Woman Ruler Woman Rule |
||
My people, you know me. You know I was captured from the Gros Ventres people when I was a young girl of ten years and brought to the tipi of my Crow father… My Crow father was a good man. He saw I liked better to run and shoot than to sew and cook. There are boys who like the ways of women, who wear the clothes of women and stay in the camp. I was a girl who liked the ways of boys, though I did not want to put on their clothes… I carried a gun, I learned to shoot. I was as good as the young men in hunting both on horseback and on foot. Long before I went on the warpath I could shoot a gun as well as the best of the young men. My people, you see me. I am tall and strong. No man came to marry me. My Crow father was killed in a battle. I became the father of his children; I became the mother of his children. I brought them meat. I brought them hides. I cleaned the hides. I cooked the meat. This day that I am speaking of we were camped near the trading fort in our country. We were only a few lodges together at the time. The enemy Blackfeet attacked us without warning. Some of our men were killed. We ran into the fort with our horses. The enemy Blackfeet stood where the guns could not reach them and made signs to speak to someone in the fort. No White would go out. No Crow would go out. I knew their language. I saddled my horse. The Crows told me not to go out. Then the Whites told me not to go out. But I went out. They opened the gates of the fort and I went out. I rode out where I could hear them but they could not shoot me. Some of the Blackfeet rode towards me, laughing to think how they would capture me. When they were within shooting distance I called on them to stop. They did not. One of those enemy Blackfeet shot at me and five of them charged at me. I shot one down with my gun, I shot two more with my arrows. The other two raced back to the rest and then they all turned and rode full speed at me to kill me. They fired showers of balls at me and chased me as close to the fort as they could come safely. I escaped unharmed and entered the gates of the fort. My people and the white people cheered me and shouted my praise… So I became a brave. The camp sung my deed in the council lodge. Then my deed became known to our whole Absarokee nation that the white people call Crow. My spirit guide was strong so the elders said. I was called Bia-wachee-itche, the woman chief. You know me. Many songs were sung praising me. My deeds were known. When the council was held and all the chiefs and warriors assembled, I took my place among the chiefs. I was third person in the band of 160 lodges. When the ceremony of striking the post and publicly singing our brave deeds was performed, I came third among the men. I had no husband. No one offered for me. I was a warrior and a chief. It was not fitting that I dress hides for trading purposes. It was not to my taste. So I bought myself a wife according to the usual way… My wife advanced my affairs in the lodge. After several winters I took three more wives. Many wives and many horses increases a chiefs dignity and standing. My life is full. My people listen to my words with respect. I sit third in the council of chiefs. My war parties are well attended. I have many hides and horses to give away. For twenty winters I have lived a warrior's life. My name is great. * * * * *
The Absarokee, or Crow, roamed eastern Montana, warring with their enemy neighbors, the Sioux and the Blackfeet. "Probably the finest sport ever known in this world. No man who loves horseflesh and the bright face of danger but must long to have shared its thrilling chances," according to Joseph Medicine Crow, traditional Crow historian and storyteller. All these tribes lived by the warrior's code and all of them gained prestige through valorous deeds. |
||
*home *the book *contents *artSand *links *about Elin Sand *contact Elin Sand at womanruler@yahoo.com webdesign by Blissland |
