ceromoney

THE WOLF CEREMONY

               I wanted to give something of my past to
               my grandson. So I took him into the woods,
                   to a quiet spot. Seated at my feet he
              listened as I told him of the powers that were
                 given to each creature. He moved not a
               muscle as I explained how the woods had
             always provided us with food, homes, comfort,
              and religion. He was awed when I related to
              him how the wolf became our guardian, and
              when I told him that I would sing the sacred
                 wolf song over him, he was overjoyed.

               In my song I appealed to the wolf to come
               and preside over us while I would perform
                 the wolf ceremony so that the bondage
                   between my grandson and the wolf
                            would be lifelong.

Again I sang, humbly but as
invitingly as I could, until my
throat ached and my voice gave out.

All of a sudden I realized why no wolves had
heard my sacred song.

There were none left.

                                   I sang.
                      In my cupped hands lay a spruce
                          seed the link to creation.

I sang.
In my eyes sparkled love.

                                   I sang.
                      And the song floated on the sun's
                           rays from tree to tree.

When I had ended, it was if the whole world listened
with us to hear the wolf's reply.

We waited a long time but none came.

I sang. In my voice
was the hope that
clings to every
heartbeat I sang.

In my words
were the powers I
inherited from my
forefathers.

My heart filled with tears. I could no longer
give my grandson faith in the past, our past.

                 At last I could whisper to him: "It is finished"
                 " Can I go home now?" he asked checking
                 his watch to see if he would still be in time to
                      catch his favorite program on TV.

I watched him disappear and wept in silence.
All is finished!

                            By Chief Dan George
                                from his book
                              "My Spirit Soars"

Page created by;Cherokee Wolf
May 14. 1999