Grey Eyes by Frank Christopher Busch Page A

“You are doing well. Don’t be nervous.”
    â€œ Tapwe, Moosum .”
    â€œPray as you fill the pipe,” instructed Painted Turtle Man. “Offer thanks to the four directions as you place the tobacco. Try not to pack it too tight, or it will be hard to smoke.”
    Satisfied everything was in order, Painted Turtle Man nodded to Soaring Star Woman. As the ceremony sponsor, she crawled into the sweat lodge first. Her achy joints rebelled as she maneuvered herself into the sweat lodge on all fours. Walking Moon Woman entered next.
    Singing Doe moved toward the sweat lodge door, but the Eagle twins made to enter first, creating an awkward moment. But Singing Doe would not submit to the twins’ subtle bullying. “It’s your turn, little one,” she said to the babe in her arms. All of the Nehiyawak knew that children, especially infants, were first in all things. The clan matriarchs had entered before the baby only to prepare the way. Singing Doe and the baby entered, taking their place in the west side between the two matriarchs.
    The Eagle twins entered next, taking a lot of time to get settled, moving hides around and fussing. The rest of the women who followed had to adjust themselves around them to take up their places. When all the women were seated and comfortable, Soaring Star Woman said, “Painted Turtle Man, we are ready for the men now.”
    Painted Turtle Man crawled all the way around the sweat lodge, passing between the women and the centre pit. The other men took their places as assigned or sat on the northern hemisphere, as was customary. Brown Shield Man was the last to enter, taking his place between the main entrance and the pit. He tried to put forward a brave face, managing only an awkward smile. His mind was aware of the responsibility before him.
    When everyone was settled, the helpers began to distribute the sacred objects, handing them in so they could be passed from person to person until reaching their owner. First, the Eagle fan for Soaring Star Woman. Next, the Crane clan singers’ four drums. Then a small pair of four-point deer antlers for Brown Shield Man. Finally, more rattles, some made of buffalo horn, some of rawhide with moonstone, as well as deer hoof chimes. Singing Doe used the turtle shell rattle on behalf of her infant nephew.
    â€œPipe!” said Soaring Spear Man, holding the red stone pipe carved with a bear cub hugging the bowl. As each person took the pipe, they touched it to each shoulder and whispered their prayers before passing it to the person on their left. When it finally reached Painted Turtle Man, he performed the same motion and set the pipe on a small hide laid out in front of him next to a braid of sweetgrass and an assortment of medicine pouches.
    Painted Turtle Man looked up at Soaring Star Woman, who nodded her approval to him.
    â€œBring in the grandfathers!” Painted Turtle Man ordered and the firekeepers snapped to their duty, starting the sweat lodge ceremony. The Wolf clan warriors used long sticks to separate the wood from the rocks and roll the rocks out one by one. One of the older Wolf clan warriors began to pick up one of the red-hot rocks with deer antlers. As he held the grandfathers with the antlers, he looked to his younger brother holding a pine bough.
    â€œYou have to brush them quickly so the branch won’t catch fire,” the older warrior whispered.
    The first grandfather rock was brought to the main doorway and set down in front of Brown Shield Man, who picked it up with his antlers and set it in the centre of the pit.
    The participants greeted the red-hot rock as they would every grandfather brought in. “ Tansi, moosumis ! Welcome, grandfathers!”
    Walking Moon Woman took a pinch of ground cedar from a pouch and sprinkled it on the rock. The red-hot rock sparkled, and the sweat lodge filled with the sweet smell of burning cedar.
    â€œPlace the next four grandfathers in the