| Ozawahn Migizi, "Yellow Eagle", was but a boy when he had a dream. In this dream he saw a huge wave cover his village and many people drowning. He awoke shaking but would not cry. His mother asked what was wrong, but he could not tell her. Gigoon, "Fish", looked at her husband. He had seen the look in the boys eyes too. So Mamone, "Ironwood Tree", took a blanket and headed outside. He called his son to join him. They went to the main fire pit where the coals were still red and brought the fire back to life. Then Mamone sat with the blanket wrapped around his son and himself and started to talk. He told his son about when he was young and some of the fun things he did. He also told of some of the foolish things he had done with his friends and still did not know how his father had found out. They sat for a long time with Mamone talking and Ozawahn Migizi listening. When Mamone thought his son was relaxed enough, he asked what the dream was. Ozawahn Migizi told his father about his dream. His father did not say anything for a long time. Then he said it was time to get some rest. They would talk more of it in the morning. When Ozawahn Migizi woke up, his father was already up and gone. He did his chores and was just on his way to join the other boys his age when his father returned. He was told to come with his father to see the old shaman. Ahnung, "Star", was the oldest person in the tribe. He knew much. When his father told him to tell Ahnung what he had dreamt. Ahnung listened quietly. Then he asked Ozawahn Migizi a few questions. Each time Ozawahn Migizi answered, Ahnung would nod his head. Finally Ahnung told Ozawahn Migizi to not talk of his dream to anyone. He said he would not. He and his father left and went back to their own wigwam. Many years later Ozawahn Migizi became a man. He spent time in the sweat lodge to make himself ready to have his vision. Then he went to his secret spot to wait for his vision. It took many days of fasting, but finally he saw the spirit of the great golden eagle. The great eagle spoke to him. Telling him to find caves that were high up for his people. He must take those that would go with him and stay there till the danger had passed. Then go west to the three fires. Ozawahn Migizi wanted to ask many questions of the spirit, but it was gone. Returning to his people he told his father of his vision. His father did not seem surprised. He said to go talk to Ahnung. The shaman also did not seem surprised. Ahnung said he should start to look for the high place. To go on with his daily life, but always look for it. When he found it to come and tell the shaman at once. Ozawahn Migizi always looked for the high place. Every place he went he looked. It took him three years to find it. But finally he saw it when he was far up the big river. He was in search of beaver to trap. This was farther up the big river than he had ever been before. The banks were high here. Suddenly he heard the cry of an eagle. When he looked up he saw a cave high up the bank. Then he saw another one a little farther upstream that was higher still. By the end of the day he had climbed up to look in all the caves he had found. There were three big ones and several small ones. He knew he had found what he looked for. He spent the night in the largest and highest cave. He offered tobacco into the fire and chanted a prayer before he ate his evening meal. He would go back to his village early in the morning. When he returned to his village the next day, he went right to the wigwam of Ahnung. When Ahnung saw him coming, he knew why Ozawahn Migizi was walking so fast. He knew Ozawahn Migizi had found the caves. Ozawahn Migizi told Ahnung what he found and where they were. Ahnung listened close and nodded. Ahnung said he would tell the people about it at the evening fire. That evening when the main fire was burning high, Ahnung called all the people of the tribe together. He told them of a story that was passed down from one shaman to another. He told them there would be a great wave that would come into the village and take everything back to the ocean with it. He told them that there was to be a golden eagle that would lead this tribe to the west. They were to go to the three fires. The people started to talk among themselves and some yelled questions at Ahnung. Why had they not been told before? Why did they have to leave their homes? They had lived on the shore of the ocean for many generations and there had never been a great wave before. Why should they believe there would be one now? So many questions came at Ahnung that he could not answer them all. So he sat in silence. |
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| music: Silent Tears |
