Legends of Our Nation

The Grandchildren

Far from any village lived Zhingwauk (meaning Pine) and his grandchildren. Through the deaths of his wife and the children’s parents, Zhingwauk had to raise the children.

Throughout the years, Zhingwauk taught his grandchildren how to survive. During the many evenings he taught them how to speak their language, to pray and through legends the children learned the good and evil. Of all the things Zhingwauk did for the children the most important was the love he gave each child.

As time passed, the children forgot their sorrow and the love for their grandfather grew each day. As they learned, they would listen and in time were able to do many things for themselves and for their aging grandfather.

Zhingwauk knew that in time the children would leave, but it was at least five winters away before the eldest and longer for the youngest. He prayed to live long enough to carry out his duties as grandfather and guardian and that he would teach his grandchildren to be good men and women. Their leaving would bring sadness to Zhingwauk as he would no longer share in their thoughts and daily life. But it would be a time of happiness knowing he had given them courage and strength to enable them to find a life elsewhere. He considered the love and joy which they all shared together. In these thoughts he found strength and comfort.

More rewarding than thinking was watching his grandchildren at work and play. Especially delighful was hearing the laughter of the children as they swam, sang, danced and shot arrows at targets. Such simple joys Zhingwauk easily accepted, but it was more difficult for the children because they were away from other children.

In those days, the ceremonies were frequently held and everyone young and old would come from far away places. There were feasts of the Dog, Raven, Dead, Thanksgiving, Spring, Grand Council and Peace Conferences.

Like others, Zhingwauk and his grandchildren would attend the ceremonies and also looked forward to seeing their friends. Most of the celebrations were open to everyone but for other ceremonies a messenger was sent to invite special people and one day the grandfather received an invitation to attend a ceremony.

Zhingwauk received a small bundle of sticks with instructions to destroy one stick each day. When one stick remained, he would leave for Boweting (Sault Ste. Marie) to take part in the Midewiwin, a Grand Medicine Society meeting.

Zhingwauk had made his final preparations when one of the children asked excitedly, “Grandfather, where are we going!” His reply to the happy children was, “We’re going to Boweting to attend the Midewiwin.”

Instead of the usual excitement there was a long uneasy silence, Sensing something was wrong, Zhingwauk remained silent. One of the boys then spoke, “Grandfather, it is our wish not to go with you this time.

“Why?” asked Grandfather.

The grandchildren replied, “We don’t believe in prayers, because they don’t do any good. All the dancing and singing are silly and old fashioned.”

Grandfather continued packing with the children watching in silence. The next morning, Grandfather was ready to leave, and he told the children to take care of themselves and to stay away from the Great Hill.

Travelling for several days along the north shore of Georgian Bay and Lake Huron, he finally arrived at Boweting. A dream came to him on his third night at Boweting. In his dream the children were leaving the lodge and he tried running after them, but they outran him. Being exhausted from running he sat down and saw them disappear into the mists beyond the hill. It was at this point in his dream that Zhingwauk woke up, and he was perspiring and trembling with fear.

Zhingwauk went quickly in search of a medicine man. He found one that was able to interpret his dream.

Continued next week.