Band of Acadians by John Skelton

the water more than two hundred conical huts were visible. Each of these was about twelve feet high and was made of woven rush mats, sheets of bark, or animal skins. At the party’s appearance fifty men, women, and children came down to the shore to watch. The tall, bronzed watchers remained silent and immobile, neither welcoming nor hostile. They weren’t indifferent, but neither, curiously, did they appear to be much interested. The Rameurs were very nervous at this unexpected silence and made no move to go ashore.
    Instinctively, Grandpa understood the situation, but it took him agonizing minutes to decide how to break the growing tension. Finally, he stood with bowed head and held tobacco leaves at arm’s length. Using the Mi’kmaq language, he said in a voice as bold and strong as he could muster, “We’re travellers from afar who seek shelter in your lands for the coming winter.”
    Slow smiles greeted these words, and in no time several Natives broke ranks and stepped down the rocky slope to help pull the shallops ashore. Almost all — men, women, and children — took a tobacco leaf offered by Grandpa, pulled out a clay pipe from hidden folds in their clothing, and were soon engulfed in smoke. When Grandpa told the Mi’kmaq the tobacco was a present from Monsieur and Madame Denys, they broke out in broader smiles and gestured amicably, indicating the great respect they had for the elderly couple.
    Jocelyne and Nola approached a tall, well-built youth. Using the same stance Grandpa had, they offered the boy a jar of honey. The youngster accepted the gift and tasted its contents gingerly. The boy then identified himself as Toomy, son of Chief Toomy. He invited the girls to meet other members of his clan, starting with his father and mother.
    Nola could see there was only a minor difference in the appearance of the chief’s family teepee from those of other families. It was graced with a large, colourful drawing of an eagle. The chief was taller, had a more dignified bearing, and was more sturdily built than the other men, an indication, Nola thought, that he was probably a particularly successful hunter. Then Nola spotted several women stoking a campfire and placing several pieces of meat on the coals. “Perhaps,” she said to Hector, “they’re preparing a feast to welcome us.”
    And so it proved to be. Dinner preparations continued until the chief signalled for everyone to gather around. Sitting cross-legged, he sang what sounded like a benediction. When that was done, he made a sign that everyone should eat. Several, Nola observed, hadn’t waited for the chief’s signal. Apart from the meat, which tasted like moose steak, there was little else — only a few turnips, juniper berries, and cranberries. Later Nola discovered why that was so. The tribe maintained only a small vegetable patch, smaller she was surprised to note, than Madame Denys’s garden.
    â€œDespite having so few ingredients, that meal was tasty,” Jocelyne said to Nola. “I think the cooks used a few herbs we should learn about.”
    After the meal, Toomy brought the girls over to the largest structure in the village, an attractive teepee of which he was clearly proud. Beautifully decorated with drawings and blankets, it appeared to serve double duty as both a house of prayer and a community centre.
    But this relaxed and casual mood changed abruptly when Grandpa told Chief Toomy that their group was part of a larger band. The chief tensed and insisted on seeing the rest of the Rameurs immediately. A dozen canoes were launched to accompany Hector and his party back to their main camp.
    Once at the Rameur landing site and noting the large number of interlopers, the chief’s expression turned grave. In a stern voice he announced, “Our hunting grounds can’t support the addition of so many mouths. We can’t allow you to hunt our deer, moose, and bears.