Track Six of Eight

Return with Nez Perce and Death

New Night

Preparation for the Trip

The Dreamer already holds the premonition that the deer skin and its contents belong to the Nez Perce.

Before the Dreamer goes to retrieve it, he decided to perform some initial investigation of the possibility that the contents are of some legend or folklore.

The Dreamer called the Indians Affairs Office of the Nez Perce in Montana. He asked the person he contacted there if there was anyone that he could speak to that was a historian of the tribe about the time of the pursuit of the Nez Perce. She said there was, and the Dreamer was transferred to this person.

The Dreamer does not tell this person who he is, but instead says that what he is about to tell him will probably make no sense, that he will most likely think the Dreamer is crazy, but that the Dreamer hopes he will hear him out. The listener agrees and the Dreamer tells him this about the dreams:

"I have had some recurring dreams. They involve Indian artifacts and for some reason I believe that they involve the Nez Perce as a tribe and possibly in particular, Chief Joseph. I have dreamed of finding some artifacts that include knives and a strong box, a union cavalry soldier circa 1850 - 1900 and a deerskin. If any of this rings a bell let me know."

The man asks the Dreamer to hold-on and after a time another man comes on the line. The Dreamer tells him the same thing as was told to the other man. When the Dreamer get to the place where he would say that he is crazy, the listener interrupts the Dreamer and: (1) identifies him, (2) tells him that this is not craziness and that it was (3) a vision from the Great Spirit and that the Dreamer should take heed to what has happened.

The Dreamer at this time thinks that this listener is crazy himself, because the Dreamer could not believe that the Great Spirit would reveal something of import to some white man in Tacoma, when there were plenty of Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest that would love to have the chance to be involved in such a quest.

The listener asked the Dreamer where he saw these things. The Dreamer told the listener that they are located on the northeastern region of Lake Chelan. The Dreamer had lied to ensure that if the listener were on to something, they would have a nice outing looking for it - but a futile search.

The listener said that that would not fit into the folklore as the legend places the deer skin on the northwestern region of the lake. The Dreamer had lied to the listener because the deerskin was on the northwestern region of the lake. The Dreamer told him so.

The listener told the Dreamer that the legend goes that certain very significant artifacts, things that are essential for the tribe to be reunited in their past glory were lost during the pursuit. These artifacts were wrapped in a sacred deerskin - taken from a special deer - and tied with strap holding sacred knots. The artifacts included (1) three blue and white, bone-handled knives and (2) a warriors chest plate and beaded talisman. They believe that because of this loss, the tribe was unable to reach the Canadian border before being caught by the Union Army. They believe that if the tribe had those articles, that they would have made the trek with a greater ease and would have beaten their pursuers.

The listener said that the return of these things would be of great value to the tribe, that it has been foretold that one day they would be returned, and that the tribe would be whole, a nation again. They would have a channel to the Great Spirit. The one to return these treasures is a to be a white man. The bringing of these things back would make him a "big shit".

The Dreamer thought, "this would be some big shit".

So the Dreamer told him that those were the things he had seen in the dreams. The Dreamer did not mention the Hawkin's or the box in this context.

The Dreamer met the listener and three other Native Americans who had came with him at the ferry and they headed up the lake to the lodge.

Onto the ferry and the "Genesis of Track 8".

Arrival at the Lodge

They arrived at the lodge in mid-morning as before.

The sun set and it grew dark. A fire burned in the fireplace. The Indians began unpacking their bags and dressed in traditional clothing and prepared themselves for the trip. They were oblivious to the Dreamer's presence on the balcony above them as they chanted and put their things in order - talismans, medicine bag, and beads in their hair.

They stayed up all night and in the morning it was time to go.

The Head of the Trail

The Dreamer and the Indians left the lodge and went to the head of the trail passed the First WashOut as in each previous dream. Here, the Indian that the Dreamer had spoken to on the telephone headed the group, with the Dreamer second, and the others behind. The one in front of the Dreamer wore a blue and white blanket or robe with matching beads in his hair on the side of his head. He carried something, like beads in his hand, holding it waist high and fiddling it with his fingers. He was shorter than the Dreamer was so he could see over the one in front to the trail ahead.

This part of the trek was exactly as in the previous dreams. We arrive at the top of the dome overlooking the Second WashOut.

The Second Wash-Out with Indians

The Dreamer tells them that the deerskin is located under the gnarled roots and the three behind him run down to the side of the gully. One jumps into the washout and pulls the deer skin from under the soldier's body and he leaps with the roll to the top of the bank.

The Indian quickly opens the roll and upon seeing the contents he and the other two begin to whoop and holler and carry on. They fall on their knees, chant, and throw dirt in the air.

The three bring the deerskin to the leader who nods and they turn to leave. The Ind