Getting a Life

A Grandfather Story of the Onondaga Nation - A very long time ago, when Humans could speak with the Animals -

An Onondaga boy, Young Wolf, was innocent in the ways of Life. His Father concerned about his young Son because Young Wolf seemed to perfer play and dance over learning the skills of hunting. Young Wolfs' Father was one of the Great Hunters among the Onondaga. He told Young Wolf that one day he would have to get a Life; otherwise Life would get him. Puzzled, Young Wolf set out to discover the meaning of his Fathers' words: "Get a Life, or Life will get you." These words rang in his ears until he knew that he would have to find the answer.

Soon his Father planned to be away for several days on a hunting trip. It was near the Full Moon of the Autumn, when the Leaves were coming down and Winter was near. Young Wolf heard of someone called Wise Old Woman who lived in another Village. He heard his Mother say that she had Special Powers and knew about everything. Being only seven, Young Wolf could not make the long trip to the other Village. He appealed to his Uncle, who traveled frequently to the Village of Wise Old Woman. He asked his Uncle what his Fathers' words meant. The Uncle knew he would not be able to explain it in a way that Young Wolf could understand, but he did not want to disappoint the Boy. The Uncle said, "I think it means for you to do something that would be special in Life."

Young Wolf knew that the Animals would always be truthful to him. They had been his Friends for all his seven years of Life. He wondered, though: was dancing the Raccoon Dance not something meaningful in Life? It was certainly meaningful to him. He asked his Uncle to take some Sacred Tobacco to Wise Old Woman and ask her that question. The Uncle was thinking about seeing her anyway, because he was ready to find a Wife, and he needed some Sacred Tobacco. A deal was struck, and Young Wolf went to get some Sacred Tobacco.

Young Wolf went to see his Friend Raccoon. They would play chase and he learned much from Raccoon about hiding and climbing Trees. "Raccoon, can you tell me how to get a Life?" Young Wolf asked Raccoon as they were playing chase. Raccoon seemed puzzled, but responded, "Life is about playing and sneaking food." Somehow, Young Wolf did not think it was the same for him.

Next he saw Squirrel, and asked him the same question. Squirrel thought for a minute and said, "Oh that is easy. It is hiding Acorns and other Nuts and Seeds so you can find them whem it gets cold and Snow is on the Ground." Again, Young Wolf did not think that this applied to his Life, although he hid Acorns in the Ground as taught by Squirrel, then dug them up for his Mother when Snow hid the Ground.

Rabbit was hopping through the Laurel patch when he heard a familiar voice. "Rabbit, I have a question for you," shouted Young Wolf. Rabbit really liked questions, so he stopped to talk with his Friend and listen to his question. Rabbit answered, "Well, for you as a Human, it would mean to learn to hunt the Animals, but of course, not little defensive Rabbits!" They both pondered, then looked at each other and said in unison, "Nope, that is not you."

Once again, Young Wolf continued down the trail looking for the answer to the question before his Father returned from the hunting trip.

Young Wolf saw Red Feather, a Friend who was about twelve years old, and asked him, "What are you doing?" Red Feather said he was making a strong Bow so he could hunt Rabbit. He wanted to please his Father by being a Hunter. Young Wolf already knew that was not the answer, so he continued his search. Overhead, Eagle was soaring in the Sky. Once Eagle had saved Young Wolfs' Life when he wandered away from his Mother in the Planting Field. Eagle saw him near a Cliff and swooped down to save him from falling off a Cliff. Now, Eagle swooped down to see his Friend Young Wolf, who was sitting on a stump with a sad face. "What is wrong?" said Eagle. Young Wolf explained his search for an answer to the question. Eagle said the answer was to be responsible, learn to plant food, and be with his Family always. Young Wolf thought that was a really good answer, but he still was not sure it was the answer for him.

As he continued his trip home he saw Worm Digger, who always worked in the Planting Fields hoeing and planting. Maybe she would know, so he asked her the question, Worm Digger thought long and hard, then said, "The answer for me would be different than the answer for you. I believe it is for you to find that out for yourself." With that, Young Wolf headed home. He slept that night and waited for the next morning, when his Uncle would return from the other Village.

The next morning, Young Wolf went to the Ceremonial Grounds, where he Danced around and around. He had learned a new step from Rabbit and from Hawk that he wanted to try for himself. He practiced the Eaglr Dance, the Wolf Dance, and the Raccoon Dance. He could hear the Drums and the Rattles with the rustling of the Leaves blowing in the Wind and with the whispering of the Pine Trees. The sound of the Wind reminded him of the great Ceremonies where the Clans would come together. He saw himself as a Dancer, summoned by the Chief at the Grand Council. Suddenly Young Wolf saw his Uncel. He knew that he had the answer. The Uncle said he had seen Wise Old Woman, who said that the Uncle was not ready for a Wife. "What did she say about me getting a Life?" The Uncle said, "Oh, yeah, well, she said for you to just do well what you do, and you will get your own Life." Confused even more, YoungWolf waited for his Father to return from the hunting trip.

As the days' Sun touched the Mountains in the distance, Young Wolfs' Father came into the Village with two large Bucks. There was an excitement in the air. His Father came and sat down by his Son. Young Wolf started telling him about his visit with all the Animals and the new Dance steps he had learned. The Drumming started for the Ceremony of Giving Thanks for the Gift of Food, and his Father fell into a slumber. Young Wolf sang a Song he had learned and was sharing the new Dance with his Father when he saw that his Father was sound asleep, Young Wolf, not wanting to disturb his Father, lay in his Fathers' arms and fell asleep himself. Suddenly his Father awoke with excitement and said, "Young Wolf, In have had a Vision! I saw you Dancing some new dance steps like Eagle, Hawk, Wolf and Raccoon. You were singing a new Song as the Drumming played a new beat."

"The Chief summoned you to Dance at the Ceremony of Giving Thanks! I was so proud of you! Everyone came to see you, and we Feasted with the Deer." There was silence as Young Wolf hugged his Father and smiled, because he now knew how to get a Life for himself.

White Crow December 1949

Thoughts:
Each of us are different. Unique in your own way.
Each of us must seek out what we do best in Life. Not only what YOU do best, but what is MEANINGFUL, gives YOU the most SATISFACTION and JOY in YOUR LIFE.
When you live ANOTHERS' Dreams or Visions,
YOU HAVE NO DREAMS OR VISIONS OF YOUR OWN!

White Crow September 1958