Grey Eyes by Frank Christopher Busch Page B

four directions,” said Painted Turtle Man.
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    When Brown Shield Man placed the next four in position, Painted Turtle Man sprinkled tobacco over them and then touched the end of his braid of sweetgrass to one of the red-hot rocks. It began to smoke and the smell of burning sweetgrass mingled with the smell of cedar and tobacco.
    â€œI will now light the pipe,” announced Painted Turtle Man. As he touched the smouldering ember at the end of the sweetgrass braid to the bowl of his pipe, the Crane clan singers raised their drums and sang the pipe song. The others shook their rattles in time with the beat, while Walking Moon Woman continued to sprinkle bits of cedar on the new grandfather rocks as they were brought in. The bits of cedar crackled and danced into flame. As she acknowledged the grandfathers, a calm and comforting energy filled the sweat lodge.
    Painted Turtle Man smoked the pipe, offering it to the four directions and then to Father Sky, Mother Earth, and the Spirit Within. When the last of the grandfather rocks was brought in, the helpers prepared the water vessel—a hollowed log tied with a hide drooped on the inside and tied off around the middle. The helpers poured water from the hide bags brought by the Turtle clan women into the vessel and placed a carved wooden ladle inside. When the song was complete and Painted Turtle Man finished smoking the peace pipe, he handed it back to Soaring Spear Man with an approving nod. The youth tried not to smile as he ran off to clean it.
    â€œBring the water!” said Painted Turtle Man. He set the prepared water vessel before the pit. “ Ekosi ,” he said casually. “Close the door.”
    The helpers outside pulled down the hides to cover the lodge completely and then stomped around the edges to ensure no light could get in. The lodge was dark except for the red glow of the grandfather rocks.
    â€œLove us, Loving Spirit,” prayed Painted Turtle Man as he sprinkled a mixture of ground herbs over the rocks. They sparkled brightly as though in answer to the medicine carrier’s words. The people inside the lodge could feel a vibration in the air as the Grey-Eye magic began to add its power to the ancient ceremony.
    â€œI will offer water-medicine to the grandfathers four times,” said Painted Turtle Man. He splashed the water on the rocks and a searing hiss came from the centre pit. The red glow of the rocks diminished as the water cooled them slightly. The steam rose suddenly and followed the dome-shaped lodge down over the participants.
    â€œLove us, Loving Spirit!” they chanted every time the water was poured.
    When Painted Turtle Man had finished, the sound of the water bubbling and hissing could be heard from the base of the pit.
    â€œ Kitchi Manitou ,” Painted Turtle Man began, “the name you have honoured me with is Painted Turtle Man and I am of the Bear clan.”
    As he spoke a horizontal disk of smoky blue light began to glow and hover above the grandfather rocks. A small painted turtle flew out of the light and circled the lodge. A bear’s roar sounded and a large shadow passed around the back of the lodge. Everyone felt hot breath snuffling the air behind their necks.
    â€œWe, the people of Nisichawayasihk , seek your guidance,” Painted Turtle Man added. There was a flash of white light and the small turtle disappeared.
    â€œCalling-in song,” he announced. The singers began the drum beat and sang the welcome song, inviting the ancestral spirits to join the ceremony. One by one the seven sacred animals appeared and made themselves known.
    Buffalo.
    Eagle.
    Bear.
    Wolf.
    Sasquatch.
    Turtle.
    Beaver.
    Painted Turtle Man poured water over the hot rocks, once for each animal as it entered, and the lodge filled with hot steam. The participants struggled to keep their eyes open against the searing hot steam. When the song ended, the sacred animals dissipated into the blue