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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
INDIAN BOYHOOD BY
OHIYESA
（CHARLES A。 EASTMAN）
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
I Earliest Recollections
I： Hadakah； 〃The Pitiful Last〃
WHAT boy would not be an Indian for a while when he thinks of the
freest life in the world？ This life was mine。 Every day there was a real
hunt。 There was real game。 Occasionally there was a medicine dance
away off in the woods where no one could disturb us； in which the boys
impersonated their elders； Brave Bull； Standing Elk； High Hawk；
Medicine Bear； and the rest。 They painted and imitated their fathers and
grandfathers to the minutest detail； and accurately too； because they had
seen the real thing all their lives。
We were not only good mimics but we were close students of nature。
We studied the habits of animals just as you study your books。 We
watched the men of our people and represented them in our play； then
learned to emulate them in our lives。
No people have a better use of their five senses than the children of the
wilderness。 We could smell as well as hear and see。 We could feel and
taste as well as we could see and hear。 Nowhere has the memory been
more fully developed than in the wild life； and I can still see wherein I
owe much to my early training。
Of course I myself do not remember when I first saw the day； but my
brothers have often recalled the event with much mirth； for it was a
custom of the Sioux that when a boy was born his brother must plunge
into the water； or roll in the snow naked if it was winter time； and if he
was not big enough to do either of these himself； water was thrown on him。
If the new…born had a sister； she must be immersed。 The idea was that a
warrior had come to camp； and the other chil… dren must display some act
of hardihood。
I was so unfortunate as to be the youngest of five children who； soon
after I was born； were left motherless。 I had to bear the humiliating name
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
〃Hakadah；〃 meaning 〃the pitiful last；〃 until I should earn a more dignified
and appropriate name。 I was regarded as little more than a play… thing by
the rest of the children。
My mother； who was known as the handsomest woman of all the Spirit
Lake and Leaf Dweller Sioux； was dangerously ill； and one of the medi…
cine men who attended her said： 〃Another medicine man has come into
existence； but the mother must die。 Therefore let him bear the name
'Mysterious Medicine。'〃 But one of the by… standers hastily interfered；
saying that an uncle of the child already bore that name； so； for the time； I
was only 〃Hakadah。〃
My beautiful mother； sometimes called the 〃Demi…Goddess〃 of the
Sioux； who tradition says had every feature of a Caucasian descent with
the exception of her luxuriant black hair and deep black eyes； held me
tightly to her bosom upon her death…bed； while she whispered a few words
to her mother…in…law。 She said： 〃I give you this boy for your own。 I
cannot trust my own mother with him； she will neglect him and he will
surely die。〃
The woman to whom these words were spoken was below the average
in stature； remarkably ac… tive for her age （she was then fully sixty）； and
possessed of as much goodness as intelligence。 My mother's judgment
concerning her own mother was well founded； for soon after her death that
old lady appeared； and declared that Hakadah was too young to live
without a mother。 She offered to keep me until I died； and then she
would put me in my mother's grave。 Of course my other grandmother
denounced the sugges… tion as a very wicked one； and refused to give me
up。
The babe was done up as usual in a movable cradle made from an oak
board two and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide。 On one side of
it was nailed with brass…headed tacks the richly…embroidered sack； which
was open in front and laced up and down with buckskin strings。 Over the
arms of the infant was a wooden bow； the ends of which were firmly
attached to the board； so that if the cradle should fall the child's head and
face would be protected。 On this bow were hung curious playthings
strings of artis… tically carved bones and hoofs of deer； which rattled when
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INDIAN BOYHOOD BY OHIYESA
the little hands moved them。
In this upright cradle I lived； played and slept the greater part of the
time during the first few months of my life。 Whether I was made to lean
against a lodge pole or was suspended from a bough of a tree； while my
grandmother cut wood； or whether I was carried on her back； or con…
veniently balanced by another child in a similar cradle hung on the
opposite side of a pony； I was still in my oaken bed。
This grandmother； who had already lived through sixty years of
hardships； was a wonder to the young maidens of the tribe。 She showed
no less enthusiasm over Hakadah than she had done when she held her
first…born； the boy's father； in her arms。 Every little attention that is due
to a loved child she performed with much skill and de… votion。 She made
all my scanty garments and my tiny moccasins with a great deal of taste。 It
was said by all that I could not have had more atten… tion had my mother
been living。
Uncheedah （grandmother） was a great singer。 Sometimes； when
Hakadah wakened too early in the morning； she would sing to him
something like the following lullaby：
Sleep； sleep； my boy； the Chippewas
Are far awayare far away。
Sleep； sleep； my boy； prepare to meet
The foe by daythe foe by day！
The cowards will not dare to fight
Till morning breaktill morning break。
Sleep； sleep； my child； while still 'tis night；
Then bravely wakethen bravely wake！
The Dakota women were wont to cut and bring their fuel from the
woods and； in fact； to perform most of the drudgery of the camp。 This of
neces… sity fell to their lot； because the men must follow the game during
the day。 Very often my grand… mother carried me with her on these
excursions； and while she worked it was her habit to suspend me from a
wild grape vine or a springy bough； so that the least breeze would swing
the cradle to and fro。
She has told me that when I had grown old enough to take notice； I
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was apparently capable of holding extended conversations in an unknown
dialect with birds and red squirrels。 Once I fell asleep in my cradle；
suspended five or six feet from the ground； while Uncheedah was some
dis… tance away； gathering birch bark for a canoe。 A squirrel had found it
convenient to come upon the bow of my cradle and nibble his hickory nut；
until he awoke me by dropping the crumbs of his meal。 My disapproval
of his intrusion was so decided that he had to take a sudden and quick
flight to another bough； and from there he began to pour out his wrath
upon me； while I continued my ob… jections to his presence so audibly that
Uncheedah soon came to my rescue； and compelled the bold intruder to go
away。 It was a common thing for birds to alight on my cradle in the
woods。
My food was； at first； a troublesome question for my kind foster…
mother。 She cooked some wild rice and strained it； and mixed it with
broth made from choice venison。 She also pounded dried venison almost
to a flour； and kept it in water till the nourishing juices were extracted