Just as we were sitting down to breakfast, Teddy, who was manning the camera screen, called up, "Horsemen, Braves are coming up our road."
We immediately jumped up, but the Twins sent, "They are messengers sent by Chief Great Bear, make them welcome as they have ridden hard and are hungry!"
I told the chef Crew to prepare more food as guests were coming. Henry and I went to the front porch as three riders wearily got off their horses and approached us, saying, "Chief Great Bears sends his greeting, we have important news". I invited them inside to warm up and have a meal before they gave us their message. They ate ravenously, they had not stopped to eat from the time Chief Great Bear had sent them. Finally, they had their fill and could relax a bit, their leader, Warrior Eagle began speaking, "Chief Great Bear sends his greetings. He has a delegation of people from OTTAWA, they report many deaths and famine haunts them. They have come to ask our help. Great Bear requests COUNCIL!"
Fox jumped up and said, "Father Chiefs, we cannot let people starve, we cannot let children suffer. WE MUST HELP!"
Henry and I agreed with him, I called for Bear, "Bear, send Warrior Messenger immediately to all the Tribes, WE CALL COUNCIL FOR FIVE DAYS FROM NOW!" I continued, "Twins, sound MEETING immediately!" The drums began calling The Atawonka to MEETING! Bear dispatched his Warrior Messengers immediately and The Atawoka gathered at The Meeting Place.
Fox stood on his upturned log and said, "I, FOX-ATA, SHAMAN, CALL YOU TO ATTEND. FATHER CHIEFS WILL SPEAK."
Henry and I rose and Henry held his hand for silence, "Atawonka People, we have an emergency. The people still living in Ottawa are starving and there is no food there. We have called our Nation to Council, but the need is now! What say you?"
The gathered Atawonka responded with just two words, "FEED THEM!"
Henry and I started up the trucks and connected the trailers to them as Warriors began carrying food supplies out and loading them on the vehicles. Barrels of flour, frozen meats, containers of milk, dried vegetables, loaves of bread and boxes of Fox's tea leaves. It was still early morning, so we started out, accompanied by Bear and ALL his Warriors, including Basil, Joseph and Gary who knew many of the people in Ottawa. It was nearly dark when we arrived, the Twins rode the front bumper as we made our way slowly through the slush that remained from winter. They beat the drum loudly to attract attention as they called, "WE BRING YOU FOOD."
Basil, having gained confidence in himself from our trust and love, mind-sent to all who would hear him, "COME, WE BRING FOOD AND SAFETY TO ALL IN NEED. COME, EVERYONE!"
We set up our kitchen in the main square of the city, gathering firewood from broken houses. We had brought along a stove and the Warrior began warming milk. They set out the loaves of bread and a tub of fresh butter on the back of one of the trucks. A large cauldron was placed over the fire and a stew was started. The smells of food cooking brought people as the Twins continued to beat the drum.
Basil stood on the back of the truck and shouted, "I AM BASIL JONES OF YOUR CITY. NOW I AM ATAWONKA, WE ARE HERE TO FEED YOU, COME AND BRING YOUR CHILDREN. THERE IS NO NEED TO FEAR US, WE BRING FOOD AND SAFETY TO YOU ALL."
People began to gather, Basil went through the crowd gathering the hungry children around him. He brought them to the fire and handed them cups of warm milk and buttered bread. About a hundred adults and as many children gathered around us.
An older man stepped forward and said, "We are about all that are left, the Elders left us yesterday and took all the remaining food. Many of us can hear your mind-speech, but we were told mind-speech was evil and of the devil!"
Basil shouted out, "NOT TRUE, MIND SPEECH IS A GIFT OF THE GREAT SPIRIT. WE ARE NOT EVIL, STEP CLOSER TO THE FIRE THAT YOU MAY WARM YOURSELVES. FOOD WILL BE READY SHORTLY." At that, he walked among the gathered people, telling them of us and how we had saved him and ALL the children from the orphanage. Joseph and Gary gathered all the children from the crowd and held them, hugged them and offered them warmed milk and bread until the stew would be done.
Bear hugged me and said, "THIS is our purpose, THIS is what the GREAT SPIRIT has called us to do!" As soon as the stew had cooked, the Warriors began passing out cups of stew and pieces of buttered bread, promising hot tea as soon as they had finished their meal. A teen aged boy approached and asked, "Please sirs, might I have some more? I have not eaten in nearly a week."
Bear grabbed a ladle and filled his cup again, then said, "There is plenty of food here, all may have as much as they need. Bring all your children forward that they may eat their fill and be warmed by the fire!"
Basil jumped back up on the truck and began speaking, "This is my brother, BEAR, Chief Warrior of the ATA NATION," as he pointed to Bear, then he continued, "Bring all the children who have no family here to me. We WILL care for them. Families with small children, we WILL care for, also. Boys and Girls, if you have no home or your parents are willing, come to me and we WILL care for you. The rest of you, we WILL care for you. The Council of the ATA NATION meets in five days from today, elect a leader who can meet with our NATION'S COUNCIL in Colony! We WILL NOT abandon you as your elders did. These are our Tribe's Father Chiefs, they will speak to you now." He pointed to Henry and myself and offered us a hand up to the bed of the truck.
Henry began, "Chief Peter and I are Fathers and Chief of the ATAWONKA TRIBE and also Co Chiefs of the ATA NATION COUNCIL. I tell you that you will NOT be abandoned by us."
He then nodded at me, "I am Chief Peter, as Chief Henry told you, you are not abandoned by us. We will leave this food with you." I pointed to food still on the truck, "Warrior Basil," I began as Basil's chest swelled, "and Warriors Joseph and Gary are from your city also. They will stay with you and will guide your representative to meet our Nation's Council in five days. They are our Representatives to you and our guarantee of our help."
All three boys were beaming with pride. They gathered the children who had no families and brought them to us. They then brought several young families who asked to come back to Colony with us, then they gathered 10 more teen boys and their parent, who asked if their sons could go with us and be Warriors like Basil and his friends had become. Bear looked at the boys and asked, "Will you be obedient to those Warriors placed over you, will you protect those who are in need, will you make war on those who abuse children?"
The boys all stood straight and answered, "WE WILL."
Bear then looked at the parents of the boys and said, "These boys wish to become ATA NATION WARRIORS, do you allow this?" All replied that they did.
Bear mind-called Fox, who then faced the boys, "I AM FOX-ATA, SHAMAN TO THE ATAWONKA AND ALSO TO THE ATA NATION. I CALL TO YOU TO BE LOYAL WARRIORS OF THE ATA NATION. TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE AND ITS CHILDREN. I CALL YOU TO PROTECT ALL CHILDREN, TO RIGHT WRONGS AGAINST ALL PEOPLE, TO OBEY THOSE WARRIORS WHO ARE PLACED IN CHARGE. DO YOU AGREE TO THIS?" All the boys responded with a yes. Fox continued, "THEN WE ACCEPT YOU INTO OUR WARRIORS TO BE TRAINED. YOU ARE WELCOME AMONG US."
They all hugged each other and their parents. There were many tears shed that day, there were many proud mothers and fathers. As the day closed, our Warriors opened bedrolls for themselves and our new Warriors, who were also given hot water and towels that they might clean themselves. The Warriors also bathed the children and gave the young parents hot water and clean towels so that they could clean themselves and their children. Soon, everyone was bedded down, clean and fed. The adults and families that were going to stay, were led by Basil and his two Warriors, Joseph and Gary, to a nearby school, where a fire had been built and water was heating. Darkness closed over a newly happy and fed people!
The next morning, the Warriors again heated food, milk and tea for everyone. We left food supplies and bread, along with a barrel of flour and frozen meat for those staying behind. Basil was left in charge of the remaining Warriors, Joseph and Gary. They would escort the community's Representative when he came to Council. This was the beginning of a new era that would gain momentum to create a new world out of the old.
Old Becomes New
Our return to Colony was met with Joy and Celebration, the new children were whisked away by the families who had volunteered to nurture them, the new Warriors led away by Bear and Panther to begin their training and Henry and I collapsed in the living room, both of us thinking how much had taken place in the last years! We had been refugees ourselves and now we were reclaiming a nation! The days flew by and suddenly it was the day of COUNCIL! Chiefs and Shamans of each tribe assembled as the Twins rolled out CALL TO COUNCIL on the drum.
When all had assembled, Fox stood at his usual place and called, "I AM FOX-ATA, SHAMAN TO THE ATA NATION. I CALL ALL HERE ASSEMBLED TO BE GUIDED BY THE GREAT SPIRIT. ONLY CHIEFS MAY VOTE BUT ALL MAY SPEAK."
Chief Great Bear rose and said, "I WILL SPEAK." He then bowed to Henry and myself, then began, "THE GREAT SPIRIT GUIDED MY DREAMS, I REACHED OUT WITH MY MIND AND FOUND ONLY HURT, TERROR AND FEAR, I FOUND HUNGER, COLD AND FILTH, I FOUND ANGER, HATE AND WANT, I FOUND THIS NOT IN A PEOPLE FOREIGN TO US, I FOUND IT IN OUR OWN LAND." He paused and looked each chief in his eyes, then he continued, "HOW THEN MAY WE PLEASE THE GREAT SPIRIT IF WE ALLOW THESE THINGS TO EXIST IN OUR OWN LAND, OUR OWN FOLK, OUR OWN CHILDREN? WE CANNOT, WE MUST NOT, WE WILL NOT ALLOW THISE TO CONTINUE!" He paused, turned slowly looking at each of us in challenge and said, "WHAT SAY YOU, CHIEFS OF THE ATA NATION? SHALL WE COWER IN OUR HOMES, SHALL WE HIDE IN FEAR, SHALL WE ALLOW OTHERS TO PERISH? I SAY NOT, WE MUST ACT, WE MUST HELP WE MUST DESTROY HURT, FEAR, HUNGER AND WE DO THESE THINGS NOW!"
At that, Bear walked calmly into the Circle and held Fox's hand, they turned together, slowly, facing each chief in turn, then Bear began to speak, "I, BEAR-ATA, CHIEF WARRIOR OF THE ATA NATION REQUEST TO SPEAK."
He nodded at me and I said, "CHIEF WARRIOR BEAR-ATA, YOU MAY ALWAYS SPEAK AT THIS COUNCIL AS YOU ARE CHIEF WARRIOR. PLEASE SPEAK YOUR MIND."
Bear looked at Fox and a look passed between the two, then Bear spoke, "ATA NATION, WE MUST ACT NOW OR FOREVER HIDE IN SHAME. LET US GATHER OUR WARRIORS AND OUR SHAMANS TO GO FORTH AND BRING PEACE TO OUR TORTURED LAND, FEED THE HUNGRY, CLOTHE THOSE WHO HAVE NO CLOTHES, TEACH THOSE WHO HAVE NO LEARNING, NURTURE THOSE WHO HAVE NO FAMILIES AND BRING PEACE TO THOSE WHO KNOW IT NOT! ONLY THEN MAY WE CALL OURSELVES MEN!"
There was a stunned silence that hung over us for long minutes. Henry stood and held his hand for silence. Slowly, he began to speak, "BEAR-ATA, YOU SPEAK THE GREAT SPIRIT'S TRUTH. CHIEFS OF THE ATA NATION HOW MANY WARRIORS WILL YOU SEND FOR THIS EFFORT, HOW MUCH FOOD WILL YOU SEND TO FEED THOSE IN WANT, WHO WILL TEND THEIR HURTS, TEACH THEIR CHILDREN, MEND THEIR HOMES AND START THEM ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM. IF YOU WILL DO ALL THESE THINGS, STEP FORWARD NOW."
Every Chief, every Shaman stepped forward saying, "WE WILL DO THESE THINGS!"
So began the great effort to free our nation. Within days, Warrior from each tribe began to arrive. Bear appointed Basil to be Chief of Training, Panther to be Chief of the First Warrior Corps and Trout to be Chief of the Second Warrior Corps. The first Warrior Corps was ready in two weeks, they began to sweep to the east destroying the hideouts of bandits, criminals and the hated Elders. In each place they helped form farming cooperatives, community governments and regulations to live by. In another week, the second Warrior Corps was ready to depart to the west and in three more weeks, the Third Warrior Corps under the leadership of Lion departed to assist in the west. Still more Warriors arrived for Chief of Training Basil to turn into Fighting Warriors. Soon a Third Warrior Corps was ready and sent to the East under the command of Warrior Chief Feather and yet another, the Fourth Warrior Corps led by Warrior Chief Knife! Warriors were still coming in for training. We already had over 4,000 Warriors working east and west, so it was decided to form a Home Warrior Corps, under the Leadership of Warrior Chief Basil. These Warriors would be the fleet of messengers and security for the Nation's Council. All the Warriors Chiefs were exceptionally strong mind-speakers and were in constant communication with each other and also with Warrior Chief Bear. Under Bear's guidance, each Warrior Corps progressed through their assigned areas with few casualties.
It took 4 years before we were a full nation again. The population would not equal what it had been for many years, but we had a full record of the mistakes of the past that, hopefully, would never again be repeated. We set up National Government Zones, each with its own local leaders. Overall, we retained the National Council and elected a National President and vice-President. Henry was elected President and I, vice-President for six-year terms.
AFTERWARD
Gradually, things settled down and the Nation began to prosper. With peace, farming and light industry began as did fishing, fur trapping and some mineral production. Our principal transportation remained horses, however, after a couple of years we did get some rail lines back into operation and a few sailing ships on the lakes. Henry and I served our terms in office, but refused to consider standing for re-election.
Shortly before we left office, my beloved Henry suffered a massive heart attack, which he did not survive. I returned to our home in Colony, a tired and heartbroken old man. Day after day, I sat at the window, watching our lake and dreaming of my lost love.
Fox and Jacob were beside themselves, first in sorrow and then in worry about me. It was Bear's twin boys, Cabe and Kelly that saved me. They were 10 years old and cute as two little minks that they were. One summer afternoon they both climbed into my lap and mind-spoke to me, "Grandpa, tell us about the old day when you and Grandpa Henry started Colony."
So, they want me to be a storyteller? "Well, boys, it all started when ..."