Si8mosis

By Diane M. Cubit, 1998

Little Hawk’s grandmother was a very wise woman. Everyday, before school grandmother would say “Little Hawk, someday you too will be asked to drum with the elders. Like your brother Wolf, you must practice.” Little Hawk would ignore grandmother’s wise words, and chase his older brother to school jumping and hollering behind him.

Grandmother would settle into her work as little Hawk would watch her soak and weave the sweet grass between the wooden splints of her newest basket. While she was not looking, Little Hawk would grab a handful of grass and run to the table. “Come back her you little devil, Give those back to me.” Grandmother would yell through a grin. “Here are two spoons, you should practice your drumming.” Little Hawk would smile, and run around the table, and jumping and hollering over and over and over. He would not practice his drumming.

Moments before Wolf would come home from school; Little Hawk would fall asleep before grandmother’s feet. Grandmother would say,” Shhh, tippy tippetoe, Little Hawk is sleeping.”

On the days before the harvest festival, it was always the same. Grandmother would weave her sweet grass baskets, while Little Hawk would jump and run around the table, until he would fall asleep at grandmother’s feet. Grandmother would remind Wolf, on his return from school,  “ Shhh, tippy tippetoe ,  Little Hawk is sleeping.”  

Grandmother would warn, “You will never be asked to drum with the elders if you do not practice.” Little Hawk would smile, and run around the table, jumping and hollering, over and over. He would not practice his drumming.

The day of the festival, grandmother and Wolf were dressed in their best ceremonial regalia. Wolf was asked to drum with the elders, and grandmother would sell her sweet smelling baskets. Little Hawk was too little to do either. He sat watching outside the ceremonial circle from near his grandmothers’ feet. He had heard his brother’s beat, it sounded like,“tippy tippetoe, tippetoe, tippetoe toe …” Little Hawk knew that beat! He had seen the dancers enter the circle and he jumped up to grab two handful of grandmother’s sweet grass. He ran off to the circle and ran around the sacred fire, again and again and again.

Grandmother said, “ How foolish I was, Little Hawk, you didn’t need to practice drumming, you were practicing to become a great eagle dancer all along.”