Voices from the past

Page 12

In the last issue we examined some of the old Indian prophecies as told by the Elders. Now let us take a look at prophecies and the affect that it had on the lives of the historical chiefs.

Most of the readers have heard of the Chief Red Cloud of the Lokota Sioux. Howevr, many people do not know that there was a prophecy given at the time of his birth.

On the night he was born his mother had a vision that he would be a great leader. When he cried the first time a shooting star streaked across the sky. It left a wide trail of red clouds. That is why he was given the name Red Cloud.

He would be a great leader among his people. It had been written in the sky.

History confirms that Red Cloud left behind him a red trail of blood I the battles that he fought for his people.

Another great warrior among the Lokota was Chief Crazy Horse. When he was a boy he had a vision that no enemy would be able to defeat him unless his own people held his arms.

As the vision had predicted Crazy Horse became an outstanding fighter and seemed invincible in battle against enemy tribes. However, he was seriously wounded in a dispute over a woman when two of his own warriors held his arms while another warrior shot him in the face. He lived through the ordeal but it left a permanent scar on his face.

Crazy Horse won many victories in battle against the American soldiers, However, on September 5, 1877 at Fort Robinson, he was killed when his own warriors held his arms and an American soldier ran a bayonet through him.

He had lived and fought for his people and his death was caused by his people.

Another great leaders among the Sioux was Chief Sitting Bull. One day, while he was riding through the woods, a little bird spoke to him and said, "The Sioux will kill you."

The prophecy came true on December 15, 1890. Sitting Bull was killed by his own warriors who had been hired by the American government as Indian police.

Chief Big Bear was a respected leader among the Plains Cree. In 1881, he and his people had a camp on the banks of the Missouri River. One night., he had an ugly dream in which he saw a spring of water shooting up from the ground. He tried to smother it but it spurted up between his fingers. The water turned into blood and ran over the back of his hands.

The dream came true four years later when the Riel Rebellion broke out. Big Bear tried to restrain his warriors from taking part, as the dream had predicted, he was unable to stop the blodhed in war.

Many people do not know that Louis Riel had the gift of prophecy. He did not drink or smoke. He did not approve of violence and it was said that he was afraid of guns.

Suring the battle at Duck lake, Riel sat on his horse armed only with a crucifix which he held in his hands while bullets whistled by his head. When the soldiers began to retreat, the Metis fighters wanted to follow and destroy them but Riel cried out, "For the love of God, kill no more of them."

During the battle at fish Creek, Riel spent the entire day in prayer with his arms crossed and he made the women and children pray.

Riel gave a prophecy of how the battle of Batoche would turn out. He said that the skies were clear on may 12, the Metis peoples would win the battle. He also said that is the skies were cloudy on the 12th of May, the Metis would lose the battle of Batoche. On the night of May 11, the skies were clear but on the morning of May 12th the clouds and rain came. As he had predicted, the Metis people lost the battle.