Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

Part One - Tekakwitha with the Mohawks

Chapter I "Alone...!"

Long hours had passed since the tragic events of the preceeding chapters. The poor little Indian girl was still alone next to two bodies. She cried for a long time, trying to wake her maman from her deep sleep. Without success, she called out to her father, the great chief so tender-hearted with his child but so terrible toward his enemies. But Cerf and his valiant companion still were in this strange sleep. Nothing changed in their rigid position... Then a sort of stupor, an anguish overtook the child. Although very intelligent, she was however only four years old but understood the great mystery of this sleep without awakening... Remembering what her mother had told her about the hereafter where those who are no longer living on earth go, she joined her hands burning with fever in prayer and raising her eyes filled with tears toward the heavens filled with bright stars. Then, tired from grief and fatigue, she finally fell asleep, her head resting on the head of Fleur-de-la-Prairie. (Bold lettering added by the Editor. NAL)

She awoke at the first light of dawn. People were going and coming, talking near her. The child was now suffering too much and too weak to move or cry out. She could vaguely see persons entering in the longhouse. Three or four women with tears and gestures gathered around Fleur-de-la-Prairie.

They were conducting the final burial preparations of the young woman. In fact, following the Indian customs, they spread a greasy substance on the face and long hair of the Algonquin woman. They adorned her with colorful necklaces and bracelets. Finally, they covered the body with animal fur carefully prepared for this event.

During this time, a small group of Indian men were talking in whispers about the funeral covering of the Cerf.

They were visibly shaken. Certainly, this death had already created a profound void in their valorous ranks. But who could ever replace a chief so skilled, so audacious as Cerf whose renowned bravery extended way beyond the furthest tribes from their own...?

While the most sincere eulogies fell like slow and melancolic litanies from the quasi fraternal lips, alone, one man had kept silent. With an imposing stature, an impassive air, he looked without saying a word, without moving, at the calm and beautiful face of the young warrior... Around this man completely absorbed in thought, one appeared to want to respect this great sorrow, silent and lofty in the Indian manner. In effect, the sorrow of the silent visitor was profound, and he could not resign himself to see the hope and pride, the great affection of his life departing with the young chief... A faint shiver woke him from his sorrowful dream. With an urgent gesture, he signaled to those around to remove the bodies and pointed out the place where, in the forest, would lay to rest forever the Cerf and his dear companion, Fleur-de-la-Prairie.

Then, without looking back, he left the longhouse carrying in his arms the little orphan shivering in her blanket.

It was Cerf's uncle, who, without any other formality, adopted the orphan.

Chapter II "A New Life"

This man, well considered in the tribe, answered to the name of Grand-Loup or Great Wolf. Tireless runner, vivacious and unbelievably light on his feet, he had kept in his old age his gifts of hunter and invincible warrior. He had no children. Also, he was greatly attached to his nephew, who always showed attention and deference toward him. There were two reasons why he took Cerf's daughter to his home: affection for him, and then interest. For, one must admit, absolute disinterest is strongly rare... and our Indian brothers were not superior to us in this regard... A daughter was greatly appreciated by the Iroquois.

The women and girls, wrote one of Tekakwitha's biographers (Father Lecompte, S.J.), are the greatest resources of an Indian family. For them, the concern for domestic care, the hardest work. Regarding the man's part, it was war, hunting or fishing. The rest of the time, he spent smoking, chatting with friends, playing, drinking, eating and sleeping.

The women had much to do, for, in addition to the domestic chores, they must also carry out heavy work. Often, they went to get the game killed by their father, brother or husband. They had to drag them if they were too heavy, carry them on their shoulders if they were not heavy. Then, they had to skin the game, which they prepared for selling. They cooked the meat and used the bones as ornaments or useful items.

In addition, contrary to the custom of the white man, it is the Indian husband who followed the woman in her family, and not the bride to the groom.

Marriage, wrote the above cited author, is all for the profit of the bride's family. It is a hunter and a warrior that the family gains. The aged parents look upon him, with reason, as a permanent resource for their later years and, if he is a brave warrior, as a reflection of glory upon their family.

For all these reasons, the young girl was therefore greatly welcomed by her two aunts, the two sisters, of whom one was the wife of Great Wolf.

The child was well taken care of and when spring arrived the convalescent was able to leave the longhouse, see once again the American forest and the beautiful budding trees. With gentleness, the little neighbor girls invited the new arrival to join with them in singing and playing. This one accepted with pleasure, for she was very kind and cheerful. However, she had trouble with daylight; she was frail and sensitive to cold. One day, one of the little Indian girls, laughing, said to her:

Put your blanket over your eyes; without that you will be caught in the game like an owl is caught in the sun!

Joking aside, the idea appeared a good one to the child, for she was never seen without her blanket, a craft diligently created by Fleur-de-la-Prairie for her dear little daughter.

And the days passed, and our heroine grew, intelligent and lively, skilled in all sorts of manual labor carried out habitually by the Indian women. However, she still had delicate health, and her reduced eyesight made her walk with hesitant gait. From that moment on, she was called Tekakwitha or Tegakouita, which means in Iroquois: "she who walks searching in front of self". She kept this name right up to her baptism, which would take place later on.

Tekakwitha loved to isolate herself, to remain for long hours in her longhouse, something that was very rare among the natives. There, she worked, and her work was the admiration of her aunts. She sang, and people would willingly stop to listen to the pretty, sweet voice; but the people could hardly understand the words of the strange hymn of the young girl. It is because she had kept a memory of several hymns sung by Fleur-de-la-Prairie... God allowed these things to return to Tekakwitha's memory. (Ed.)

She was in the habit of spending a lot of time thinking about her former life, near her dear mother... Little by little, she found again other precious memories. Alone, without a missionary near her, without any guide to teach these sacred things, the child, within herself, prayed, loved, reflected... She was a fervent Christian way before the baptismal water would flow upon her forehead. (Ed.)

But what are you doing there in the longhouse, Tekakwitha? asked her aunts often, not understanding her taste for solitude and silence in an Indian girl.

To which she answered gracefully:

I work and my spirit sees beautiful things. Does my mother wish that I come?

For she always obeyed gracefully and eagerly. Since work was always carried out in an admirable fashion in the longhouse and this greatly simplified the aunts' chores... she was left to act according to her liking and very willingly.

And it is thus that the Great God of the Blackrobes leaned toward the child of the forest, speaking Himself to her heart and prepared her to become the exquisite Flower of the Mohawk, the admirable little Iroquois girl whose life if now being studied in Rome in light of her soon to be beatification. (1935, Ed.)

Chapter III "A Plot"

Following a curious custom in Iroquois country, when Tekakwitha attained her eight year, she was engaged to a young boy of her age. She understood nothing of this strange engagement. She believed, as well as her young companion, that it was a question of some kind of a strange game. She continued her life as a young girl as if nothing involved her in a new life. And the years passed. The little promised girl without knowing it had heard about Algonquin or Huron captives brought into the tribe by Iroquois warriors. These Christians had willingly enlightened the child on many things. So well, that she dreamed of nothing else but a life completely consecrated to prayer, work, solitude. She promised herself that she would refuse all offers of marriage proposed to her.

But the aunts had spoken a lot with the female parents, friends and neighbors. They bragged about the spirit of work, of grace, of the pleasing disposition of Tekakwitha. Smallpox had left traces here and there on her face, that was true. But on the other hand, she was well fit. "And certain experienced women added, that you can always put color on her face? She wore no necklaces, nor bracelets. Let her adorn her head and throw away her blanket."

The Fox, one elder provided, spoke well of Tekakwitha and I heard him. He is a young warrior already respected by the Elders. He is of an age to take on a wife.

The Fox! exclaimed the aunts, could hardly contain himself with joy! Let him come! We will give him Tekakwitha, for her childhood fiancé died a while ago. We are old now in the longhouse. We must quickly set up our niece.

Happy with the role that was given to her, the Elder woman promised that she would speak with the Fox and without a doubt he would not wait long to come asking for Tekakwitha in marriage.

Mysteriously, the great interview between the two young people was being prepared.

The Fox dreamed of offering rich gifts to Tekakwitha, to the uncle and aunts. He prepared with pleasure what he had best to charm the eyes of his fiancée. Feathers, furs, tattoos, weapons... here is what was elegant and attractive to a promised Indian

Chapter IV "The Flight Into The Night"