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and I was taught that I must avenge their deaths as soon as I was able to go
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upon the war…path。
I must say a word in regard to the character of this uncle； my father's
brother； who was my ad… viser and teacher for many years。 He was a
man about six feet two inches in height； very erect and broad…shouldered。
He was known at that time as one of the best hunters and bravest warriors
among the Sioux in British America； where he still lives； for to this day we
have failed to persuade him to return to the United States。
He is a typical Indiannot handsome； but truthful and brave。 He had
a few simple princi… ples from which he hardly ever departed。 Some of
these I shall describe when I speak of my early training。
It is wonderful that any children grew up through all the exposures and
hardships that we suffered in those days！ The frail teepee pitched
anywhere； in the winter as well as in the summer； was all the protection
that we had against cold and storms。 I can recall times when we were
snowed in and it was very difficult to get fuel。 We were once three days
without much fire and all of this time it stormed violently。 There seemed
to be no special anxiety on the part of our people； they rather looked upon
all this as a matter of course； knowing that the storm would cease when
the time came。
I could once endure as much cold and hunger as any of them； but now
if I miss one meal or accidentally wet my feet； I feel it as much as if I had
never lived in the manner I have described； when it was a matter of course
to get myself soak… ing wet many a time。 Even if there was plenty to eat；
it was thought better for us to practice fast… ing sometimes； and hard
exercise was kept up continually； both for the sake of health and to prepare
the body for the extraordinary exertions that it might； at any moment； be
required to undergo。 In my own remembrance； my uncle used often to
bring home a deer on his shoulder。 The distance was sometimes con…
siderable； yet he did not consider it any sort of a feat。
The usual custom with us was to eat only two meals a day and these
were served at each end of the day。 This rule was not invariable； how…
ever； for if there should be any callers； it was Indian etiquette to offer
either tobacco or food； or both。 The rule of two meals a day was more
closely observed by the menespecially the younger menthan by the
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women and children。 This was when the Indians recognized that a true
manhood； one of physical activity and endurance； depends upon dieting
and regular exercise。 No such system is practised by the reservation
Indians of to…day。
III： My Indian Grandmother
AS a motherless child； I always re… garded my good grandmother as
the wisest of guides and the best of protectors。 It was not long before I
began to realize her su… periority to most of her contempo… raries。 This
idea was not gained entirely from my own observation； but also from a
knowledge of the high regard in which she was held by other wo… men。
Aside from her native talent and ingenuity； she was endowed with a truly
wonderful memory。 No other midwife in her day and tribe could com…
pete with her in skill and judgment。 Her obser… vations in practice were
all preserved in her mind for reference； as systematically as if they had
been written upon the pages of a note…book。
I distinctly recall one occasion when she took me with her into the
woods in search of certain medicinal roots。
〃Why do you not use all kinds of roots for medicines？〃 said I。
〃Because；〃 she replied； in her quick； charac… teristic manner； the
Great Mystery does not will us to find things too easily。 In that case
every… body would be a medicine…giver； and Ohiyesa must learn that there
are many secrets which the Great Mystery will disclose only to the most
worthy。 Only those who seek him fasting and in solitude will receive his
signs。〃
With this and many similar explanations she wrought in my soul
wonderful and lively concep… tions of the 〃Great Mystery〃 and of the
effects of prayer and solitude。 I continued my childish questioning。
〃But why did you not dig those plants that we saw in the woods； of the
same kind that you are digging now？〃
〃For the same reason that we do not like the berries we find in the
shadow of deep woods as well as the ones which grow in sunny places。
The latter have more sweetness and flavor。 Those herbs which have
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medicinal virtues should be sought in a place that is neither too wet nor
too dry； and where they have a generous amount of sunshine to maintain
their vigor。
〃Some day Ohiyesa will be old enough to know the secrets of
medicine； then I will tell him all。 But if you should grow up to be a bad
man； I must withhold these treasures from you and give them to your
brother； for a medicine man must be a good and wise man。 I hope
Ohiyesa will be a great medicine man when he grows up。 To be a great
warrior is a noble ambition； but to be a mighty medicine man is a nobler！〃
She said these things so thoughtfully and im… pressively that I cannot
but feel and remember them even to this day。
Our native women gathered all the wild rice； roots； berries and fruits
which formed an impor… tant part of our food。 This was distinctively a
woman's work。 Uncheedah （grandmother） under… stood these matters
perfectly； and it became a kind of instinct with her to know just where to
look for each edible variety and at what season of the year。 This sort of
labor gave the Indian women every opportunity to observe and study
Nature after their fashion； and in this Uncheedah was more acute than
most of the men。 The abilities of her boys were not all inherited from
their father； indeed； the stronger family traits came obviously from her。
She was a leader among the native women； and they came to her； not only
for medical aid； but for advice in all their affairs。
In bravery she equaled any of the men。 This trait； together with her
ingenuity and alertness of mind； more than once saved her and her people
from destruction。 Once； when we were roaming over a region occupied
by other tribes； and on a day when most of the men were out upon the hunt；
a party of hostile Indians suddenly ap… peared。 Although there were a
few men left at home； they were taken by surprise at first and scarcely
knew what to do； when this woman came forward and advanced alone to
meet our foes。 She had gone some distance when some of the men
followed her。 She met the strangers and offered her hand to them。