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When I was a child I lived in the Southern Montana Territory on the banks of the Little Big Horn River in a small village encampment. My grand-father told me; someday I would grow strong and brave. I would hunt with the men of the tribe and that I would find the Great Bears Cave. Many moons had past but what he told me came true. One day in the cold winter I went hunting, the day was not very long. And I lost my way when night fell. I looked for shelter from the cold. I climbed up a hill; at the top was a cave, it was dark; I had no torch to see my way. I felt my way along the wall of the cave until I found a soft patch of earth to lie on. I crunched down and lay my head on the cave wall. I fell into the deepest sleep I have ever known.2
I dreamed it was summertime and I was in a meadow skinning a dear. A buffalo came to me. He said to me, “you will dream of me seven times” and then he left. Then an eagle came to me, he said “you will dream of me six times” and he left. I saw a deer he said “you will dream of me five times and then you will be safe.” Then I saw the Great Bear, he was standing at the edge of the forest watching me. I walked over to him and ask him “are you the Great Bear that my grand-father told me about?” He didn’t answer me. The buffalo walked up beside me with the deer and then the eagle flew onto a branch next to the Great Bear. The bear rose up on his back legs and opened his mouth. I saw colors spewing out of his mouth, orange, yellow, green, blue, brown then red. The colors swirled and formed pictures. 3
I saw our village being torn down and burned by white men. I saw my sister and mother on the ground - dead. I saw my father fighting with his knife. Then I saw my father killed by a loud noise and he lay dead on the ground. No one was left alive except me. The colors faded away and the Great Bear came back to the ground. He spoke to me saying “after you have dreamed of the buffalo seven times, move you village to the west two days out. After you dream of the eagle six times, move your tribe to the north two days out.” After you dream of the deer five times go back to your village”. I asked him why? He said that a battle was going to happen and all the villages were going to be erased. But if I do as he says my village will be spared. 4
I awoke before the sun in the morning, I was rested and warm. My bear-skin coat was warmer then I had ever remembered. I then felt warm breath on my arm. I looked, I was frightened. I had been sleeping with a hugh brown bear; he was in hibernation and in a deep sleep. I softly walked out of his cave and made my way back to my village. I went to my grand-fathers tee-pee to tell him my story. I found him dead; the Great Spirit had come and took him home. My heart was full of sorrow. Three full moons had past, summer entered our lives again; I had a dream of a buffalo. Seven nights in a row he came to me crying. I convinced my tribe to leave. We went two days out to the west and made camp. Six nights in a row I dreamed of the Eagle, he flew to me with a dead rabbit in his talons, dropping the rabbit at my feet. I took my people to the north, two days out. We were at the same place that I had the Great Bears dream. I looked through the cave; there was no sign of the bear still living there. We made camp in the cave. The next night I had a dream of a deer, he was running beside me in a valley. Five nights I had the same dream. We packed up camp and started our journey home. 5
When we got to our village it was burned to the ground. The women and old men started rebuilding the camp while I and two other braves rode to the south to see if other villages were gone. One by one we rode past burnt villages. Then we came upon a battle field, blood was everywhere Indians and Soldiers in dead pile heaps. We walked though the bloody bodies trying to find survivors. There were none. Later in life that battle became know as Custer's Last Stand. All my life I have thanked the Great Bear for giving me the dream and sparing my people from death. 6
Bear Dreamer: June 25, 18767
~FifthDove~ 8
A contest entry
- Hypnotize me! by Darkhearted.
145 points, ended July 27, 2008, 43 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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intriging story. very unique. a wasn't as captivated as I wanted to be...spelling errors
good luck,
chey-bear -
Thanks for this and I am forwarding all this to my sister Shewolfnative for her to read also. God bless you.
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Thank you very much Regina
I hope you get to see the "Big Sky" someday.
And when ya do... write a poem about it and send me the link.
OR just imagine it and write it
Cindy
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Excellent story!! And wow, Montana!! Ironically enough, when I was a teenager, I hitch-hiked my way from NJ to California two times and back. I kept trying to find a ride to Montana, aka "The Big Sky", because I liked the sound of it's name. I tried and tried, but nobody was going there, and I never did get to see Montana yet. So, it's nice to read a story about it, excellence!!
Love and Peace,
Regina
(Sky Blue Hope) -
Awsome
This is a very amazing story. I like knowing these exist because it shows that not everyone suffered back when there was war between American indians and others. It's good to know they survived, expecially Custard's last stand. It's also nice to read something that shows Indians' beliefs. Sometimes I read things like this but for some reason they just don't sound the same. This not only allows for a great read but for a different sense of culture which I like. -
Thank you John
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very good
I have been reading a lot of the stories in this contest and this is the first one I came across that reads smoothly.
A real pleasure.
thanks,
John -
Thank you Aref, your kind comment has "made" my day!!!!
Cindy -
Cindy,
I haven't had the best of days today; I mean I just feel down..it's probably some sort of seasonal depression. This deep,symbolic story has just amazed me. I don't know what to say; the imagery is wonderful, and I certainly enjoy the setting. This story shines, the word choice is excellent, and the plot is great as well. Cindy, ah Cindy, I love your work; you always always ALWAYS take my breath away. Excellent, my friend. Pure creativity, pure gold!
hugs
take care,
-->aref -
Wow, what a story!
Best wishes,
Moses -
Interesting and historically accurate. The judgement will be passed on all poems on May 3, 2004. We had some really great entries and it will be really hard to decide.
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This is a really a cool story i like it alot and it was hearttouching! Good luck in the contest! I
you
Angelbabie
Edited on Apr 20, 3:35 p.m. because ''. -
Wow! This gave me chills! I really feel for the plight of our ancestors! This is a beautiful hearttouching story!!! Good luck in the contest!
Tammy33
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WOW beautiful and wonderful story so vivid and alive. Great job. Hope you get the gold for this one. Thanks for sharing.
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What a wonderful story, so many stories like these went unaccounted for all the wisdom that the Native Americans used to find from the animals, this whole story bares a great significance for this tribe, to the way they used to look to the animals for guidance and protection. It is wonderful to read, although there are some sad parts in it as Custer's Last stand, and Wounded Knee is one of the brutal massacres of all time for the Native Americans.
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