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| Matawaya by � biidsis Her tribe was in danger of being discovered and rubbed out by the whites. They went to council about this and soon decided it would be best to split into smaller clans to enable them to move about more easily. Plus there would be less chance of being discovered. They discussed how they would communicate among the different clans and decided to use messengers. Great Hawk was one of those messengers. After the tribe broke into clans and went their ways, it was Great Hawks duty to travel between the clans and keep them informed, his sister Matawaya traveled with him. She was learning the medicine ways and needed to spend time with those who would teach her. They traveled at night mainly and she proved useful to Great Hawk, her hearing was keen and she had great instinct. He learned to rely on her as she relied on him. They had occasion to come across trappers in their journeys, some were friendly and helpful and others were not. Soon they learned who they could trust and who to avoid. There was one trapper that they enjoyed greatly; he knew enough of their language that they could talk with him with ease. He taught them many things and Matawaya taught him about medicines. Great Hawk shared many stories with him. A good friendship had developed. This arrangement worked well for all involved. The clans were able to stay informed and knew when and where they could get together. Great Hawk became a legend as his duty had become so vital to the community. Matawaya was learning the medicine ways as she was born to do. Both were welcomed in each village, with small gifts and great feasts. But it was not always easy, at times there were storms and blizzards that would force them to stay put. The bitter cold weather was hard on Matawaya at times and sometimes she would stay behind. But during those times she found herself pacing and uneasy. She had become accustomed to the travel, the adventure and she enjoyed seeing all the people and learning from them. So she would rejoin Great Hawk when he made his return trip. As cold as she was, she didn�t regret her decision. So this was the way of their lives, constant travel, moving in a circle. They learned to love it and many people wondered how would they ever settle down, find their true loves and raise their families. Well maybe when the longknives were gone and the clans could rejoin again� This was the hope of all the people that their old ways would come back to them. The separation was hard on all. But that was just the way of it, they adapted, just as the Old Ones had. One night as Great Hawk and Matawaya traveled, Great Hawk lost his footing and stepped into a bear trap. Together they worked to free him and before long they did. Matawaya tended to her brother as best she could. She always carried her medicines with her and applied all of her knowings to help him. They rested there for a day and she cut him a walking stick to help him travel to the next village. The next day they set out for the village, it was slow going and it was hard for Matawaya to see her brother suffer in silence. But when they arrived he was taken into a lodge and the healer set the bone and Matawaya helped him. He told her she had gone a good job and that he was proud of her. She stayed by her brother�s side, keeping the wound clean and tended. She watched as his condition grew worse and she didn�t know how to help. Gangrene set in and this was something they knew would kill. And so she watched her brother pass. It was hard on Matawaya; she took his passing in a bad way and walked away from her medicine ways. In her grief she found herself wandering from clan to clan, village to village. Soon it seemed she had taken his place delivering messages between the clans. This seemed to help her some and she put her grief away in her heart and began her new life as Messenger to the People. One night as she moved from one village to the next, she came across a group of people that frightened her greatly. There were about 18 people in this tribe and were a color of people she had never seen before. She remembered her father telling stories of the Dark People and realized these people must belong to this tribe. They seemed lost and frightened and they paid little attention to this tiny Messenger. She approached them and tried to speak with them, but their words were strange to her. But it seemed to her that they needed help. She thought about it for a while and came up with an idea. Matawaya guided them to a better place to hide and helped them set up a camp, of sorts. Then she went looking for her friend the trapper, maybe he would know how to speak with these people, after all he knew how to speak her language. She went to his cabin first, looking for him. Then she went to his trap lines, after what seemed like days she found him. When he heard her story, they set out to find the Dark People. She entered the encampment first, so the People would not panic, as they seemed so very frightened. She brought the trapper in behind her and tried to indicate that he was to be trusted. He listened to them and understood what they were saying and he told their story to Matawaya. They were slaves from the South and were escaping to the Freedom of the North. They were traveling the Underground Railroad, being helped by many kind strangers along the way. But their guide had fallen ill and they could go no further. As she listened, Matawaya tended to their wounds and gave them teas to make them feel better. The trapper spoke with the guide and offered to help him get back to his home to recover. The trapper told Matawaya where these Dark People were going and asked if she knew of this place. Eya, she had been there before with Great Hawk. It was decided that she would take the Dark People there and the trapper would take the guide home to his family. It was a difficult trip, trying to guide people that were so different, frightened and unable to understand her. But they developed a way of communication that involved mainly gestures. The rest of the journey took two more nights and she watched these people and realized for all their differences, they were the same as her People. Trying to survive, searching for freedom and the right given to them by the Great Spirit to live as humans. She found a strong fondness for these people as they traveled together. When they arrived at their destination, Matawaya watched as Joy flooded their faces, they were greeted warmly by the people here. Given food and warm clothing and a place to rest and discuss what they would do next. She couldn�t understand them, but realized these People were learning now their lives were their own and the future belonged to them. One of the women helping them approached her and asked her in her own language, who she was. Matawaya told her story and this woman listened intently. She called to her husband and spoke to him about Matawaya. They talked for a long time and she told Matawaya about the Underground Railroad and asked if she would want to be a part of it. Matawaya said that she needed to speak with her People first, but that she was sure they would agree when they heard the story. So this is the way of it. Matawaya did help whenever needed. She returned to the medicine ways because she was born to them. Her medicine was much needed by her own People and by the People who traveled the last leg of the Freedom Journey. She did this as long as she was needed. She never married but did continue healing long after the Underground Railroad was no longer needed. She lived a long life and was held dear by her People and in Spirit teaches her medicine ways to those who are born to the ways. Aho! |