The Potawatomi Boy
Chapter One
In
the month of strawberries, Green Leaf’s breath made a cloud in front of his
nose. His long shirt felt stiff. Goose bumps dotted his aunt’s arms. Mother
held tight to her scarf.
Green
Leaf’s family had returned to the summer village. It was good to see the other
families of their clan.
In
winter, each family moved to a camp deep in the forest. They hardly saw each
other all season. Father said that in the winter it was easier for the people
to build smaller homes in the shelter of the trees. Wood for the fire was close
by so they kept warm and cooked their dried beans, venison, and turkey. In the
long dark of the winter camp, Green Leaf’s grandfather told stories of the Big
Hairs.
Now
the clans were back together in the clearing on the hill, at their summer
hogans of bark and long grass.
Today,
Green Leaf, his mother, and his aunt walked to the village of the Big Hair
people. Mother carried maple vinegar and dried juniper berries in a basket
along with the green fish Green Leaf trapped that morning near the join of the
creeks. He had hoped to eat the fish himself, but Mother said they’d make a
fine trade.