I Am Algonquin Read online

  Early into the Strawberry Moon, the air became very humid and heavy. Our people knew this was a sign from Nokomis that the rains would begin, but with the rains, she would also bring the fire from the sky, wàwàsamòg (lightning).

  The third night after Nokomis’s sign, the lightning lit up the skies for the whole evening, but there was no rain. Again, the next night the lightning came, and it was close enough to illuminate the river and the forests around us. Always the onimikì (thunder) accompanied the lightning, like huge drums in the sky, and on the second night it was so loud that we thought it was going to come out of the skies and devour us with its roar.

  “Mahingan,” said Mitigomij, “I had a dream last night that the fire would come soon. We must be prepared, for I fear that it will devour us if we are not ready. In my dream, we went to the small island that is sheltered by the big island where the rapids are fierce. This place will protect us, and in turn we will protect the island.”

  “Yes, Mitigomij. I know the place. Upriver from where we are and a day’s travel by the river. The island has rapids to protect us from the north, with lots of game on the larger island, and we would be close to the mainland, which would enable us to hunt there also. We will prepare in the morning to go.”

  For the last two days during the thunder and lightning, our dogs had been cowering in our lodges. My wolf Ishkodewan, who was now full-grown, would not leave my side. In the evening, he crawled into our shelter, lies beside me, and whimpered throughout the night while we tried to sleep. The only one of our family who was not bothered by all the noise was Anokì. He slept through it all. Even Mitigomij’s panther, Makadewà Wàban, was showing himself on the edge of the forest. The animals were warning us.

  About an hour before dawn Kànikwe, Miskwì, and one of the twins, Wàbek, awakened the village.

  They were yelling, “It has started, we can see the fire coming through the big pine forest to the north of us. We have to go.”

  “Kànikwe, how much time do we have?” Kàg asked.

  “Until a bit after dawn,” he replied.

  By then the whole village was awake and we were grabbing all that we could carry. We totalled seventy-three people, of which twenty-two were warriors.

  There was only enough time to make two trips to the canoes, but because of the limitations of the elders, we asked them to make only one trip.

  I spoke to the warriors and told them that on the first trip we had to take all our weapons and hides. The women, elders, and older children would be responsible for the food stores. The younger children were to handle the dogs and watch over them. When we returned, we would load up the toboggans with everything else: our snowshoes, clothes, cooking utensils, and containers. The path through the pines to the canoes was well worn and one man could pull the toboggans. The rest of the warriors, women, and older children would carry all they could. There were some travois in the village that in the past we had used to bring in game. We had forty-two canoes, and we would fill them with all that they could carry. We would lash some of the canoes together because of the lack of paddlers.

  By dawn the animals that were fleeing the onslaught of the fire were starting to run through the village. Our nostrils were filling with the smell of the burning forest, and we could hear the trees popping from the ferocity of the flames. Looking up, all we could see was a red sky to the north, floating embers, and ash.

  “We must go now,” I yelled to everyone. “Nokomis is sending her fire, and she will not spare us if we do not heed her warnings!”

  With the sound of the forest crackling from the fire behind us, the people started toward the river and safety. Embers were flying through the air toward our village.

  As we proceeded toward the river, we happened upon the predators of the forest that were patrolling the fire’s perimeter. In the skies, the hawks were circling and along with the wolves, mink, pijiw (lynx), fox, and cougars, they were all feasting on the kinebik (snakes), wàbòz, and nanapàdjinikesì (mice) as they fled from the fire.

  Making sure there was no one left behind was the responsibility of the older boys; they took one last patrol of the shoreline. By the time they finished their search, all the boats had been loaded and we shoved off into the river.

  My canoe held my wife, son, Ishokodewan, and the small dog. The boat next to me carried Mitigomij, Wàbek, my brother’s panther Makadewà Wàban, and a small boy who was sound asleep lying up against the big cat. Kàg and Wàgosh were close by in their boats with their wives and the other twin Makwa.

  As we started to paddle upstream to the island, we made it a point to help any distressed animals that were in the river. The people pulled many wet rabbits out of the water. We would not harm any of these animals, but would free them on the island where they would multiply and provide us with food in lean times. We also helped a couple of deer that were exhausted. When we lifted these animals into the boats, they had to have their legs bound with rope. If not, when they gained their strength back they would tear our canoes apart with their sharp hooves and either sink the boat or capsize it. Our people also saved some foxes, lynx, and mink that had their fur singed and had reached the point of exhaustion.

  The larger animals like the moose and elk who were strong swimmers had no problems with the river. The wolves and cougars kept ahead of the fire and enjoyed feasting on the smaller animals.

  As we paddled upriver, we were amazed at the colours of the fire. Once the fire had burnt itself out, Nokomis would start the renewal with the rains. The woodpeckers would be the first to come back and thrive. They would feast on the bark beetles and other insects that had settled in the newly burnt trees.

  Aspen, raspberry, and rose would sprout from underground roots after the fire passed. Moose, elk, and deer would feed on this new growth.

  The lodge pole and jack pine have resin-sealed cones that the fire pops open and this scatters their seeds and promotes new growth.

  Even though the fire looked like it was destroying all in its path, it missed many green spots and that is where many animals took refuge.

  By midmorning we landed on the island and started unloading. We released the animals that we had rescued from the river and they scampered and ran toward the pine, cedar, and maple forests. The women and children started to make shelters and the men went into the forest to bring back saplings and birch needed to build our lodges.

  This island was easily defensible with the rapids surrounding it from the north. Anyone who now came up or down the river would have to deal with us.

  24

  Journey to the Land

  of the Ouendat

  AFTER THE FIRE WE busied ourselves gathering berries, roots, nuts, building new wàginogàns, and hunting for our winter stores. The Ayàbe Tibik-kìzis (Buck Moon, July) soon ended and this became the time when new antlers start to appear on the deer. With the coming of the Wìyagiminan Tibik-kìzis (Fruit Moon, August), we made a decision to travel to the west to visit and trade with our allies the Ouendat. They lived in an area of fertile fields and an abundance of game. We would have to travel to the north up the Kitcisìpi then over to the big lake of the Nippissing people. From there we would take the river that empties into the big bay. There would be many portages, one to three a day. Depending on the weather, we would make it there in twenty to twenty five days.

  The Ouendat lived year-round in their communities. They built large lodges called long houses that were seventy-five to a hundred feet long, each house holding forty or fifty people. They also grew what they called the Three Sisters, mandàman (corn), askootasquash (squash), and azàhan (beans).

  Our people were mostly nomadic. We hunted, fished, and gathered berries and roots. Breaking the soil and growing our own food was not a priority with us. If we could not pick it or kill it, we traded for what we needed. When we visited our allies the Ouendat, we always traded furs for the Three Sisters and for nasemà. The Ouendat obtained their tobacco from allies called the Petun. The extra buffalo robes that w
e still had would bring us much needed trade goods. During this time, we would also trade dogs to make our breeds grow stronger. I took the small dog with me because Ishkodewan and he were inseparable. Once the Ouendat see this pair there is the possibility I could receive many offers for both of them, but I would never part with either.

  Mitigomij and Wàgosh stayed with the village to look after the safety of the remaining people. Enough warriors will remain with them to defend and hunt for the people. The island was easily defendable and we expected the other bands to be coming to join up with us, in order to gather for the remainder of the summer. The warriors that came with me would have to be strong enough to have only two to a canoe, because each canoe was laden with furs and a dog or two to trade. On the way home, the boats would be full of corn, squash, beans, and tobacco.

  I thought carefully about who I wanted to accompany me on this mission. It would take us forty or more suns to travel there and back and there would be another ten or twelve days of feasting. Arrival back to our village would not be until the start of the Kìshkijigewin Tibik-kìzis (Harvest Moon, September).

  I knew Kàg and the twins wanted to go. The warrior women and their friend Kànikwe were also good choices. Of course, Mònz would not want to stay behind. Leaving only the Elder Nìjamik to ask and two young warriors to travel with him, Miskwì and Kinòz-I Ininì.

  There would be five canoes and eleven warriors. Because of the peace pact with the Nippissing, the journey would be safe from any rivals. Sunrise in two days was our departure. We canvassed the village for furs and dogs to trade. I assigned the twins the responsibility of gathering food for our journey. Unless we came across any game, we would not take time out to hunt.

  In the Land of the Haudenosaunee, a conversation was taking place between two warriors.

  “Mishi-pijiw Odjìshiziwin (Panther Scar), we have news of a great fire in the Algonquin lands,” said Mandàmin Animosh (Corn Dog). “They will have to move from the interior and the riverbanks to safety on the islands; because of this, they will not be as vigilant. Their people will be busy building new lodges and replenishing what they have lost. It might also keep the bands from joining with each other until later in the summer.”

  “Finally, the time is right to strike these dogs that call themselves warriors and men,” said Panther Scar. “They have much to pay for. We will find them, kill their men, burn their lodges, and take their women and children. I want the one with the Black Panther. Everyone thinks he is Michabo the Trickster God and the cat the Fabulous Night Panther. I have met both in battle and still carry the scars to this day. They are neither Gods nor Legends. Call in the warriors. The Haudenosaunee will claim their revenge! We leave in one day. Tell the runners any warrior that cannot make it here is to meet us at the big lake for the crossing up the Kitcisìpi. Tell them this will be a good raid. Tonight we offer tobacco to the Gods and dance and feast.”

  We started out that morning in a cooling mist. We covered our bodies with grease mixed with goldenseal, to ward off the mosquitoes. The wet mist made our bodies shine in the morning sun. Kàg and Mònz set the pace for us all. There was just a whisper of wind and the river was calm. In these conditions, our small group would make good time.

  I was in the front of my boat with my weapons nearby. The warrior in the bow was always responsible for the defence of the canoe. He would always see the danger first and had to be prepared to defend the craft. The small dog and my wolf sat in the middle of the boat with their noses stuck in the air inhaling the smells of the river. With me in the boat was Kànikwe. No words passed between us for the longest time; we just paddled and kept our thoughts in our minds.

  “Mahingan, I had a dream last night. I have dreamt the Haudenosaunee would come while we were away.”

  “Kànikwe, the village is well defended and with Mitigomij and his cat watching over things all will be fine. Furthermore, in the next little while the other bands will be coming for our summer gathering. This will make us too strong for our enemies to want to raid.”

  Mitigomij was worried. Mahingan was gone now ten suns and only one small band had come for the gathering. Some of the others had sent word that the fire had destroyed their villages and that the other bands were helping them to rebuild and replenish their food stock. Still, this turn of events would make them vulnerable if there was trouble. He had to be cautious, and he needed Wàgosh to spend less time with Kwìngwìshì and more on the village security. Needing fresh game, he asked Wàgosh to gather some men and go on a hunt. That way they would also have men out in the woods in case any of our enemies were lurking around.

  Panther Scar and his men had been on the warrior trail for seven days. They were now on the Kitcisìpi River. The wind was from the north that day, and it carried with it the smell of the burnt forest. It pleased Panther Scar to know that they were nearing their enemies, the Algonquins. In the next four or five days, they would have scalps, women, and prisoners to torture. After this was over, he would also have the feeble-legged one and his black cat. As he looked back from his canoe, he smiled. There were thirty-eight boats with over a hundred Haudenosaunee warriors.

  We had been on our journey now for twelve days. During one of our portages we came across a small party of Nippissing warriors that included Ojàwashkwà Animosh, the man that I had defeated in the running race the past summer. Ojàwashkwà Animosh had ten warriors with him, and they were on a hunting trip. When we told him we were travelling to visit our close allies the Ouendat, he asked if he could join us. His people were low on tobacco, and it would be a welcome diversion to trade with these allies from the west. Joining up we continued our travels down the river to the big bay. During this time, the mosquitoes became very bothersome, getting into our eyes and mouths. We pulled ashore and searched in the woods for tree fungus. Within an hour, we had filled four baskets full of the valuable smudge. All of the warriors then inserted it in a short-wedged stick and tied it to our heads. We lit the fungus and the smoke kept the annoying bugs away. Because we had picked the fungus green, there was no danger of fire, and it served as a very effective deterrent to these annoying insects. While gathering the fungus we also obtained some alder bark to treat our underarms, which had scalded from the constant rubbing as we paddled morning to night. When applied to the bruised and scalded area it stung, but it also soon healed the problem.

  Upon reaching the mouth of the river, we decided that we would spend a day to rest and hunt fresh meat. The continuing paddling had started to drain our strength and our food stocks were becoming low. Fresh meat would be a welcome respite, and we would use the skin in trade. We sent out two hunting parties, one up each side of the shoreline with the understanding that once the sun was high in the sky each group would turn back toward camp. The remaining warriors would make camp and do any necessary repairs to the canoes.

  My group consisted of Ojàwashkwà Animosh and one of his men plus the two warrior women. We had also brought Ishkodewan and the small dog. The mosquitoes were thick as smoke but our smudge sticks kept them at bay. Our path took us along a rocky beach area that seemed to stretch forever. As we were finally coming to the end of this uneven walk, the animals gave a low growl. Ahead we could see a burnt out area from a long ago forest fire, but that was not what caught our attention and caused the wolf and dog to sound the alert.

  Panther Scar and his men, after being on the warrior trail for twelve days and the river for five of them, were now nearing the Omàmiwinini lands. The large war party stopped and made camp. Panther Scar then selected two groups of men and sent them out as a probing force to scout ahead looking for any villages. His men had been travelling on dry corn and water during the trek. The corn staved off the hunger pains by swelling the stomach, but fresh meat would strengthen the men and with that in mind, he sent out hunting parties. During the next few days, they feasted, danced, and built up their strength for the battle ahead. When the raid was over, they would retreat down the river and back to their lodges with the
ir captives and scalps.

  Mitigomij did not like what was unfolding. The family units were not gathering in force because they were busy trying to replenish what they had lost in the fire. A good majority of the families were not as lucky as they had been with having an available sanctuary on the island. Many of them who had been inland had been able to escape to the middle of small rivers with only what they could carry. Now they were preoccupied with trying to replace what they had lost to the fire with their warriors out hunting and fishing and their women gathering roots and berries. Only three small families had come to the gathering place and even though the island had good defences, Mitigomij was concerned because he only had about thirty-five warriors among the hundred and fifty people under his care. At this time there were two hunting groups of twelve men out, leaving an undermanned force to protect the village.

  Wàgosh and his five men had been hunting for two days now. They had a clutch of misise and some mashkodesì (quail) to take back, but what he would have really liked was a deer to make the trip worthwhile. Ever since the fire, the deer had been slow in returning to the fire-ravaged forest. The green shoots of grass had started to sprout through the blackened earth and there were some signs of the animal, but they had not yet been able to sight one. With him were the red and white dogs. They were two skillful hunters, but they had failed to pick up any scent that would have put them on the chase. They were now walking along the riverbank hoping to pick something up there. Just as they had reached a stand of silver birch, the dogs started to growl. Then Wàgosh felt a rush of air passing his head. Turning to see what had caused this sudden breeze, the man behind him gurgled, spat blood on Wàgosh’s chest, and dropped dead.