'ooks
The cafe was a cool respite from the heat outside, and the cushioned seats in the
like. He's from Germany, too. I always see him at indian dances. He dresses up
like
Indians wished Helmut would booth felt good. They sat by the window and ordered hamburgers, fries, and lemohade.
an Indian.' she had an urge to rell her rhat most oFthe
The waitress brought tall, frosted glasses, and beads of water dripped from them.
disappear.
'Hello, Lucy,' a man's shaky voice sa-id, just when they were really enjoying their
'lwant to see him,' Hilda said. 'l heard about him and I read a book he vrrote.
lunch:, They turned to,look ar the Indian standing behind,Hilda. f{s'v/asldefinitely ill.
He seems to know a lot about the Indians, and he's been accepted into theirreligious
in Germany are really His eyes held pain; and he looked as tho..ggh. he might collapse fro,rruwhatever ailed
sociery. I hope he can tell me things I can take home' People
him. His hands shook, perspiration covered his face, and his eyes roarned the room
interested in Indians. They even have clubs''
lMy.baby kicks if I sit too constantlyt':. '.;:: , t": .. .' '.':' :.t, .'..-' ' .:. ;'.,'
baby kicked, and she held her hand over the.spot,
Lucy's
, , l,,.rrgy moved ovei^to.'make rooSn'for himi but he kept;standing and'asked her, .

long. I guess he wants to do the dishes.' :

"Hild" 'Could you give me a ride down to Badger? The cops said I have to leave town.
got up quickly and said, 'Let me do the dishes. You can take care'of,the
I dbnt want tri:stayrcause they, inight beat me r,rp.'?t ' :.;l
lau nd ry.'
,No, 'Yeah, we're doing laundry. I've got Flori's car. This is her ftiend, Hilda. She's from
you're a visitor. I can do them,' Lucy countered. But Hilda was persisteni, and
Germany.' . 1 :,) -. i::'.i:.) . .'j .--r' t, '.. ...

Lucy gave in.

The sick man'barely nodded at hei-then, cqrning-back to l,ucy, he asked her, 'Do
Flora showed up just after rwelve with the information that there was a sun-iance
jThey're aheady camping. Lett go there after you have enolghrtro get,me somglioup? lm,rea'lly-hungry.i : , ," .

going on nn ,h. .,orth side of rhe reserve.

. . Lucy nodded arid the manisaid, :tl'll just,sit in the next booth.l-.',
work. Pick me up around four''
,I '. "'He's.my'unclejrrl,ucy:e-xplained tci Hilda as she motioned.to the waitress. 'His
can't wait ro go ro the sun,dance! Do you go to them oFten?', Hilda askcd -ucy.'
'No, I never have. I don't know much about them,' Luryr521d'
nameisSonny.' . ).: . ..' ., t ' '?:,.

,But believe in it? It's your culture!' Hilda?s face showed'conjern.

, '.Order some clear soup or yo,u'll get sick,,'.Luby suggested to ]rer. uncle;
why? Don'r.you
,vell, rhey .-,;He.nodded, as he,pulled sbmepaper'napkins out of a chromd container,on the table
never had sun-dances here-in my.wholei life there's never'been'a
and,wipedhisface.: ,',' : .) ':-
sun-dance here.'
The women and children left Sonirylrilh}is broth and returned
to the laundromat:
'Really, is that true? But I thought you have them every year here"
As they were folding the clothes, he came in..'Here;.I'll take these;' he said, taking the
'Not here. over on the Blood Reserve they do and some places in the states, but
bags from Lucy. His hands shook, and the; effort:ofi lifting the bags was clearly too
not here.'
,Bur much for him. 'That's okay,',protested Lucy, attempting.to take them from him, fthey're
don't you wanr ro go ro a sun-dance] I think it's so exciring!' Hilda moved
not that he avy., Clothes arer always 'lighter after they've bepn washed.'
for*ard in her seat and looked hopelully at Lucy'
178 | Emma Lee \\'arrior Compatriots I 179

'Hey, Lucy, I can manage. You're not supposed to be carrying big things a:ounl The.heat ofthe day had reached its peak, and trails ofdust hung suspended in the
ir.r vour condirion.' Lucy let him take the plastic bags, which
he dropped several times air wherever cars or trucks travelled the gravel roads on rhe reserve. Sonny fashioned a
beiore he gor to the car. The cops had probably tired oFputting him in
jail and sending shade behind the house underneath the clothesline in rhe deep grass, spread a blanket,
him out each rnorning. she believed the cops did beat up Indians, although none\r/as and filled a gallon jar from the pump. He covered the water with some old coats, lay
e..er brought ro court over it. she'd take sonny home, and he'd straighten out for a feq/ down, and began to swear the booze our.
weeks till he got thirsry again, and he'd disappear as soon as he got money. It was ro use The heat waves from this morning's forecast were accurare. ft was just too hot.
to lrope he'd stop drinking. Sonny wouldni quit drinking till he quir living. 'Lordy, it's hot,'exciaimed Lucy to Hilda as they brought the launJry.in. 'ft musr be
As they rvere pulling our of town, Lucy remembered she had to get some Korl-Aid close to ninety-five or one hundred. Let's go up ro Badger to my orher aunt's house.
and turned the car into the shop,n-Go Mart. Hilda gor out with her and notic:d
tl-e She's got a tap by her house and the kids can cool offin her sprinkler. Come on, you

man who had lotLowed them rhrough the street sitting in the shade of a stack of old tires. kids. Do you wanr to go run.in ihe sprinkler?i
'Hey, tamohpomaat sikaohki,' he told Lucy on her way into the store' . The women covered the wiridows on rh€ west side wheie the sun would shine. 'i'm
'Vhat did he say? Sikaohki?' queried Hilda' going to leave all the windows epen ro ler the air in,' said Lucy, as she walled around
The Kool-Aid was nexr to the cash register and she picked up a few packages' ar:d the house pushing them up.
laid thern on the coLrnter: with the money. When the cashier turned to the register,
Lucy Lucyt auntk house sat amongsr a clutter of junk. 'Excuse the mess,' she smiled
pokect HiLda with her elbow and nodded her head toward the sign behind
the cc,unter. at Hilda, waving her arm over her yard. 'Don't wanna rhrow it away, it might come
Scrarvler{ rinevenlv in big, biack letters, it said, 'Ask for Lysol, vanilla, and shavinglotion in handy.' There were thick grass and weeds crisscrossed with paths to and from the
at the counte r.' clothesline, the outhouse, the woodsrove. Lucyt aunt led rhem ro an arbour shaded
thelignoredthernanonthewal'tothecar''That'swhathewants:he'snotallowed with huge spruce branches.
"sikeohki";
to go ir.rto ,l-l..r,or., 'cause he steals it. He wanted vanilla. The Indians call it 'This is nice,'cooed Hilda, admiring rhe branches. Lucy's aunt beamed, 'yes, I told
it me arrs "black u'ater".' my old man, "Henry-, you ger me some branihes that's not gonna dry up and blow
Alrhough the car didn'r have air-conditioning, Lucy hurried toward it to escaPe away," and he did. He knows whatt good for him. You sit down right here, and I'll get
'Did ycu hear
the blisterirg heat. \when she got on rhe highway, she asked her uncle, us some drinks.' She disappeared and soon rerurned with a large thermos and some
anvtl-ring about a sun-dance?' plastic tumblers.
A, i.r, he grunted a negative 'Huh-uh', the', 'Oh yeah, it's across the river' but They spent the afternoon hearing abour Henry, as rhey watched the kids run
I don,t know rvl-rere. George Many Robes is camping there. saw him this morning. AIe through the sprinkler that sprayed the water back and forth. Once. in a while, a
vou eoing there?' suggestion of a breeze would touch the women, but it was more as if they imagined it.
\x/alki'rg
'Flora and Hilda are. Hilda rvants ro meer that German guy, Helmut Before four, the'r lefr to pick Flora up and headed back to Lucy's. 'It's so hot
Eagle. \bu kno*', that gr.rv rvho turned Indian?' after being in that cool cement building all dayl' exclaimed Flora, as she settled
'Oir veah, is he here?' he said indifferenrly, closing his eyes' herself into the car's stifing interior. 'One thing for sure, I'm n,rt going home to
'Probabll'. He's always in the middle ollndian doings,' said Lucy' cook anyching. Lucn do you rhink Bunky would mind if you carr_e wirh us? I'll get
'Shit, thar guy's just a phony. How could anybody turn into something elsei Huh? us some Kentubky Fried chicken and stuff in town so you don't have to cook. It's
I don't think I could turn into a white man if I tried all my life. They wouldn't let me, too hot to cook, anyway.' She rolled up a newspaper and fanned her face, which was
\white people think they can co already beginning to flush. .
so horv does rhat German think he can be an Indian. "

iNo, he won't care. He'll probablywant tosleep. Ve

anything-turn into Chinese or Indian-they're crazyl' picked Sonn up in town. Both
Sonny laid his head back on the sear and didn't say another word. Lucy felt of them can iie around and get better. The kids would bother them if we were there.'
embarrassed, but she had to agree with him; it seemed that Indians had
come into ' It was a long ride across the Napi River toward the Porcupine Hills. A few miles from
focus lately. She'd read in the papers how some white woman in Hollywood lecame the Hills, they veered offuntil they were almost by the river. 'Letk get off' said Flora.
a medicine woman. She rvas selling her book on her iife as a medicine
woman. Maybe Hi'lda gasped at what shd saw before her. There was a circle of teepees and rents
sorne white person or other person 'nvho wasn't Indian would get fooled by
that bc,ok, but with a large open area in rhe middle. Exactly in the centre of the opening was a circular

not an indian. Shc herselfdidn't practise Indian religion, but she knew enough 'rbout
it structure covered with branches around the sides. Next to this was a sol.itary unpainted
to know rhar one didn't just join an Indian religious group if one were not raised with it. teepee. Some of the teepees were painted with lines around the borom; others had orbs
-lhat in it. They
was a lor of the conflict going on among those people who were involved bordering them, and )/et orhers had animal figures painted on rhem. smoke rose from
:herr-'
used sacred pracrices from other tribes, Navajo and Sioux, or whatever pleased stoves outside the reepees as people prepared their evening meals. Groups of horses
 ,l80 Compakiots I I8t
J Enrnta Lee \{'arrior

.
'Yeah,, it,must be rhe heat ' Flora told him.witha,little laugh.
stoodlangr-ridlyinthewaninglreatoftheday,theirtreadsrestingononeanother,sbacks
The sound ofbanrering children and Elsie walking Eagle was co.oking the evrning.meal,,on a.camp stove,outsidb the
and their tails occasionally flicking insects away.
th'f teepee. She hadisome-,folding, chairs'that Lucy w6tildlve.liked:.to sit down .in, .but Elsie
;;; dogs carried to where 'tood' didn't ask any bf them to,Sit down.rhough,ihezsras,f,riendly,enough., . , . .
'Let'seathere,'thekidssaid,pokingtheirheadstolookinthebagsoffoodFlora I

while Hilda continued ro stand where she . JIs your'husband

here?' 'asked Fiora. , " .r' ., ., .,
and Lucy spread a blanker on the grouid,
i

'No, het over in the sacred teepee,'answered Elsie. ... , , .. : ..

was,surveyingtheencampment'Florapointedoutthecentralleafystructureasthei' .

' 'Hs:"longis'he,goingtei--take?r:r . .,; l;r :..:)' .), .,: .',r .,.., i, ...
sacred area o[ prayer and dance'
woman who is 'Oh, he should be home pretty soon,' Elsie said, tending her cooliing. :
'The teepee next to it is the sacred teepee"That's where the'holy .

, .'Do you.mind:if we,just wait? I brought ihis girL to_see him.,She s from Germany,
ptrttinguprlresun-dancestaystheentiretime.Thaiswheretheyhave.ihecereronies'j -jr .....j:.
' 'ilo* many sun-dances have you been to?' asked Hilda' I too,'Florasaid. ...1

..I]risismyfirsttime,butlknowallaboutthisfrombooks,]saidFlora,lHelmut Lucy had never seen Helmuc,in anything othe*than.Indian.regal,,a,'He was a

\X/alking E"gl. *ro,. a book about it, too' I could try to
getyou one' He sells them smallish,rnanri,irith,blond hair,.a broad.face, a+diay'argethin.nose. He=wore,liis hair in
'r' ' ' 'i ! braidsr4rrd alivays'worerobnd,)pink'3hell earririgb.;rx/henevei.Lucy.saw.him,,,she was
.h."p., ,o Indians''
Hildadidn'teatmuchandkeptlookingdownatthecamp"It'sr'ltlly'b'ea"tiful"
reminded of thellains I:rdidn.Museumracrossrhe,lineii:. . ;,, . . .

; Helmut didn't even glance at,the,company. bur.went directly, inside the

she said, as ifto herself. .These
teepee.
.\well, advised Lucy. kids Flora asked Elsig,.'.NB'o,r16Uou rell,him'iwerd:like to see him?! ,, ,.
you better ear something before.you get leFt out,, .

Just wait here. I'll go taik to him,' Elsie said, and followed hbr husband insid.e;
don't know when to stop eating chicken"
.Yeah,,agreedFlora..Th.-nwecangodownandseewho'sallthere.:'Hi.dahad Finally, she came;oirr.and,invited rhem in. 'He doesnft have much time to talk with you,

something to eat, and rhen they go, b"Jk into

the car and headed down tovrard the so . . .' Her voice trailed off. .:
encampment. They drove iht tdgt of the camp and stopped by Florats cousinrs . The im;ide.oithe,feepeer was
stunning. It.was roomy, and rhe.floor was,covered
"'ott"i'l didn'c know you were camping here'' witlibuffalo hidbs. Baclirests,, wall hangings, parfleche. bags,, and numerous aitifacts
tent. 'Hi, Delphine,' said Flora,
close' Their-fathers were were magdificentiy displayed. Helmut lTalking Eagle sat resplendent amidst his wealth.
Lucy knew Flora and Delphine were not esPecially
Delphine had grown up tr40rmon and The women were dazzled. Lucy felt herself gaping and had to shush her children from
halF-brorhers, rvhich made rhem hall-cousins.
just as Flora had grown uP Catholic end was asking any questions.
hacl recerrtlv turned to Indian religion'
-The
same could be said about many of the people Helmut looked at theq inGntly and ieited liis g.i. on ilird". Hilda walked toward
now exploring tradirional beliefs.
the cousins about a man' him, her hand extended in greeting, but Helmut ignored it. Helmut turned ro his wife
h.r.. To ,op iing, off, there was some bad feeling between
and asked in Blackfoot, '\fho is rh.is?l f
some guv they both had been involved
with in tl.re past' :.. _ .

a teePee' How about if I camp next to

you?' 'She says she's from Germany,' was all Elsie said, before making a quick move
'Can anybody camp here? i've got
'You're supposed to camp with your own clan.' toward the door.
Delphine bridled.
Floralookedaroundthecamp'.Iwonderedwho'smycian.Say,there'sGeorge
i. ' q\7aitl' he barked in Bldckfoot, and Elsie stopped where she was. .
' 'I onlywarited to know if you're familiar wiri my home towrilweisbadeni' said Hilda.
ManyRobes,he'smyrelationonmydad'sside'MaybeI'ilaskhimiflcancajnPnext i' 'Do you know.what she's talking abour?' Helmut asked Elsie in Blackfoot. Elsie
to him.'
shook her hard in a shamed'rrianner.
Delphinedidn'tsayanythingbutbusiedlrerselFwithsplittingkindlingFroma'box
of tarp' Jason spied a thermcs under '\lzhy dont you ask her questions about Germiny?' he hurled rhe words at Hilda,
of sr.vn wood she kept hidden t"ldt'nt"th a piece
rhen, looking meanly at his wife, he added, 'She's been there.' Ersie dinbhed, and, forcing
thc tarp end asked for a drink ofwater'
as she filled a shil9,,wi"ed we$lr at the intrudeisiand asked thgm
'l l.rave to haul rvater, and nobody pays for my gas" grumbled Delphine' a kind voice to come outside.
in
As Lucy ryaitet' rg lga.vs, she looked ar Helmut *hos. j"*,t*itched wirh resenrmenr.
a cup halfway wirh warer'
'Oh say,' inquired Flora, 'do you know Heln rur \iTalking Eagle is coming here?
iF His anggp seemed to be tangibly reaching our to rhem.
him" .'\7o1yf whisp.ered Hilda in Lggy's q4r. .
This girl is from Germany, and she wants to see .,,,,
.Over it. That,s his camp,l' )elphine ,.,, ,,Oq*ide, Flpra to.uched.abook.on the fold-out table. Itstitle read, Indian Medicine
there, that big teepee with a.Winnebago beside
and.in smalier letters, I Reaiual ofAnciant Cures. and cerernonies. There was a picrure of
answered, without looking at them'
'ls she mad at you?'Jason asked Flora' t ' Helmur and Elsie on the cover. Flora asked, 'Is this for sale.?'
. .' j .:.. '.'.
ti .. i

'
 Trail .t83
182 I Ernma Lee Warrior
Coyote |

'No, that on.', fo, someone here at camp' but you can get them in the bookstores" Coyote Trail
'Horv mr.rch are.they?' Flora asked, turning the book over'
.They'retwentyrsevendollars.Alotofworkwentintoit.'Elsiereplied. warm rhis rrail
my nose picks you to follow
Helmut,inBlackfoot,calledouthiswife,sname,andElsiesaidtoherunwelcome
callers,.Idon,thaveiimetovisit..Wehavealotofthingstodo.,Sheleftthemar.dwent
your tracks quiver my whisker
in to her husband.
nostrils 6ll
the brains, she's the source,'Flora said.'Let's go. My kids
,He,s are p:obably Jr.ry

rvondcring what haPPened ro me"

.I,nlsorrylupsetherhusband.Ididn'tmeanto,'saidHilda..Ithoughthewould you are a chunky one 5
your tail dragged a leaf
bc rvilline to reach me something, because we're both German"
' : overturned bark
'N4a1,be vou cotrld buy his book,' suggested Lucy'
'if you're going to be around for a while' I'm going to
a
'Look,' said Flora,
offwork' I have a friend up north you too are hungry
sun-datrce this next weekend' I'n' t'king a Few days
who can teach you about Indian religion. She,s a medicine woman. She,s 'treen lto fat
r- depressed
Germany. Maybe she even went to your home town''
r
10

.oh, reallyl, gushed Hilda. .Of course, I'll be around. I'd love to go with.lou and I know all this news

meet your friends.'

.you with us. First, you'll need to buy four squara: yardi of I see your weight in microns of earth pressed.
can come inro the sweat
i" down
cotton . . .' began Flora.
you won't be an easy meal
ButHildawasn,treallylisteningtoher..shelookedasif,shewerealready.miles
andmilesawayinthenorthcountryNow'asweat'shethought;wouidbereal'Ind:an'
like last week I sssll unk i4to torvn 15

I mean slunk not what I usually do.

Annharte b. 1942 QUICK PA\TS QUICK PA'$rS GOTCHA

Anishinaabe YOU DON'T HEAR;MY C-LA\TS UNLESS YOU PAUSE.

Born in 1942 ro an Arrishinaabe mother and Abernatiue (1994). Her writing srows her
concern with 'the smallest stories; sio:ies in our that was somerhing dead and delicious ih.that town
an Irish father, Marie Annharte Baker was
everyday conversations (wrongfully dismissed
raised in Vinnipeg, where she could see the
harc1 lilethe streets. She describes herself
oF as gossip), stories of how we surived and growing more foul each day 20
resisted (cheelry stories), and, of course the
as a crtltural worker who want's to produce
'6lms, plavs, and books that celebrate cultural "lost stories" (stories of men, worren, and
I call it fast food
survival aftcr 6ve hundred years of resistance children who are lost or outcast to their own though it don't move much
people, the ones who have "no voice" but speak
ro scrtler lit(rer) (not lirerature).' until I touch my paw ro it
Subversive *'ordplay is characteristic of to us in dreams or haunt our every weking I drool again over rhar qhought
with humour, parodv' mome nt with their shocking statisrics)''
Anrrharte's u'riting sryle
satire, atrd witticism all enrployed in her Annharte was a co-founder of *re R:gina
the last time we met One Gulp 25
arscnal of 'tricks'. Annharte's publications Aboriginal Writers group. Her brorder ;nter-
lVomen of Colour you kicked against my canines
three books of poerry-Being on thc ests include the writings of
include
eager to become me
Moon (1990), Coryote Columbw Cafl (t994)' and the forms of street Poetry, d:b poetry'
rap, and performance art. She coltinues !o why are you making me exercise
Pointing (2003)-and
in Lip ,

and. Exerciscs
be an active force in the Native literary s:ene' to get a bite or two?
a play, ALTF'RNATIVE: The OnlT Natiuc

I
I
 Fourth Edition

AN ANTHOLOGY OF CANADIAN
NATIVE LITERATURE IT.I ENGLISH

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.(.'

edited by Ddniel'Oavid
_ '.''{r,:'l1i
Moses, Terry'Goldie ano Armand Garnet Ruffo
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' '4:'i 1' ')l

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{, . r:;:lli , ,:. i. i

OXTORD
lJNIVERSITY PRESS
 :-'l''
C"ontents
9H9*R Prefacb to the Fourth
Edition
Edition: Two Voices
ix
ix
^" .r '. t
First
Oxford Universiry Press is
a department of the
University of Oxford' * Preface :tt'o' the
'1'1, ,I xxl
in research' scholarship' ritrodiiPtion
Ir furthers rhe University's "oi*'it?"it-t"lltntt .'^ /if
,il:dH;;;'l",t,u:i11fl Sl"::tia;;:'::n;0.;,,$;T'n" . , tl
Oxford UniversitY l'ress t
E. PAULIi\EJOHNSON
Published in Canada bY TRADITIONAI ORATURE Mohawk 36
Oxford UniversitY Press
8 SamPson Mews' Suite
204' iorrO"r" FirstNations' "'1'''''t 2 The Catde Thief 37 ..,
Don Mills' Ontario
'
M3C 0H5 Canada i."fr.t Medicine Hunti4g' Shadow River 38
www'ouPcanada'com
Traditional HistorY ' .

The Corn Husker 40

2 Sings 4(
of the ConfederacY "" \

2013 The Song MY Paddle

University Press Canada
Copyright @ Oxford
Song for the Burning " 'We-hro's Sacrifice 4l
The moral rights of the
authors have been asserted of ."holflhi" Dog 4
.i(;.: :,"i.r1',1i) BRANT-SERO
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TRADITIONALSONGS '
Mohawk 4t
Inuit .5 -,:(- Letter 46
MyBreath/OrPingalik ? ., ,,,.
Maeic\trords/Aua 8 . ' MARYAUGUSTATAPPAG
ShuswaP 47
U*lX;:'g;T#nl\*;n*'"'", Tyee-Big Chief 47

i.t"o Ston./Iu&dt *U'rO i r de Lillooets 48

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Dead Mans Song/Neti ;;;;.'at-theMiss!9n'
. tr' !1. At Birih 50
JOSEPHBRANT
Mohawk 12 MlrtrN
Letter 13 Inuit 5l
'ti'*:'it[:4{:r" Coniqlence SPeech
\[e, the Inuit,TgP C,ban#ng

GEoRGECQPVAY
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""*#li#.#.j:i:+ii:l'f"ilffi ALMA GREENE

978-0-19'544353-0
ISBN Oiibwe 15 j' ,-
:\6 Mohawk 53
oG"A to the Readbr Erom Forbid'den
V'oice: '
l.Canadianliterature(English)-Nativlaul\o1s'2''Native
6s6p[s5-1i1s121, *ilt*"tiitlil
vroses' D aniel David'
II. Goldie' Te"y f ri' i"ft' Armand
Garnet' 1955-
19 52-
tolilJ. *** Ge'GaiGah'B:*!
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16 Refcaions of a Mohawk Iw
: ",'
P58235.16A56 2013
C810'8'0897 C2ol2-906r14-x SUTTON
CATHERINE SONEEGOH-
'

@' HARRY ROBINSON

permafient (acid-frce) paper
This book is printed on
P'initd and bound in the Un-ired
States Oiibwe 24 Okanagan 59'
Circt
1214 16 15 i4 13 Letter 24 CaPri',e in an English
- -.r*. Challenges God
GHANDL
Haida 26
Someone
MARION TUU'LUQ
i., Hi. Father's Village' Inuit 85
tli7", ]."t About to Go Out '
A StorY of Starvation
8(

Hunting Birds 26