The Bones of the Past
Ahote believed the recent destruction of his brother home was down to fate. But he still feared that his tepee would suffer the same fate. So as the new chieftain of the tribe he called a meeting. “I as leader of this tribe have decided to travel south away from the pale face warriors and their fire sticks. I will grant freedoms and land to those who travel and fight best alongside me. It is time to up teepees and build a new future. Our ancestors will travel with us in our hearts and guide us.”
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Powerful theme. I’m not sure that chiefs would or could ever make such a decision without consultation. Chiefs tended not to be rulers but facilitators of consensus.
Thank you Neil, you are correct about chiefs being facilitators, although I saw this new chief as young and inexperienced,
I have to hope the southerners are more hospitable. Very nice write Michael…
Thank you so much Violet,
They call them First Nation in Canada – a respectful name for wickedly ill-treated people.
Wickedly is very true in many parts of the world, sadly I have little knowledge about the Canadian First Nation people.
Thank you for such a write, truly. I did enjoy it.
I very much appreciate your comment, thank you Jelli
The decision to move on must have been one of the most difficult for a chief. You show the mixture of personal and communal motives that influenced his decision.
Thank you penny. My offering this week came out of a piece that I wrote two days ago. Although that story was based in Europe in the seventh century
Excellent write, capturing the emotion, determination, desperation of Native Americans.
I much appreciate this comment, thank you so much.
I love the image that their ancestors would guide him as he sought to protect his people. Nicely done!
It is great to get this feedback, as I was unsure with this offering. Thank you Brenda
The homeland determines the identity but settlement of people give a homely feeling to a place even in a strange land. Uprooting is not so easy.
Up rooting and having to move is very challenging, I am often amazed by how people cope.
Being forced to move, beyond weather conditions, was a horrible thing to experience.
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That is very true, it must be very challenging to cope with a vastly differing climate
It is difficult to have to move on, but hopefully to better situations.
It must be very difficult to move when it is against one desires. I find myself unable to imaging how I would have coped in that situation.
Of course they couldn’t outrun them forever.
Sadly the world is not big enough, I can’t imagine how I would have handled being driven from my ancestors lands
Hopefully they’ll find refuge somewhere!
Thank you Jennifer for your comment, I can’t imagine how I would have handled being driven from my ancestors lands
You’ve touched on a huge story here. Elegantly done, Michael.
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Travel, Fiction and Photos
It is very kind of you to say so Susan. I do not have enough depth of knowledge to write more.
I think having to move has been the curse of many Native Americans … in this case they moved on their own accord… other times they were driven away with force.
To often by brute force I suspect, thank you for commenting Björn
A brutal commentary on forced occupation of the natives’ homeland.
Brutal is true, it is difficult to understand.
I fear they have a long way to travel to find peace.
That is true,
A new future but for how long before they get moved on again?
Sadly to soon untill they reach a barren land
I hope they have a peaceful time down south.
Sadly most did not, as they generally where driven from a land of plenty to a barren landscape
Travel as he might, the pale men and their fire sticks will follow.
Sadly that is true.
Very powerful.
Thank you Lisa
A sad story. I fear that Ahote’s optimism and courage won’t be enough for the forces ranged against his people. Well told.
Thank you so much Margaret
Time to look for newer and safer pastures! Good decision by the chief.
It must have been so hard for them to know where to go, what to do.
A sad story about shattered hopes, great writing, Michael.
Thank you so much Gab
A good write Michael, with so much underlying tension. Well done.
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Thank you so much Marian
There are times when the only choice to live is to move on. It was so unfair what our “civil” nations brought upon them.
Sadly at that period so many so called civil nations had a lot to learn. Thank you Susie for your feedback