Chief Lightning Bolt Read online

  “Big Beaver, my brother, your news fills my heart with great sadness. My outrage is so intense that I can barely find words to express it. My brother, the valiant efforts made by your courageous warriors, during the past Moons, to try to repulse the Western warriors in the face of such formidable odds, is truly commendable. Your brave and beloved countrymen have my heartfelt sympathy.

  “Oh, my brothers, in order to control the anger raging within my soul I need to take a moment to ask the Great Spirit to help me have charity and forgiveness in my heart toward our enemies. Please join me, Dear Father of the Universe, help us, your poor children, to find forgiveness, at this time of great stress in our heart, for the excesses of our enemies.”

  After a few moments of meditation Grand Chief Big Elk continued, “Big Beaver, you may inform your fellow Kespekian citizens that our country stands firmly with them in these dangerous times. You and they may be assured that everything in our power will be done to free your country. And, from the comments made over the last few Sunrises to me by our colleagues, I can assure you that Kespek will have their unconditional support as well. We have come to this because the war in Kespek is an attack against all Mi’kmaq and Allied Nations and threatens the very survival of our way of life.

  “My brother, your belief that the Western Nations were motivated by our weakness is absolutely correct. Because of our lack of foresight, we are collectively responsible for this sad state of affairs and must accept a large part of the blame for the misery being suffered by our brothers and sisters in Kespek because of it. Because of this negligence they’ve concluded that we’re cowards and thus can be defeated without much resistance.

  “However, soon they will learn they should never take the Mi’kmaq and Allies for cowards. Our Peoples will quickly overcome the sad state of our defences and we shall preserve our land and freedom.

  “This must also be a hard-learned lesson to us. To assure that our Nations never again face such a threat and be put into such mortal danger, we must vow this Sunrise to never again permit our defensive capabilities to lapse into a state of disrepair. The loss of so many of our beloved people in Kespek will always lay heavy on my conscience for our sin of omission. I now pass to Chief Big Timber.”

  “Thank you, Grand Chief Big Elk, my brother. I also wish to express my absolute outrage in regards to these attacks by the enemy against our brothers and sisters. This is, I can assure you, also the feeling of my countrymen. When they first heard the bloody details about the magnitude and unprovoked nature of the Western assault, they reacted with indignation and revulsion. I can state with near certainty that we will be moving a large army of warriors into Kespek within one Moon. The enemy’s aggression shall be brought to a halt and they shall be taught convincingly to court peace forevermore. I pass to Chief Little Eagle.”

  “My beloved brothers, I concur that we must take responsibility and shoulder much of the shame for this aggression. I have no doubts that we invited attack by being ill-prepared to forcefully respond. To assure that this never happens again I propose that we ask the citizens of our countries to enshrine, as part of the laws of our Nations, this oath to be sworn to by leaders before they assume office:

  “‘I, before the Great Spirit, do solemnly declare, to prevent foreign aggression that I will take all steps deemed necessary to assure that the defences of our country shall be kept in top condition. I further acknowledge that failure to do so will result in disgrace and loss of office.’”

  Without debate or discussion, Little Eagle’s proposal was endorsed by the Chiefs.

  During the rest of the afternoon the remaining Mi’kmaq and Allied Chiefs offered comments. After all had spoken the meeting was adjourned by Grand Chief Big Elk until the following morning, in order to allow the councils of the other six Mi’kmaq countries and Allied Nations sufficient time to consider Big Beaver’s urgent request. Because of the major threat posed by the invasion of Kespek and the fact that its citizens were Mi’kmaq in distress, the result of their deliberations was predictable.

  The next morning after reconvening, Big Beaver was informed by all Grand Council members and allies that they had decided to send volunteers to Kespek as soon as possible as an interim measure to slow the advance of the Westerners. He was further informed that to implement their decisions, their War Chiefs had been given instructions to start the process of marshalling volunteers immediately. The Chiefs of Unama’kik and Eskikewa’kik, because of threats to their territories posed by other unfriendly countries, regretfully advised the council that they could only provide modest voluntary contingents. The Chiefs of the Eastern Nations also advised that they would take immediate measures to help.

  The Chiefs began to lay their individual plans for getting their countries fully involved in the war effort before the meeting. Chief Big Timber, anticipating that his People would quickly approve full-scale participation in the effort to end the war, informed his peers that he had already instructed Kespukwitk’s War Chief, Grey Eagle, to begin to make plans for travel to Kespek’s War Chief Mighty Water’s headquarters, with a sizeable army for deployment. One by one, after Big Timber’s presentation, the other Chiefs presented their preliminary plans of action. It was decided to defer final planning and decision-making to a War Council meeting to be convened as soon as possible at Mighty Water’s headquarters in Kespek.

  Because of the graveness of the situation, the Chiefs, as soon as they arrived home, sent runners to villages to arrange meetings to discuss with the People the proposals to end the war. Such meetings were required by the laws of the culture, because in the land of the Mi’kmaq, the People were the ones who made the final decisions in matters of this magnitude.

  While Kespukwitk’s National Chief Big Timber was arranging village meetings, War Chief Grey Eagle sent word to villages in close proximity to the village of Little Bear asking for volunteers. They were instructed to gather in Little Bear’s village fifteen Sunrises before the first Moon of Autumn, so that they could depart for Kespek by the following dawn. Volunteers from more distant villages were advised of places they could join up with the main party along the way. By the time of its departure, the volunteer force was equivalent to the strength of a large army contingent.

  Lightning Bolt and Crazy Moose, prompted by a deep sense of indignation and anger over the invasion, were among the first in Little Bear’s village to offer their services. The dusk before departure, Lightning Bolt discussed his forthcoming journey into battle with his parents. “When Grey Eagle asked for volunteers to travel with him to Kespek to fight the Westerners, I immediately volunteered without informing you of my intentions. In haste to help, I completely forgot that being considerate of the feelings of others is a most important social responsibility. You have my humble apology for this oversight. It was inconsiderate and inappropriate. The only excuse I can offer is that the war so outrages my moral sense of justice that it caused me to react in a positive manner to the volunteer request without thinking. In any event, I can’t wait to get there to help end it.”

  His mother, to erase his feelings of remorse, responded, “My son, my brave warrior, an apology isn’t necessary because what you did is what we fully expected of you. We knew with certainty, from the time we first heard of the atrocities being committed in Kespek, that it would fill you with a sense of indignation and outrage that would compel you to volunteer. My precious son, your volunteering to serve a great cause was expected and we know it was done with a very generous heart.”

  Little Bear added, “My heart, my brave son, is filled with love for you and for all the other young men who have so selflessly volunteered for war duty. This demonstrates that you and they have a firm belief in the righteousness of the noble cause for which many of you may give up your lives.

  “Kespek’s agony, my son, must be in good conscience ended. It will take time but I know in my heart you and your fellow brave warriors shall eventually evict the at
tackers. You deserve nothing but praise for what you did. Fear not, you did not hurt our feelings. Indeed the quick response to the call to arms by our warriors makes me feel very confident and secure about the preservation of the values of our way of life. The young people must be complimented about how well they learned to be staunch defenders of liberty, justice and equality. This commitment by successive generations to protect and preserve our country’s democratic tenets is the key to its survival. I’m sure that our ancestors in the Land of Souls are very proud of the commitment by their descendants to the perpetuation of their remarkable handiwork.

  “For the democracy they created for the enjoyment of their children’s children, we must never forget to be thankful. When I talk to the Creator, every Sunrise, I always thank Him for providing our ancestors with the wisdom to accomplish what they did. The excellence of their work is no better stated than by the unselfish willingness of their descendants to defend it with their lives and thus preserve it for the enjoyment of future generations.

  “My beloved son, when I embark on this subject I’m like a fiery old comet streaking across the sky; I go on forever. Before I stop, I want you to know that I shall pray and ask the Great Spirit every Sunrise to protect you and all the other brave men that will be fighting beside you, and ask that if possible He permit you all to return home safely. During the trials that lie ahead, if you ever begin to despair of them, remember that we’re with you in spirit. And so is the Creator.

  “My son, I love you dearly. At times such as this, when a child is leaving home to encounter danger, a father realizes he has neglected to say this enough times. To rectify this omission I want to restate what I just said, from the depths of my heart: I love you dearly. Please carry that always with you in your travels. I know in my heart that you shall be honourable and above reproach in battle, and when needed, be forgiving of your enemies. I also feel strongly that the Father of the Universe shall see you safely home.”

  With tears in his eyes Lightning Bolt responded, “My honoured Father, I thank you warmly for your words of love and confidence. It warms my heart to hear you say what I already know, that I have the good fortune to have the undying love of my wonderful parents. It will comfort me constantly during the uncertain Sunrises ahead.

  “Now, my beloved Mother and Father, it’s my turn. I want you both to hear this, because it may be the will of the Great Spirit that I not return to your warm embraces, that for everything you’ve ever done for me in life, I thank you. You have proven your love for me a thousand times over with your dedication to my well-being. I love you both dearly and shall miss you constantly during the Sunrises ahead.

  “While away, my beloved parents, I shall dream that perhaps at a future Sunrise, partings of people who love each other dearly such as us, because of war, will be only memories. It can happen! When men learn to respect life and use their intelligence to promote the common good of all People, rather than using it to seek power, war will end.

  “Wars give no one pleasure. The fact that this war will take me away from you for an unknown period of time fills my heart with anger and sorrow. The only thing wars beget is human misery, and all participants lose, even the winner. The damage they do to the soul of nations and their citizens is almost irreparable.

  “There isn’t any doubt in my mind that this conflict will leave deep marks on both sides. It breaks my heart to know that the many deaths that have already occurred, and shall continue to occur until it’s over, will leave empty spots in the hearts of so many decent people. I find no solace in knowing that our side has a legitimate and just excuse for taking military action, because I believe that we would not be fighting a war if our leadership had shown more foresight and kept our Nations well prepared for defensive action. What were our leaders thinking when they neglected to keep our Nations well prepared for defensive action? The danger signals were there. The unfriendly conduct of the Western Nations over the Moons alone was ample warning that they were not to be trusted. I don’t think anyone needed an eye into the future to know that they had designs upon our lands.

  “This is verified by the number of times they have over the past few decades conducted unprovoked raids into our territories, then pretended that the culprits were bandits outside of their control. Why our leaders kept hoping that their words of reconciliation, which they offered so readily after each incident, indicated that they would change, is beyond me.

  “My beloved parents, when I look at our situation through the eyes of the enemy I can only conclude that we must have appeared to them like ripe fruit ready for picking. Our willingness to forgive their aggression as the acts of individuals, which they were not able to control, fortified their belief that we were soft when it came to defending our civilization. From this, it isn’t any wonder that they drew the erroneous conclusion that we are cowards and as such would not make the necessary sacrifices to defend ourselves. Displaying weakness to an enemy such as the Westerners is not a virtue. It’s suicidal.

  “Never again should we permit our defence capabilities to become decrepit. As Chief Little Eagle said at the Grand Council meeting, ‘We must never again leave our guard down, for by doing so we encourage a potential enemy to lose his reason and attack us.’ I know in my heart, my beloved ones, if a Nation wishes to remain free and live in peace it must always be prepared to go to war to defend its way of life.”

  His Father replied, “My son, the wisdom of your words is unquestionable. They make a father proud! I can assure you that I too stand fully persuaded to the belief that in unity, strength and preparedness rests peace. The mistake we’ve made must never be repeated, because the cost of lives is too great.”

  Lightning Bolt then swore to them that he would use his best effort during his lifetime to help find peace. “I pledge this Sunrise to you, two of the people whom I love most dearly on Mother Earth, that I shall devote the rest of my life to promoting peace through strength. If during my lifetime there develops a tendency to let down our guard, I shall be the first to tell the People that we court disaster.”

  Impressed by the sincerity of his son’s words, Little Bear replied, “The wisdom of your words this evening convinces me that you will do it some Sunrise. But now, as it’s getting late and we have to get up well before dawn, it’s time to go to bed.”

  “Are my brothers and sisters getting up to see us off?”

  “Yes. Everybody in the village will be getting up to see their loved ones off. Many, especially the younger ones, with lots of sleep in their eyes. I can see it now, small children staggering and stumbling around half-asleep, only half-recognizing the beloved brothers and friends they’re wishing a safe return.”

  “My dearest Mother and Father, I don’t feel that it’s going to do any good to ask you not to worry while I’m gone, but I feel I must ask anyway.”

  With a serious face, his Mother responded, “My son, there are no assurances that anyone can give a mother that will ease her mind in times such as this. Until I see a canoe come over the horizon bringing you safely home and unharmed, I can assure you, my precious baby, I shall worry.”

  Early the next morning, with sadness in their hearts, Little Bear, Early Blossom, their children and neighbours all watched as their beloved sons rowed off into the darkness of the bay to meet their destiny in far-off Kespek. They knew in their hearts, although they maintained an air of cheerfulness, that they had seen many of their relatives and friends alive and well for the last time.

  The warriors, as they rowed out of sight, although already missing their loved ones, were full of expectation and excitement. Even the travel route to Kespek, selected by the leaders, offered an exciting diversion. It included traversing over some land, but most of it would be by canoe over sea, river and lake. The leaders told them that the trip, under ideal conditions, would take approximately twenty Sunrises. The boys saw this as a challenge and decided to try to knock off approximately three Sunrises
and do it in seventeen. In fact, it took them eighteen.

  Upon arrival in Kespek, the warriors were greeted by the impressive sight of several thousand warriors making preparations for war. Mighty Water, Kespek’s War Chief, and peers from the allied Nations held many planning councils during the ensuing Sunrises to map out strategy for the deployment of warriors on the field of battle.

  To help implement their plan, the War Chiefs selected many young warriors who had already displayed leadership abilities, including Lightning Bolt, to lead small groups of warriors. With this detail taken care of, deployment began.

  Meanwhile, unknown to the volunteers from Kespukwitk, their brothers and sisters back home had given Chief Big Timber’s request for a declaration of war speedy and almost unanimous approval. Approval had been given so swiftly and enthusiastically that within half a Moon a large contingent of warriors had been assembled, equipped and supplied to follow the volunteers to the warfront.

  These men and their allied comrades constituted the visible heroes. However, in carrying out a war, there are many unsung heroes, particularly those who put themselves in jeopardy behind enemy lines to gather information about enemy movement, numbers and so on. Their inputs are crucial to the efforts of those mapping out effective long-term war strategy. The allied war effort was helped by those carefully selected warriors involved in the intelligence-gathering system, which War Chief Mighty Water had set up a few Sunrises after the first attacks. Positioned around strategic areas inside enemy territory, the intelligence supplied by these heroes was invaluable to the cause.

  Just how critical to the success of the Allied war effort these individuals were was demonstrated two Sunrises after the arrival of Kespukwitk’s warriors. Several scouts sent reports that they had seen a formidable force of Western warriors travelling down the River That Drains the Big Lakes towards Kespek by canoe.

  This critical information provided time for Mighty Water to devise a plan to nullify the Westerners’ long-term intention, which, he correctly deduced, was to eventually link up with their warriors already occupying large tracts of Kespek. He proceeded to make plans with this in mind. He knew if such a linkup occurred, the battle to eject them from his country would be much more difficult and longer, and would cost hundreds of additional lives. To assure that did not happen and, being a polite man, to greet them properly, Mighty Water deployed a large contingent of warriors in a prime riverbank location with instructions to hit the enemy hard and fast as they disembarked from their canoes. He fully appreciated that winning the coming battle was of vital importance.