A couple of weeks went by, while Shell and Keith worked on gathering the willow, firewood, sage and cedar for the Inipi. Currently, Shell was weaving together some grass mats to cover the sweat lodge with for there still was not enough hide. Sitting near the river’s edge where the tall grass grew best, Shell sat and hummed to herself again, the flute tune that possessed her earlier on the Solar Star Base.
As she wove the grasses, her mind wondered off to the vision she had with the four Grandmothers. The dream was still very fresh and vivid in her mind. All the Grandmothers gathered around the fire and herself seeming very small in comparison took comfort in the warmth of those heated coals. To Shell, this dream was a place where the spirits walked and she obeyed and listened.
The Grandmothers reminded her of a woman’s role in the tribe. They also placed in her some very special gifts beyond what Shell already possessed.
In a simple yet wondrous ceremony, the Grandmothers laid their hands on her one at a time and passed to her their talents and knowledge that each one carried. “We have given you our deepest love and devotion for the People, for the Tribe. Walk on the new Earth with respect for all of life that surrounds you. And remember it was Wakan Tunkasila, Wakan Tanka, the Great Mystery, that gave you life”, the Grandmothers’ words echoed in her head.
Shell, set her grass mat down and rubbed her belly with both her hands. She felt the life inside of her stir. In awe, she looked up to the sky and shouted a “thank you” to the Creator. “Whopila! Whopila! Whopila, Wakan Tunkasila! Whopila!“ Slowly she picked up her mat and continued the weaving as a smile floated across her face. The early autumn butterflies swirled around Shell and a light breeze kicked up. About that time Keith came up from behind her.
“Shell, this place is so beautiful”, Keith began. “I would have never imagined what kind of joy existed here if I was not experiencing it for myself.”
Shell turned to her companion. “Sweetie, the baby has been kicking, want to feel? It is great joy too!”
Keith immediately sat next to Shell on the grass. Gently he placed his hands on her now slightly swollen stomach and felt a light kick. “Wow, that is awesome. I don’t think it has set in yet that I am to be a Father. I seem to be still absorbing the fact that I am here walking on Mother Earth.” Keith smiled at Shell and placed one of his arms around her as he kept the other on her belly.
Shell looked up at his face. His pride was spilling out of his eyes as he gazed back at her. Putting the mat down again, Shell reached up with one hand and lightly touched his cheek. “I am so proud to be here and to be with you”, was all she could choke out as tears began to trickle down her face.
“Guess what”, Keith asked, as he wiped her tears of joy away.
“What”.
“I have found enough willow for our inipi and also enough strong willow and some young pine poles to also build or winter lodge. Soon we will have a wonderful shelter for our soon to be family to grow in”
“Really, wow you have been busy. I suppose I need to make lots more grass mats.
“Guess what, again”, Keith teased.
Shell smiled, “What”.
“I also found a small herd of buffalo. Tomorrow I will go hunting!” Keith’s adrenaline was pumping with the excitement.
The next morning, Shell paced at the campsite. Keith would not let her go on the hunt with him. He gave her instruction as to where the hunt would be, but to remain behind and only come if he does not return by night fall. Shell circled the inipi that was only halfway covered with the grass mats.
Slowly she sat inside of the half built frame of their soon to be shelter and began to softly sing the tune. Gently she hugged her belly as the song over took her heart. Moving to the earth, Shell laid on her side and kissed the ground. As she continued to sing, she stroked the grass as if it was beautiful hair. Coming to her mind was a memory of her mother, so long ago…
...Wynema was brushing her daughters long dark hair. “Mommie, why does our hair grow long”, little Shell asked. Wynema smiled, knowing this was a good question to ask.
“Well, my dear daughter, as we grow we store within ourselves all of our experiences. We keep inside of us everything we have done in our lives. We keep stored the good and the bad things. We tuck away stories shared by our grandmothers and grandfathers. There buried in our souls are our families from generations back. All of these things make up who we are. The very essence of our lives we have built is locked into our hair. For this, our hair is very sacred. As the People continue to generate, so does our hair, reminding us of who we are and how far we have come in our lives.”
“So you see, my lovely little girl, your beautiful long hair is to remind you of who you are and of all the grandmothers and grandfathers who came before you. It is a sacred part of you”
Little Shell thought deep about what her mother said. As her Mother finished twisting the long hair into a tight braid, Shell’s spoke with great longing, “Mother, someday I will touch the hair of Mother Earth and I hope to understand her essence”.
Wynema was not surprised by her child’s thoughts. Shell was a deep thinker from a very very young age. Wynema knew her daughter would someday possess a very special gift…
Keith laid low in the bushes. The buffalo were only 100 yards away. He held onto his newly shaped spear, made from napping stone and fashioned into a nice piercing point. Sweat was forming on his forehead. He was close enough to the great buffalos that he could hear them breathe.
He stood slowly and came from out of the bush. It was not long before the buffalo smelled his presence in the air and turned their heads, one by one, to look at him. He tightened his grip on his spear, but did not move any further. Some of the buffalos began to snort and paw at the ground. Slowly they moved toward Keith. The beat of their hoofs shaking the earth beneath Keith’s own feet.