Legends of Our Nations

Continued from last week.

Zoong-dae-ae felt confident he would do well because he knew the area. Also, his father had prepared his bow and arrows, told him where to go, what for and what to do. With this help and encouragement, Zoong-dae-ae left his parent’s lodge and village.

As evening came, Zoong-dae-ae returned to the village with four partridges and four rabbits. Never before had he done so well. Zoong-da-ae was sure his father would be pleased and was certain no other boy would bring back as much game. He said a prayer of thanksgiving to Kitche Manitou.

After the summer of the hunting contest, a great council was to be held in another village and Zoong-dae-ae’s people were invited. As usual, there were games and contests.

On the third day, all the young boys between the ages of fourteen and fifteen were called to wrestle. They wrestled all afternoon and by evening, only four wrestlers remained, one of them was Zoong-dae-ae.

Pigaigun stood in the crowd waiting for the finals and wagered thirty deer hides, for he was sure his son would win. Zoong-dae-ae advanced to the last wrestling match but lost, and Pigaigun also lost his bet.

Pigaigun was very upset; he scolded his son and left the gathering.

For many weeks after the wrestling match, Pigaigun either avoided his son or reproached him about the loss. Pigaigun would not have to work so hard to feed his family had Zoong-dae-ae

won. Zoong-dae-ae was frequently reminded of this. With anger and disappointment, Pigaigun warned his son that unless he became a proficient fighter, he would not last long as a warrior.

Zoong-dae-ae went out into the forest more often to seek comfort in the songs of the birds. Zoong-dae-ae no longer attempted to kill the game birds, whom he came to love. It was in their singing and the peacefulness of the forest that Zoong-dae-ae found happiness and comfort.

Like before, Pigaigun’s heart softened, but Zoong-dae-ae remained doubtful, knowing he would again likely incur the displeasure of his father. Zoong-dae-ae began to doubt his own ability.

Even with the comfort he received from this mother, Zoong-dae-ae still felt rejected and would go alone into the forest to listen to the birds. The forests were filled with many beautiful creations, and Zoon-dae-ae enjoyed listening to the songs of the chickadees, thrushes, blue birds, blackbirds and to the mournful of the loon. The songs of the birds would bring joy and cheerfulness to the forest air and the birds sang to give expression to the fullness of their hearts.

There were no contests to resolve which bird possessed the clearest softest or loudest voice, they all simply sang. Zoong-dae-ae, like the birds, would sing and he wanted to be like his uncle, a chanter. His ambition was to sing and drum at the great councils so as to make people happy. To be a hunter or warrior, Zoon-dae-ae knew he must run, jump, shoot or wrestle, and this is what his father wanted him to be.

Zoong-dae-ae would tell his father, “Father, I shall try harder next time.” Hearing this, anger would leave Pigaigun’s heart.

The following spring, Zoong-dae-ae was to go out, and seek his vision as requested by his father.

At a time when the flowers were in bloom, the grasses emerged, and the ground became dry, Zoong-dae-ae was taken to the dreaming hill, a lonely and awesome place away from the village. They prepared a lodge and spread some blankets upon the earth. When they were finished, Pigaigun left, leaving Zoong-dae-ae with only water and told him to pray.

Zoong-dae-ae fasted and prayed in vain for four days for a vision. The afternoon of the fourth day, Pigaigun came for him.

“Did you receive a vision?” asked Pigaigun. “No” replied Zoong-dae-ae. He knew how his father felt.

Zoong-dae-ae was taken out three more times within two months. He felt more fear and was more discouraged each time because nothing happened.

When Zoong-dae-ae received his strength back from the last quest, his father again left him. As before, he was told to pray with all his heart and spirit.

While Zoong-dae-ae prayed he heard the birds singing which made him happy and distracted him from his prayers.

It was the third night, and Zoong-dae-ae was about to fall asleep when he was blinded by a bright orange and red light and deafened by a chorus of birds. Amazed by this light and the new songs which he had never heard before, Zoong-dae-ae stood up. His vision was very deep and moving, and he was experiencing something he had never known before.

As the sun rose the next morning, Pigaigun returned, bringing food, tea, and medicine for his son. Realizing the lodge was empty, Pigaigun looked about and listened, but he saw nothing and heard nothing.

Pigaigun called out his son’s name, “Zoong-dae-ae, Zoong-dae-ae, n’guiss (my son).”

He received no reply; Pigaigun cried out louder. His echo, coursing through the bushes, mocking his ears, was his only reply. Pigaigun sat down and cried.

With his heart burdened with grief and his eyes filled with tears, Pigaigun returned home.

As he walked dejected to his lodge, Pigaigun did not notice a bird was following singing its own cheerful song. The robin with the orange breast would sit on a branch near Pigaigun’s lodge singing happily all day.