Contact us at: whispernthunder1@gmail.comWisdom from Granddad
~ Fox Northstar
Here we go again. Once again, event
season is rapidly approaching. Most of
us have seen the suggestions for proper
powwow etiquette. Over the years, I
have seen many variations, but they
tend to be influenced by local traditions.
While they are amazingly similar, they can be slightly variable. The important thing is when in doubt ask. After all, it is about respect.
As most of you know, I dislike talking about myself, but sometimes I must to pass a lesson along. Well, so be it. As it is common, public knowledge that I have been a staff carrier for the past twenty years, technically I am not violating tradition. Actually, any public duty is open for discussion…and review. What many do not know is I was handed my fire keepers bundle over forty years ago. I apprenticed for over two decades to earn it. I have kept sacred fires on both sides of the Great Pond, and been honored to sit at, and help with sacred fires from coast to coast in both the USA and Canada. So there is the foundation for what follows.
Like many of us, I have a fairly stable and routine path for my version of the Powwow Highway. Over the years, I have formed friendships which I like to maintain as long as my health allows. Some of those on my route have been stops since long before I was asked to carry the staff. Although, at many I had been asked to be a flag carrier.
At any rate (and I have given up making a long story short), when I arrived at my last stop in Ontario, the clan mother asked me to teach a guy to fire keeper as her scheduled keeper bailed (for whatever reason) last minute. Tradition is if asked, and you can step up, one does. After all, she had been to our clan's family gatherings, and watched me keep fires for years, so she knew I am qualified.
For what follows to make sense, I need to back up a wee bit. When she had been at our clan gatherings, she did her best to wrest control from our clan mother, and failed. While she did have my respect for her “position,” I was on the fence as to that for her as a person. I found it quite disrespectful to be invited to someone else’s event, and expect to take charge. I said nothing as it was not my place….besides my clan mother quite capably handled it.
Now, to backtrack to the request, of course I said I would. I went to the unqualified draftee and told him of my involvement. As he had no bundle, tradition says I am head fire keeper for the event. Fine. In a spell, the clan mother comes and tells me HOW to tend the fire! Some gall, and I stood up to her for the first time in all the years I have known her. Others in the camp noticed, and there was applause as she left, and many unexpected pats on the back over the weekend.
But that was just the beginning of the problems. I watched this guy tend the fire, and he was doing things I have NEVER seen done before. I know traditions change, and when I asked him about it, he said “It’s what Kokum told me to do.” Well, wait just a New York minute here. What Kokum knows of fire keeping is from observation only. She was not trained in it. Worse yet, when I tried to correct him, according to my teaching, he not only overrode my instructions, but outright ignored me. But the last straw was around the fire, his topic of conversion which he tried to control, was only about death ... .people he knew who recently passed. Of all the taboos around a fire, my teachings say that is the opposite of the fire’s symbolism! Turned out, the guy was an anglo wannabe pretendian, and bull headed as they come. And for those of you who do not know, I am not full-blooded but the red road has been my path for as long as I can remember.
But the final insult was the honorariums were being handed out, I was called as ASSISTANT fire keeper! For a guy who has no bundle? Granddad always said, “You must give respect in order to earn it. But you do that only for so long. If you do not earn it, do not worry about it. The worst is when you show it, think you have earned it back, then are proven wrong.” I will let you readers decide which applies…
THIS JUST IN: As I wrote this, there was a kerfuffle in the Oval Office which showed a total lack of respect….but the one who stood up to the felon in charge earned much more respect from me!
As always, do your best and try to walk in balance!
Pertaining to all articles in Whisper n Thunder: Editor's Note: Authors commentaries do not necessarily reflect the views of Whisper n Thunder. However we stand strong in the belief that our authors have the freedom to express their well-thought out points of view and are grateful for same.