The Rivers Dance

Wimba's people are the Native river people of the Catawba. Like her ancestors, she was a ceremonial dancer from her youth. Her grandmother told her that "she danced even before she walked". The wise woman with the leathery skin and smiling eyes handed Wimba a native rattle made out of a tortoise shell to include with her hand-made beaded, buck skinned, dance costume and moccasins.

Grandmother made the costume just for this special night-as she had been saving up the beaded owl feathers for the bottom of the dress for four years now. Wimba was born in late October during a beautiful and long Indian summer just four years ago but she had already been dancing for the majority of her life. The skies were clear and warm tonight just as they were on the day of her birth.

Her maternal grandmother sat Wimba down on her fourth birthday to crush dried corn into meal before her naming ceremony, which also coincided with the 'Moon of Falling Leaves'. The Moon of Falling Leaves is the full moon event of October when those in her tribe would beat the earth with the soles of their moccasins in time with the flute and drum. They prayed along with the heart of the mother to restore the native ways. They prayed for the days when man lived as one with the earth-not as its owner.

Her grandmother recalled the sight of a large barred owl on the eve of Wimba's birth. The large size of the bird indicated it was a female bird. While most owls have yellow eyes, the barred owl's eyes are brown-"just like Wimba's eyes looking up at grandmother now". Grandmother continued to tell Wimba that the owl inhabits the woods just like Wimba's heart inhabits nature. "Owls are wise creatures and their hearing is far more acute than other birds of prey". "The Barred Owl comes to the light because that is where he finds insects for food", said Grandmother. I shall after this day call you Wimba, which means 'owl', and you as the owl will come to the light and the light shall bring you food when you are hungry for truth and words when you are hungry to hear what is in the heart of the mother who balances all things.

Grandmother explained the meaning of the name she chose for her grand-daughter was important. Wimba needed to understand who she was in the tribe and in the great mosaic of life.

Wimba's dancing, in her teen years, was like a physical prayer to return the land back to a balanced state. She danced for the restoration of the native ways and return of the once abundant animals such as the buffalo, wapiti and the wolf. Wimba danced for a balanced eco-system, but she also danced for balancing of her own life when she let her appetites for things consume her. Tonight she felt her ancestors dancing with her and especially her now deceased grandmother who gave her this name that continually defined her.

These physical prayers were not some duty to perform only when the Great Spirit was watching, but a living part of Wimba herself. She knew this living part of her was connected to the Great Spirit and to all things. Wimba's Native heart beats in time with the heart of mother earth as her moccasins pound into the soil in time with the native drum, flute and the tortoise shell rattle given to her on the day she was named.

Click to read more about Wimba in Her Last Indian Summer.

Special thanks to Mesei LaughingBrook for his inspiration and love. Our rivers will always dance together.