Charles Eastman, or Ohiyesa, devotes considerable attention to
describinghis relationship to the practice of hunting. Becoming a hunter is
inextricably linked to being a Sioux man, and along with the activity
come important teachings and customs. He reveals a certain love for the
hunt that develops in every Indian boy. He always felt a “passion for the
chase.” He even recalls a vivid memory of when he was three years old,
gazed up at the trees and felt the strong urge to shoot down a flying
bird with his miniature bow and arrow.
Customs were passed down from hunter to hunter, in ways such as
fishing and setting traps for small animals. A hunter must know how to
make a fish line of wild hemp or horse hair. Ohiyesa describes the
exhilarating nature of climbing trees hunting for birds and eggs.
Additionally, young Sioux became learned in the way of setting
nooses for game like rabbits.
Although Ohiyesa mentions that hunting is sometimes performed
alone, he seems to particularly enjoy the practice of group hunting. He
reflects that, “the most enjoyable of all was the chipmunk hunt…we
generally went in groups of six to a dozen or fifteen.” Over the years his
tribe had learned the “secret of nature” that in the early morning as many
as fifty chipmunks would congregate. One of the hunters would imitate a
chipmunk call and lure the chipmunks out into the open. Following a war
cry, they would chase and shoot their arrows at the chipmunks as they
scurried up the trees.
Overall, Ohiyesa reveals how embedded hunting is in the Sioux culture.
It is an activity that is necessary for their survival and more importantly,
an activity that molds young Sioux boys into men.
~D.H.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
A Note on *Indian Boyhood,* “Games and Sports” to “A Visit to Smoky Day”
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I found it very interesting how Eastman stated, "It will be no exaggeration to say that the life of the Indian hunter was a life of fascination. From the moment that he lost sight of his rude home in the midst of the forest, his untutored mind lost it-self in the myriad beauties and forces of nature." I felt that the passion that he held for hunting was not only due to the customs that were passed down from generation to generation, but also the fact that each child was always told to take a second look and to be observant of their surroundings. I feel that because of the customs and the constant quizzing they received about the world around them, provided them with this sense of awe and excitement. They had a close connection to nature, because that was all they knew. The children were at constant play, but this also gave them the ability to test their surroundings. They were taught techniques from the elders, but much of it was learning from experience. At one point in "The Boy Hunter," Ohiyesa asked Chatanna if he should go and fetch their uncle to shoot the fawn, but Chatanna wanted to prove that, like many before him, he could handle the situation with his skills. Hunting was a necessity for survival, but also a way of proving oneself to the rest. Each child was constantly trying to impress the elders and showing that each had the bravery that was sought for. I agree with D.H. that Eastman was relaying the message that hunting was an activity that was necessary for their survival, but one that also molds the boys into men.
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