Sister's Pow -Wow

1

A special Pow Wow2

A few months ago my sisters and I had a sleep over. We were getting ready for a surprise party that we were going to have for our Mother the following day. We spent the whole night talking and laughing about different things we had done when we were young. We spent a lot of time talking about our Mother, and what kind of Women we all had become. We talked about so many things, but there is one conversation that stands out above all of the rest; one that seems as if it had waited until that very night to have us all together to discuss it again.3

When my sisters and I were young we spent a great deal of time traveling around Montana with our Mother dancing in different Pow Wows. We always enjoyed it when we were young, but when we became Teenagers we did not enjoy it as much.4

I remember one particular weekend very well. My sisters and I were invited to go on a camping trip to Glacier Park with some friends of ours. My Mother did not allow us to go, because of our obligations to dance in a Pow-Wow that weekend. We were all very bummed out, and had a huge attitude the whole weekend. Not to mention, it was probably the hottest weekend I have ever felt in Montana. It was a perfect Weekend to be in the Mountains.5

None of us enjoyed Dancing that Weekend. It seemed to drag on forever. We spent most of our time moping about having to be there with our arms crossed.6

Finally, when Sunday came we all knew that we would be going home soon. During the final ceremony my Sister and I did our last dance. We seemed to be more into it then we had all of the others. My sisters were crane Dancers. They would Dance around the circle wearing crane mask, they moved beautifully, and looked v beautiful while they Danced. I was a Fancy Dancer. I danced in the middle of the circle, and danced fast in my own Style to the beat of the Drums.7

As I was dancing I caught a glance of an elderly Woman that I had never seen before. She had been watching me while I danced. Knowing that she had been watching me had made me dance with more effort. It was very important to always respect our elders, and I knew to dance as if I was lazy would be an insult to her.8

Finally, when the drums were over I rushed to my tent to change, and to get in some regular clothes. I was so excited to get out of my hot Regalia. A few moments after I arrived in my Tent the Elderly Woman had come in behind me. I was worried that I had been in trouble for rushing away from the ceremony.9

She walked through the tent very gentle and quiet. She stared at me with a soft smile, and reached out her hand to me. I placed my hand in her hand, and she said to me “You Dance with the spirit of an Eagle". I was taken by what she had said, because secretly I had always tried to mimic an Eagle while I danced. I had never told anyone, because I thought it would make me seem like I was very bold; to be so young, and to think that I could dance like an Eagle, I looked at her with nervousness in my voice, and said "Thank you"10

A few minutes later my sisters and Mother also came walking thru the tent. I could tell my Mother was about to start yelling at me for rushing away from the ceremony, and my sisters walked in with a smirk on their face knowing what she was about to say, but when my Mother saw the Elderly Woman in the tent with me her entire face had changed. Her voice became soft, and her face almost looked as if she was a child. My sisters stood there standing quiet as if they did not know what to say.11

The Elderly Woman reached out her hands to my Mother, and held my Mothers hands in her own. She said to my Mother "Your Daughters have your gift". I could see my Mothers eyes start to tear up, and saw her take a breath that was easily noticeable. The elderly Woman smiled gently at my Mother; she knew that my Mother knew what she was talking about.12

She then walked over to my youngest Sister, and held her hands. My Sister looked as if she wanted to laugh, but she knew better than to do that. I could see her holding in her laughter, but I could also see that she was trying to be serious at the same time. The woman looked at my sister and said very gently "You have the gift of Dreams". By this time my other sister and I were trying to hold back laughter. Mostly because it was so funny to see my Sister try not to laugh when she is being told she has a gift.13

Then, the Woman walked over to my other Sister, She reached out her hands and looked her in the eyes. She told my Sister "You Have the Gift of Colors". Of course again my other sisters and I were now trying so hard not to laugh. We all felt kinda silly, But then again we were very captivated about what was happening. 14

The Elderly Woman then walked over to me and reached out for my hands. She looked me in the eye and said with a very soft tone “You have the gift of Knowing". I did not feel like laughing when she said that. I almost had felt disappointed. I had really hoped that when it was my turn that she would have said something really cool, and I had no idea what "Knowing" was all about. My sisters did not even attempt to laugh when she told me my "gift", they looked confused.15

The elderly Woman then went and stood beside my Mother again. She put her arm around my Mother and looked at each of us. She said “One Day you will understand what I have just said to you, but not today". She gave us a look as if she was dismissing the three of us. My sisters and I left the tent fully dressed in our Regalia. We walked away laughing and teasing each other about what had just been said. We had funny remarks for one another about what each other’s gift was. The three of us walked over to another tent to get a drink; still being obnoxious, and teasing each other.16

After about ten Minutes I saw my Mother walking out of the tent hand in hand with the Elderly Woman. My mother had looked as if she had been crying. I saw my Mother hug this Woman, and then I saw the Woman walk away. I never saw her again after that.17

Finally, it was time for all of us to go back home. We were all piled in the back of the car, and still occasionally teasing one another about what had happened earlier that day. My Mother turned around from the front seat, and told us that this Woman was "Moon Star", She was a medicine Woman from the Mohican Tribe, and that she came from the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where my Mother was originally from. My Mother asked us to never forget meeting her, and to never forget what she said. My Sisters and I looked at each other with smiles as if again we were holding back laughter.18

We did spend the next few months teasing each other about each other’s "Gift", but soon it faded and we never spoke about it again until our Sleep over. It was funny how each one of us spent so much time thinking it was so silly at the time, but when we spoke about it as Women we were all able to remember it as if it had happened yesterday. None of us laughed at what was said to the other.19

We were fascinated about what had been said to us 15 years ago by a mysterious Medicine Woman, that seemed to have appeared out of no where. We all secretly appreciated the moment just the same. None of us really thought it was funny; we were just embarrassed for the other sister to possibly see that we were taking it serious. My sisters have figured out what this Woman said to them, and they understand it well. I still to this day do not understand what she meant by telling me I have the 'Gift of Knowing; but maybe, it is not meant for me to Understand. Maybe, it is just meant for me to know. 20