Chief Lightning Bolt
CHIEF
LIGHTNING
BOLT
CHIEF
LIGHTNING
BOLT
DANIEL N. PAUL
ROSEWAY PUBLISHING
AN IMPRINT OF FERNWOOD PUBLISHING
HALIFAX & WINNIPEG
Copyright © 2017 Daniel N. Paul
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction.
Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
Editing: Chris Benjamin
Design: Tania Craan
Printed and bound in Canada
eBook: tikaebooks.com
Published by Roseway Publishing
an imprint of Fernwood Publishing
32 Oceanvista Lane, Black Point, Nova Scotia, B0J 1B0
and 748 Broadway Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3G 0X3
www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/roseway
Fernwood Publishing Company Limited gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of Manitoba, the Province of Nova Scotia and Arts Nova Scotia.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Paul, Daniel N., author
Chief Lightning Bolt / Daniel N. Paul.
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-55266-969-3 (softcover).--
ISBN 978-1-55266-970-9 (EPUB).--
ISBN 978-1-55266-971-6 (Kindle)
I. Title.
PS8631.A84964C55 2017
C813’.6
C2017-903117-1
C2017-903118-X
A novel featuring love, comedy, intrigue, murder, compromise, war and peace, set in fifteenth-century Northeastern North America.
In memory of my parents,
the late William G. Paul and Sarah Agnes, nee Noel, two decent people who persevered in the face of the racist attitudes that made paupers of Canada’s Native American population. May the Great Spirit give them peace and tranquility for eternity in the Land of Souls. And for my friend Dr. Joseph Randy Bowers, PHD, whose help with this book was of exceptional value!
THE LAND OF THE MI’KMAQ
AUTHOR’S NOTE
IN VIEW OF THE FACT that before the European invasion the Mi’kmaq did not have any First Nation enemies interested in attacking them to satisfy a greedy need to accumulate wealth and dominance over others, I had to use my imagination to create a First Nation to fill the requirement for one. This fictional Nation was needed to display the Mi’kmaq adversity toward war-making activities in this novel. I endowed it with the title “Western Nations.”
That the Mi’kmaq and other Northeastern North American First Nations held such views towards war is well supported by the comments left behind by scholars and colonial European officials. A few examples:
The behaviour pattern requisite of any Micmac was such as to virtually eliminate any overt and direct forms of aggression. The ideal man was one who was restrained and dignified in all his actions, who maintained a stolid exterior under all circumstances, who deprived himself of his possessions to take care of the poor, aged, or sick, or the less fortunate, who was generous and hospitable to strangers but implacable and cruel to his enemies, and brave in war.… The Micmac developed a stoicism that would have rendered credit to the Stoics.
— Bernard Gilbert Hoffman
Our savages do not found their wars upon the possession of the land. We do not see that they encroach one upon the other in that respect. They have land enough to live on and to walk abroad. Their ambition is limited by their bounds. They make war as did Alexander the Great, that they may say, “I have beaten you”; or else for revenge, in remembrance for some injury received.
— Marc Lescarbot, French colonial lawyer
Annapolis (Nova Scotia), March 4, 1720
Committee of the Council could not accept the old frivolous excuse for outrage at Minas [fear of Indians]. Because … their letter of excuse could not be considered as satisfaction, as the Indians rarely, if ever, commit depredations.
— Letter from the English Governor’s Council to the Acadian People of Minas, in a rare admission by the English that the Mi’kmaq did not participate in crimes against civilians and were essentially non-belligerent
Later in the novel, for the purpose of showing the Chief working to end a senseless war over a perceived wrong, I created two other fictional First Nations: the Penikt and the Atikitkas.
My intention in writing this book is to offer an historical narrative that captures the essence of what and who the Mi’kmaq First Nation were prior to the onslaught of European colonization, and what life was like for the members of a Mi’kmaq village. The story is set during the fifteenth century — a period when the Mi’kmaq Nation was strong and allied with several other northeastern Nations within the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Mi’kmaq Nation is located in what today are called the eastern provinces of Canada and part of the American state Maine.
The story of Chief Lightning Bolt is the story of how a Mi’kmaq man with leadership attributes was expected to live his life, with honour and humility. Each chapter represents a different phase of his life, the customs and traditions he was expected to observe and uphold, the actions he would take and the values he would cherish and try to always embody. In Lightning Bolt we see the adventurousness of youth, the intense nervousness of a young man trying to win the hand of the woman he loves, the commitment to serving his community in the Hunt and when absolutely necessary, in battle, and his dedication to serving his People justly and fairly through an egalitarian and democratic process.
RENEWAL AND BIRTH
The arrival of the Sunrises of Spring was rapidly turning the land of the Mi’kmaq lush with renewal. Lakes, rivers and streams, now ice free, were teeming with fish and in dens and nests hidden in Mother Earth’s forests the animals and birds that provided meat for the Mi’kmaq were giving birth to offspring that would assure them bountiful harvests for many Moons to come. After they had experienced an extraordinarily cold Winter, Mother Earth, in her timeless way, was telling the Mi’kmaq that their dreams of enjoying the warmth and plenty of Summer would soon be realized.
In fact, they were in for a big treat. It was to be a spectacular Spring. The Great Spirit had decided to reward the People for their love and devotion by making the Season exceptional. Thus, as the Sunrises passed, the People’s hearts were filled with awe to see the splendour of Mother Earth’s ongoing renewal. Her redecorating of trees and meadows with fresh green leaves and other colourful growth was an unmatchable work of art.
In addition to renewal, Spring’s Sunrises were also important for the well-being of future generations of Mi’kmaq society in a very human way. Spring was when thoughts of love and marriage were at the forefront of the minds of many young men and women. In truth, for most of them, it was a top priority to win the heart of a loving mate to spend a lifetime of happiness with and to raise many cherished children. Their excitement was contagious. Relatives and friends were looking forward with great anticipation to celebrating many exciting wedding parties.
That the current Spring would be blessed with more couples pursuing wedded bliss than normal was evident throughout the far-flung villages of the seven Mi’kmaq Nations. The happy glows in their faces made it apparent to friends and relatives that most of them would soon realize their dream of acquiring a beloved spouse.
Such conclusions
were further solidified by the preparations being made for participation in the ancient romantic ritual by the smitten and their families. To help the potential lovers to move things in the right direction, loving mothers, sisters and aunts were busy designing and stitching together new outfits, which the love-struck thought essential for attracting the attention of the spouses of their dreams. Friends were also involved. They were finding excuses to bring couples into contact with each other at every opportunity.
The Elders, of course, were especially affected by the sense of happy excitement exhibited by the young lovers. It caused them to recall the Seasons long ago, when they had taken their first timid steps towards winning the hearts of their beloved. They remembered with fondness the excitement and fear of rejection, the wonderful moment when a simple yes to a shyly asked question set their world on fire and the inner bliss that made their future look like the Land of Souls on Mother Earth. In contentment they thought, “Ah, the marvelous memories of the delights of one’s youth!”
The pursuit of married bliss was not without trials and tribulations. Under the Nation’s ancient romantic rules, which guided courtship, engagement and marriage, many rituals had to be followed by the smitten. First and foremost, Mi’kmaq custom dictated that the enamoured young warrior must take the first step to initiate courtship, which involved giving appropriate presents to the parents of the young woman of his dreams.
Thus, to prepare for the ritual, the young braves and proven warriors throughout the Land of the Mi’kmaq were worriedly amassing troves of quality goods to present to the parents of their dream women. To them, because the success of their romantic efforts directly affected their future contentment, it was a traumatic experience. Each fervently hoped and prayed that the quality and quantity of his presents would be convincing evidence to her protective parents, and to her, that he had the wherewithal to be a capable and conscientious provider.
Under such pressure, the courageous young warriors were often reduced to nervous wrecks. In fact, among the many adventures that they encountered during their lifetimes, winning the heart of a young woman was considered one of the most traumatic. Many, because of the stress and tribulations they suffered, would state to friends afterward, “I would much prefer to fight, unarmed and alone, two mother black bears with cubs, than go through that again!” If not for the needs of the warrior’s heart overruling the urging of his brain to avoid the daunting process altogether, Mi’kmaq society would have been hard pressed to survive.
CHAPTER ONE
THROUGHOUT THE SEVEN Mi’kmaq Districts, brave warriors were approaching the daunting process of courtship with much anxiety. Among them was Little Bear, a member of Chief Thunder Cloud’s village, in the District of Kespukwitk. He was a handsome young man who had had his warrior’s status confirmed during the last Hunt.
With fear tugging at his heart, he was marshalling up the courage to visit Chief Thunder Cloud to ask permission to court his daughter, Early Blossom, whom he was madly in love with. To his eyes, she was the most desirable young woman to have ever graced Mother Earth, which only added to his anxiety. Because of her exceptional qualities, he thought he had little chance to interest her in courtship. Thus, he began his romantic endeavour with a deep fear of having his quest for her hand rejected. It never occurred to him that Early Blossom might be waiting eagerly for him to make his approach. Like all young Mi’kmaq men, he had been taught from early childhood to be humble and shun self-aggrandizement. He was unappreciative of his personal assets. If asked to list the personal strengths and accomplishments that would make him a good husband, he would’ve been embarrassed to try.
His lack of self-appreciation was also the reason he had no awareness of the widely held view among virtually all the young women of the surrounding area that he was one of the most desirable young men available. He was regarded as being blessed with ruggedly handsome good looks and exceptional hunting skills. Young Mi’kmaq women, when it came to the games played between the sexes, were a match for any man. They usually succeeded when they set their heart on marrying a warrior who took their fancy, a feat they accomplished in spite of the cultural traditions that required they be very circumspect in their pursuits. Thus, they followed maternal ancestors and permitted a suitor to believe that he alone was the assertive participant in the process.
In the case of Little Bear and Early Blossom, they had much the same attitude about themselves. As a result, the game wasn’t playing out according to the ancient rules. She was a shy, unassuming and beautiful young woman. Her humility was deeply embedded. She was thus unaware of her considerable charms and was full of doubts about her ability to attract a mate. It never crossed her mind that she was viewed by the young warriors of their village with very high affections. Early Blossom had for many Moons been madly in love with a person with whom she had not exchanged a single word of intimacy. In her eyes he was the bravest, the most handsome and the most desirable young man in the country. Because of this she wanted with all her heart to be the one who would end his bachelor seasons.
Her apprehension about her chances of accomplishing her goal didn’t stop her from trying. Whenever she had an inkling that Little Bear might be around the village in places where she would be, she dressed in her best outfits and tried to be extra charming. But, from her perspective, regardless of what she did, he was unaware of her existence. With this outlook guiding her thoughts she began to despair that the young warrior would never, if he did find her desirable, summon up the courage needed to approach her father to ask if he could court her.
During these moments of despair, she lamented that men were so afraid and so slow to take the initiative when it came to affairs of the heart. She discussed her anxiety with her mother, Blue Water.
“Mother, can you tell me why Little Bear finds me unattractive? I make sure I’m as presentable as possible when I think I might meet him around the village. Yet, when we do meet in passing, he pays no more attention to me than he would to a fly on the back of a moose. He acts as if I don’t exist, mumbles something and goes on his way! All my friends tell me that he is attracted to me but his actions don’t support what they say.”
Blue Water, from her own experience, knew that the pursuit of a first love was a trying ordeal for a young woman. She, like countless mothers before her, tried to use her experience, combined with the knowledge she had collected in friendly exchanges with girlfriends over the Seasons, to find a way to give confidence and comfort to her worried daughter.
“Early Blossom, my baby, you are a dependable, attractive, intelligent young woman, but you don’t appreciate the full effects of your charms on men. I can assure you that Little Bear finds you very attractive. In fact, so do most of the other young men in the village, and surrounding area, who would be busy trying to convince you to be their bride if they only thought that they had a small chance to win your affection. You are beautiful, my dear.” Her mother embraced her daughter, who had tears welling up in her eyes. “You are so very wonderful my dear; trust me in this one matter.”
After a brief pause, Blue Water said, “Be patient with Little Bear; he is shy and like all young men, almost without courage when it comes to affairs of the heart. I can assure you, from my own experience of courtship with your father, and also from the words of wisdom collected over the Seasons from friends and relatives, that your fears are completely unfounded. Rest assured, my dear, when Little Bear musters up the courage, he will visit your father!”
Brushing the tears from her cheeks, Early Blossom said, “I hope you’re right. The prospect of being a lonely old maid doesn’t appeal to me.”
Anyone listening closely would have heard Blue Water mumble as she walked away, “Great Spirit, give me patience and strength.”
From past experience, Thunder Cloud knew that all signs indicated love and marriage were in the works for his youngest daughter. She and Little Bear were so tongue-tied when near each other tha
t only a blind person could miss the signals. With a great deal of anticipation he was looking forward to the fun of putting on a stern and reluctant fatherly show for him. In fact, the prospect of teasing Little Bear by pretending he wasn’t pleased with his wanting to court Early Blossom would be the highlight of the Season. As the father of five sons and five daughters, he had already been through the process many times and each had been equally enjoyable. His sons, of course, had been the objects of another father’s fun.
In Little Bear’s case, Thunder Cloud didn’t have much longer to wait. With each passing Sunrise the young man was slowly but surely drumming up the courage to ask for permission to court Early Blossom, if only Thunder Cloud would offer his consent.
Finally, two Sunrises before the first Moon of Spring, after running out of excuses for any further delay, Little Bear decided to undertake the heart-stopping task the next Sunrise. He made the momentous decision, which required using his wellspring of courage, shortly after retiring to his comfortable fir-bough bed for the night. This assured that he had a fitful and restless sleep.
Family and friends sensed from how tired and haunted he looked during the next Sunrise that he had finally made the decision to ask for courting permission. They also figured correctly that the look of the condemned they saw in his face was caused by his picturing being rejected by the father and sentenced to a life of heartbreak without the company of the girl he loved. In fact, during the night he had repeatedly imagined everything that could possibly go wrong, over and over again.
He thought, “Oh Great Spirit, Thunder Cloud will never judge me worthy to court Early Blossom. After I make my request, I can see him reacting like a cranky old bull moose with porcupine quills in its hide, raging at me for thinking I’m good enough to be a provider for his daughter. Then, in a thunderous authoritative voice, which leaves no space for question, asking me to leave his wigwam forever, saying, ‘Little Bear, for you to think that I would permit one as unworthy as you to court my daughter is an insult to my family’s good name, to our pride and honour! Please, never come back to my wigwam with such a disrespectful and offensive request again! Go!’”