ahead of time we would camp here for the night. With that in mind, we sent a couple of hunting parties out and had warriors make lean-tos for shelters. The women gathered wood, made fires, and started meals. The rest of us made two or three trips each carrying canoes and other supplies.
The hunting parties that we had sent out came back with a couple of deer and a few rabbits. The women made a very good meal of all this. After all had eaten, I asked Mitigomij to meet with Minowez-I and me.
“Mitigomij, we would like you to oversee the security of the camp when we stop each night. We know you cannot help to carry the canoes when we portage, so we will leave it up to you and any of the young warriors of your choosing to be camp guardians while the canoes and supplies are being moved overland. We respect the vigilance that you and your panther friend Makadewà Wàban have shown toward our safety at all times. Even though you have limitations, we never doubt your courage and warrior skills.”
“Minowez-I and Mahingan, I will defend our people to my death. I am proud that you think enough of me to take control over the camp security. Makadewà Wàban and I will not let you down.”
We had also brought twenty-three of our dogs to help with the hunt. It was the job of the children to care and feed for them. Each child had one dog to care for. It was the young person’s responsibility to ensure the dog stayed in the canoe with them on the trip.
After two days, we had made it to the Kitchi-Sìbì and past two more portages. As we were paddling, I mentioned to my brother what I had in mind for him.
“Mitigomij, you know that once we get to the hunt you will have to stay with the canoes and guard them. You wouldn’t be able to keep up with us as we travel inland to where the buffalo are.”
“Mahingan, I know this and I accept my way in life. My tasks are always important for the survival of our people, and I do not perceive my disability as a detriment, but only as a sign from Kitchi Manitou that I am destined for other paths in life.”
“I will leave with you some of the younger boys who can help with the fire and keep watch. You have Makadewà Wàban who is equal to five warriors. I do not expect any trouble from the south, but we must be observant.”
With the ending of the day, it was not long after everyone had eaten that all, except for the sentries, were asleep. Ishkodewan, who had grown a lot since I found him in the spring, always slept next to me. Still a young wolf, he was eager to learn when I took him on a hunt. Obedient at all times, the animal was developing superior hunting skills through the teachings of the small dog and me. The two of them were inseparable while hunting and or when in the camp.
When we awoke the next morning, there was a misty rain. Today would bring us to the end of our journey, but there still was one more set of rapids to take.
“Minowez-I, we will have to keep the canoes well spaced when we go through the last set of rapids. We do not want any of the boats bumping into each other causing them to capsize. Mitigomij and I will go first and you and your son can send the others at intervals. We will land on the west shore and when you send the next one they will land on the eastern shore. That way if anyone overturns, there will be someone on either shore to help them.”
“Okay Mahingan. My son and I will control things from here. Don’t worry about us.”
Mitigomij, Ishkodewan, and I started on our descent through the rapids. The misty rain moistened our faces and the roar of the fast moving water made my heart race. As we looked toward the white water, the movement made it look like the river was waving us on to make the journey. Taking this as a good omen, we started our descent down river. We could feel the power of the river beneath our boat. The only sound besides the river was my wolf cub growling and snapping at the water as it washed over the canoe, soaking all in the boat. With the helpful skills of my brother, we rode the rapids and arrived safely but wet on the shore.
As the morning wore on, all the boats made it through the rapids. When we did have a couple of spills, no one suffered any injuries, as we pulled the overturned occupants to shore with the empty canoe. We had now split up on the two shores and both sides had fires going to dry our clothes and to make a meal.
The last chìmàn to come down the rapids were Minowez-I and his son Nigig (Otter). Since everyone was safe, this was the celebratory voyage of the rapids. They put on quite a show, shooting the river at the most turbulent spot and flying through the air. Father and son both had huge smiles on their faces. During the last stretch of rapids, Nigig stood up in the front of the chimàn with his arms spread out and the spray drenching him as Minowez-I steered the canoe. Everyone was yelling on both shores and urging them on. When they reached the shore, they arrived to whoops and cheers. It was a fine ending to a safe trip through the rapids.
For the rest of the voyage the river was calm with a slight breeze and no incidents. Near the end of the day we came upon two canoes with young boys and elders in them. They led us to a sheltered bay where our people who had preceded us had come ashore. Several older Wàbanaki and Omàmiwinini children as well as some elders watched over the canoes. They were very excited to see us, and we soon renewed old acquaintances with the Wàbanaki elders.
They told us that most of their hunters were camped about a half-day’s walk away. With darkness approaching we decided to spend the evening here and before long the women had the fires roaring and a meal prepared. That night we listened to stories from the Wàbanaki elders of long ago wars and successful hunts. The stories went on long through the night before everyone decided to make their beds and sleep.
The next morning I sought out Mitigomij. Embracing him, I said, “Brother, I know by the time this hunt is over and everyone comes back to the canoes, all these young boys who are staying here with you will be trained in all matters of hunting and warfare.”
“Mahingan, you overestimate my skills.”
“Never, my brother. There is no one who I would rather have beside me in battle than you and that panther. Good luck and I will see you in seven or eight suns. If there is trouble, send the twins to us. They are fast runners.”
“Mahingan, there won’t be any trouble that I can’t handle!”
After everyone had eaten, one of the Wàbanaki elders said that he would lead us to the camp where the hunt would take place.
Minowez-I and I walked in the lead with the old man. During the trip he told us about the last time that our two peoples had hunted the buffalo.
“It was many years ago, I was a small boy and our two tribes had then also joined together for the hunt. The buffalo had come over the river in the land of the Attiwandaronk in the dead of winter. During that spring, the Ouendat (Huron) had hunted them, driving them to an area we were now travelling to reach. There were many animals in the herd. One of our elders said that he had a vision and in it, Nokomis came to him and told him that an animal that we had never hunted before would come to our lands. She told him that this great beast’s meat would feed us for many months and supply our people with items that we could use in our everyday existence. There was only one thing we could not do; we must not kill the entire herd. If we took just what we needed, Nokomis would send them back when we needed them again to stave off hunger.
“She has kept her promise. They are back.”
19
The Great PijakÌ Hunt
AS WE WALKED, MINOWEZ-I and I talked about how impressive it was that we could organize everyone for this hunt in such a short amount of time.
“Our
