CHILDREN IN INDIAN TRIBES WERE TREATED WITH KINDNESS AND EVEN INDULGENCE. THEY WERE EXPECTED TO LEARN THEIR TRIBAL WAYS FROM AN ELDER. THEY LEARNED FROM EXAMPLE MOST IMPORTANTLY, AND PUT TOGETHER THE STORIES OF THEIR TRIBE. MANY OLDER MEN TOLD ABOUT THEIR HISTORIES AND THE YOUNG MEN LEARNED ABOUT HOW TO BEHAVE AND ACT. THE YOUNG MEN WENT TO THE OLD MEN EVERY NIGHT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR HISTORY AS WELL AS THE WAYS OF HUNTING, FISHING, MAKING BASKETS AND THEIR CEREMONIES.
THEY TOOK A BATH EVERY MORNING. THEY WENT TO A MOUNTAIN WHERE THEY GOT THEIR WOOD. THEY TOOK OFF THEIR CLOTHES AND JUMPED INTO A BIG LAKE. THEY MADE A BIG FIRE. THEY PICKED UP SOME ROCKS AND THREW ONE TOWARD THE WEST, ONE TOWARD THE EAST, AND ONE TOWARD THE SOUTH. AFTER THAT THEY MADE A PILLOW OUT OF A ROCK. THEN YOU WILL DREAM PERHAPS OF HUNTING OR GAMBLING OR ABOUT DOCTORING. IF YOU DREAM OF THOSE THINGS REMEMBER THEM. IF YOU DREAMT SOMETHING BAD SUCH AS FIGHTING OR STEALING YOU MUST GO INTO THE WATER AND SWIM AGAIN. THAT IS WHAT HE TOLD ME. WHEN I CAME BACK, I WAS A MAN, NO LONGER A BOY.
MALCOLM MARGOLIN
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