The sun revealed her bright face. Ajijaak stood nervously waiting for his Uncle Ogaa and Mikinaak. A crowd of boys and young men had heard that he was to begin his quest this morning and they had risen early to watch. Ajijaak had few friends. His family curse and his lack of speech excluded him from the jesting of other boys. It did not matter. His journey was about to begin. He would discover his worth and his mission in life, no not discover. He already knew what his mission was; his vision would only confirm it. He stood with his arms held out, as Mikinaak applied the gray ashes to his arms, legs and face. From Mikinaak’s hands flowed the power of this man, power of physical strength and power of medicine. How he wanted to be just like Mikinaak. It was Mikinaak who had long ago named him Ajijaak, after the crane. A crane was a revered creature. His naming had come before the shame of his father and the curse that followed. Still, Ajijaak wanted to bring honor to the name he had been given. He wanted to prove that Mikinaak had chosen wisely when he had named him after the whooping crane.

There was the usual muttering of people behind him. He kept his keen ears dulled. He did not want to hear any snide remarks or teasing. This was a holy moment in his life. When he finished applying the ash Mikinaak said, “Once all was dark and lightless. Nothing could be seen. In this darkness Gichi-manidoo slept. He breathed in and out. He dreamed. From his dreams came points of light. Light that shot through the darkness. Light that illumined all that once could not be seen. When he woke from his sleep, he saw a great light and a lesser light, the sun and the moon. In this light he saw Nimaamaa Aki for the first time. She was barren and waiting to be blessed with life. Gichi-manidoo had nothing to make life from, so he created land, and rock from this nothing. From nothing he made water. He made our brothers and sisters the plants and the flowers. He breathed into them the spirit of life. Next he made the small-legged creatures and those of the air and water. When he had finished with them, he fashioned his final creation, man. Man was last because he lacked the constancy of rock, the rejuvenation and power of water, the independence and beauty of plants, and the variety and humility of creatures. But to man, he gave the power, he possessed. He gave man the power to dream. May your dreams be blessed.”

Ajijaak nodded his thanks. It was time to go, time to face himself. As he made his way to the stream he saw Miinan. Her smile was bright and wide. She did not wave to him, but by the way she looked at him, he was certain her feelings toward him were growing. If he could have whooped his joy, he would have, but he could not so he contained himself and stepped into the canoe. His Uncle Ogaa had not spoken to him, and would not speak to him. They would make this journey in silence. The birch bark canoe glided noiselessly through the water. From behind one of the pines stood Ziibi. Her dark eyes held him in their strange light. She seemed to be offering him some of her strength. He did not need the strength of a little girl. He turned from her without a smile or a gesture. He knew that he had offended her. She was only a meddling child. How dare she suggest he might need her!

The place to dream was a half days journey away. Up stream they traveled. The water was filled with the bright bodies of fish. The air sounded with the songs of birds. The forest slipped passed them as they paddled up river. When they reached a large spruce with long dark arms, they stopped and pulled their canoe beside it.Ajijaak took his birch bark bucket, the only thing he had brought with him and scooped up a pail of water. It was all that he would have to drink for the next four days. Just water, no food.

The sun reached its zenith. They broke through the thick spruce into a tall ring of pines that enclosed an empty space. In this space was nothing but short grass. The little dwellers maintained this place. Ajijaak wondered if he would see any of these shy creatures while he waited to receive his vision. He put his bucket down and he and his uncle went to the center of the circle. His uncle offered tobacco to the unseen spirits. Ajijaak could feel their presence and for the first time he felt fear.

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In a soft voice Uncle Ogaa said, “We ask your forgiveness. Forgive my nephew. I have brought him to this place, your place that he might receive his vision that he might know what path he is to walk in his life. I ask you show kindness to him and reveal to him his dream.”

Ajijaak looked up into the face of Giizhig-ikwe. Miinan would like this place, but girls were not allowed here. His uncle said, “Ambe, let us build your shelter.”

With their sharp bone knifes they cut cedar limbs and made a small lean to. This would house Ajijaak for the next four days. It offered very little protection from the elements and no protection at all from animals. His uncle set his bucket of water beside the lean to, and then he left. For a long time Ajijaak listened to the step of his uncle until he heard his step no more. He was completely alone. When he practiced his vision quest it had always been within quick running distance of home. He was far from home, so far, and he did not know how to get back home, even if he tried. He had not paid as much attention to the trail as he should have. He had been too excited. Stop this, he scolded himself. He would not run back home like some infant. He would meet his destiny like a man.

Ajijaak’s resolve maintained him through the rest of that long first day. He knew the pains of hunger that were beginning to trouble him. He would not succumb to their gnawing. He was not afraid. Fear waited for him though. It waited until the night sounds came. It waited until the light was gone and the moon did not shine. Heavy clouds covered the sky blocking all light and all comfort. Sweat formed on his lip. Dark shadows deeper than the darkness around him moved. A cold sweat broke over his entire body. His mind began to race. There was something in the darkness, something that was waiting for him. His throat became dry. His mind began to churn with old voices that ate at his self worth. He did not want to hear the taunts of the other children, but he did. “No tongue Ajijaak.” “Can you say a word?” “Growl for us dumb boy. GROWL!” A growl was all he could manage. The shame that always haunted him came to him now. What sort of vision was a boy like him given? He had been arrogant to think he would not be afraid, arrogant to think some great quest awaited him. Despair mingled with his fear. What if no dream came? What if he never dreamed? He would dream, he must dream! He pushed the negative thoughts away from him. He must think. He must remember all that was good and right inside of him. Yes, he had limitations, everyone lacked something, his was just more obvious.

From the outer circle of trees a sleek large male wolf appeared. His eyes held Ajijaak. His gaze was intense. Somewhere he had pups and a mate that must be fed. Ajijaak remained still. Wolves were great hunters. They knew how to carefully select their game. They kept the animals strong by claiming the weak within the herd. Ajijaak knew that in the tribe of man, he would be seen as lacking. Still he was physically strong. He would not be a meal. Remaining completely still, he kept his eyes locked on the wolf. For an eternity they seemed to stare at each other, then all at once, the wolf turned and trotted back into the forest.

It was awhile before Ajijaak began to breath normally again, and longer still before he stretched himself out to try and sleep. When sleep did come it was shallow and dreamless.

Vocabulary:

Ajijak Sandhill Crane

Ambe Let’s go!

Baswewe It Echos

Bibigwan Flute

Gichi-manidoo Great Spirit

Giizhig Sky

Mide member of Midewiwin (Grand Medicine Society)

Miinan Blueberries

Mikinaak Snapping turtle

Mikwam Ice

Nimaamaa My mother

Noko Grandmother

Ogaa walleye pike

Wiindingoog evil man eating spirit

Ziibi River