7 The Family History
I went down heading towards the hall. Chayton was still there waiting for me.
"Hey Chayton, sorry to keep you waiting. I was updating Theresa that dad will pass my car to her"
"Not a big deal….so…?", Chayton dragged as he smiled
"It is regarding the herbs that the shaman told. Shall we try to find in the woods tomorrow first thing in the morning?"
"Do you remember what herbs he ask to find Sher….?", Chayton looked me curious into me
"Of course….I would….its Tumac and Red Clover….see I remembered", told him as I held my head high.
Nana and Chayton were laughing hard. Nana shook her head.
"Its Sumac you dumbhead….hahaha", Chayton says as he hit my head for fun
"Owh….okay…my bad…but I got the other right…heh…"
"Well…..Sumac and Red Clover is our traditional herbs that we are used for decades by our ancestors..", Chayton explained
"I see….so are we going tomorrow to search for it?", I was actually quite excited to just go into the forest
"Need to check out whether my brother is free or not….he knows better where to find than me"
"Hey Chayton, I think I need to learn more about the herbs, and seems you really know well about it"
"Nop…I'm not an expert in this…that is why we have Shaman who still comes and treats, but we know what is the use of the herbs….only simple medication we could do…but the others only the shaman knows how.", Chayton tells in a serious tone
"I see….so you know what's the use of the herbs that he asks to find?", I asked curiously to him
"Well, Sumac can be used for multiple medicinal remedies, but it is one of the only plants that the healers used in treating eye problems. A decoction from sumac was used as a gargle to relieve sore throats or taken as a remedy for diarrhea. The leaves and berries were combined in tea to reduce fever or made into a poultice to soothe poison ivy"
"Hmm…very good knowledge you have in this Chayton…I'm impressed", I chuckled to him
He just beamed at me.
"It is not knowledge but it had been passed down to us by our parents….I mean every one of us knows this"
"Nana….why I'm not used to this at all?", I felt a little disappointed about not knowing much about our tradition.
"It's because you live far from us, and your mother wouldn't prefer me to pass this to you. She had chosen her path and we do respect her for that….but it seems that now you are making some choices…I can tell you more if you are into it dear….anytime…..I would be delightful", Nana told me, but this time there is a light of happiness in her eyes
"Nana….of course I would", I went and hugged her
"Now…let me allow you to explain the second herbs", Chayton said as he clears his throat.
"You may sir….hahaha"
"Well, the Red Clover plant has been used by healers for treating inflammation and respiratory conditions. Recent studies have shown that red clover helps to prevent heart disease by improving circulation and lowering cholesterol.", Chayton explained to me
"Wait…does it means Nana has a serious medication problem because you told me it was used to prevent heart disease…"
"No you idiot….its just Nana had cholesterol and by this plant, it would make it normal. If it is really serious…the shaman won't delay the treatment. Don't worry with Nana, everyone over here is just healthy by god's grace and the help of the Shaman.", Chayton smiled warmly towards me.
"Hey, guys….I bought some fish back…mom says later we will have dinner at Nana's place", Chatan comes in out of sudden
"That's so nice of your mom guys", I replied in a cheerful tone
Chatan joins us as he sat next to Nana
"Dear, I'm sure that you are aware that our family is Native American….but let me tell you more deeply since you choose this and maybe it's time for me to tell you everything, my dear."
I haven't seen Nana this seriously when she was talking to me. She smiled at me and I sat down facing her.
"You see…we have our own tribe…which is the Lakota tribe."
The moment Nana said this, the wolves have begun to howl and it was a kind of a shock to me. It's weird actually. I turn out looking through the doors but I can see any of it.
"Don't worry Sherley, it seems that the spirit is blessing…maybe what Nana said was right…it's time for you to know..", Chatan told me and he smiled
Okay…this is weird and I just looked at Nana with my confused expression.
Nana just smiled and brush my hair off to the side of my ears. Her touch was so warm with full of love. As she continued,
" Well…we believe in shamanic, which is animal spirit and also nature. We believe that the spirit will guide you here", Nana says as she touched my heart.
"You will feel the whispers on your head, and your heart will tell you it's the right way. We believe that our ancestor's spirit also will guide us to the right way. Mainly each of us will be attached to our own spirit….and you know which is yours….", Nana tells as she smiled and looked into my eyes.
I turn around and looked at Chayton and Chatan in confusion.
"Your hearts know it, Sherley…..actually you might have sensed it long ago….if you had really chosen your path into our tradition. Even though your parents are not purely from the Lakota tribe…but either of them is…for example your mom is", Chaytan helps to explain
"Yeah, like our dad is a pure one…and if the child chooses the family path…one can sense it…like me and Chatan, we choose to follow dad's path and we could sense it", Chayton adds on
I just nod my head thinking about it. I should sense it…..hmmm….which animal am I into it.
"What spirit are you guys into it?", I looked at the brothers
"Well…..I'm into an eagle and his into bear…", Chatan said
"If to explain in deep in our language….eagle means Anunkasan…we call it that…and Mato for bears….we call it as Anunkasan and Mato spirit..", Chayton explains to me
All these years, I really don't know a single thing about this….and it seems I need to learn our family language. Oh God….where was I all these years without knowing my beautiful family history.
"So is that why Chatan you have an eagle tattoo and you have a bear tattoo on your body", I asked looking at the brothers and both of them nodded
"It is up to you where you want to tattoo it…and if you feel that you don't want it's fine…but we normally tattoo it because we are proud that this spirit guides us. If you see Sher….we don't hurt nature cause they are doing their part and we are doing our part. Both of us are actually family, the nature and us…", I could see Chaytan eyes glows as he explained to me
"So…..dear…did you sense any spirit guide you or maybe you feel them?", Nana asked me
I was sitting down in confusion and started to think…then my dumb head struck.
I love wolves since I was a child. I do raise a lot of charity for them and even strike when the hunters were hunting them. I remembered that mom was worried about me when she looked into my room full of wolves picture. I do remember that dad was mad at me and asked me to stop this kind of behavior. Maybe they we afraid that I had chosen this path, where mom choose not to. But the history and the blood which runs inside of me is half from this tribe.
"The child chooses the path", I murmured as I remembered what Chatan told just now
I even sense the howl of the wolves always and wait a minute. During in the city, about past few weeks, how come I could hear the wolves howls, I mean in the city, there was no forest. How dumb am I? I just realized that. The smell of the wet mud and fur….it does smell like them.
"I think I just found it….it's just I never realised all this time…", I shouted and my eyes gleamed in excitement.
Everyone looked at me, they are excited to hear as I am.
"Wait a minute, Nana….guys…do you all know what spirit will guide me? I looked at them
The three of them laughed….
" We know dear….it's just the spirit will choose you when the times comes…and we all wanted to know whether have you been sensing it for real…", Nana says in excitement
" I think…I'm into wolves, Nana…"
The moment it comes out of my mouth, again I heard a long howl from the wolves and the thunder makes me jump.
Everyone laughs at me
"It's a good sign, Sherley. You really sense your spirit. They are happy and that is why the wolves had responded to you and the mother nature as well, Chatan interrupted while laughing
Nana hugged me and she sighed. "I thought that my grandchild won't choose this part but maybe its destined as it says that you will return to the tribe".
She looked in my delight and says " Do you know, each of us have our own tribe name, and you had one too….it's just my daughter doesn't want to follow….so I leave it her way."
"Nana…you mean I have own name according to our tradition?", my eyes just glows in excitement
Nana just nodded her head
"What is it Nana?"
"Lakona....Lakona…it means aurora", Nana says as her eyes was full with tears
"Each of our name has meaning in it Sher", Chayton says as he approached nearer to me and Nana
"Yea, Chayton means falcon and my name it means hawk"
I just hugged both of the brothers….and I really feel that I do belong here, tears were rolling down my check
"Nana….guys…from today onwards I will be glad if you call me with that name….Lakona…I really loved it"
Deep inside my heart…I felt a joy…a joy which is memorable in my life…and this is the day that my love towards the tribe and this family and grown more. I wish to be here forever.
