-
Quileute Potlatch Celebration 2
- Mar 19, 2010 at 5:01 PM
- By
- Comments (4) Total Views (442) Everyone can see this journal post.
Sara POV
And I was kneading. And kneading. And kneading. I had no clue how long you had to fondle the dough for to get it ready, but my dough was going to be a thoroughly kneaded, soft, pliable blob. Biting back comments about how very different this was than the kneading I was used to, I smiled at the kiss Peni placed on my cheek, the grin alive in her eyes as she said, "That's the best kneeded bread I have ever seen."
As another of the busy group of women took the yeast from Peni to began to bake, she asked, "You really don't cook?"
My domestic skills were sorely lacking, that had never been more apparent than now, surrounded by a room full of women who could of have embarrassed a master chef with the skills they were showing at preparing a beast a meal while running a household, setting up decor, and keeping the house full of children in line. With a slight shrug, I smiled, "I can cook...so far I've nailed eggs and toast"
The laughter that followed held no signs of redicule or judgement as Emily replied, "That's a good start."
"Now she gets to learn how to cook the Quileute way." Peni said with a grin.
"If you want it ediable, I might want to stick to just kneading and peeling stuff," I replied with a laugh.
Potatoes, corn, onions...vegetables of every color and creation began getting passed for wrapping, cutting, shucking, and pealing. Within minutes, every woman in the room had something in hand, work being done as gossip made it's way around the circle, "Is Tori coming?" Peni asked Emily.
"No. She said Reg's sick." She replied off hand.
"Really? I wonder what's wrong?" Peni looked in my direction. I could feel my brow draw together, trying to remember the last time Reg had been sick, before giving a mental sigh, reminding myself Reg was not my problem. The best answer I could give Peni was a shrug.
Peni POV
When the bake plates in the beach pit were ready, my Mom's Sister's and some of Marcus's Aunts kept the Quad's, while Emily Uley and I took Sara out to gather in the sea food from the cages in the ocean to layer the lobster, crab, clams, oysters with the vegetables, onions, and seaweed into the pit to cover for it to slow cook all morning.
"Sam wanted me to tell you," Emily remembered as we walked across the sandy beach. "There was an animal attack up North. Some Judge was killed. Someone reported seeing a white Wolf in the area."
"Great," I groaned. That never boded well for us. With our hot blooded tempers well known, we were always the first suspects when there were animal attacks. "So he had to answer for the Pack?"
"Yeah, he did. Get it through their heads while animals attack people," Emily responded. "We don't."
"We're always the enemy even though we keep them from becoming Leech cuisine," I pulled on the robe to draw the large lobster cage out of the ocean.
"No trouble for Marcus right?" Sara asked.
Shaking my head, I dipped the large cage into the water to wash most of the sand off. There were only four whitish wolves in the Pack, Marcus who was all white, myself who is white and grey, and then Tori and Kara who are both white and brown. I gave Sara a playful smile, "I know where Marcus and I were."
"What else is new." Emily shot over with a grin. Then she explained what Sam told the officials, "Tori was home taking care of Reg. Kara was at the Center till 2am. It was none of ours."
That should be that, then. I thought. At least it was easily done. The hoops the Magical Community had to jump through when the Vampire Victoria was killing left and right, when Sam was being spotted in Wolf form as he was trying to chase and protect people from her, still left a bad taste in all of our mouths.
Sara POV
"At least there's that" I said in response, glad to know the people we cared about were off the radar. Kneeling, I looked into the bin of lobsters, watching them nip at the walls, "Aww..they're so ugly they're kinda cute, huh?" I asked after one of the smaller one tried to climb over a larger one, only to find itself falling flat on it's back.
"And they taste delicious." Peni exclaimed as Emily tugged another cage from the water, this one full of crabs.
My mind was processing Peni's comment, "Ummm...we're cooking the little guys aren't we?" I questioned hesitantly, not sure I wanted to know the answer as my mind was already giving the little one a name. Murray. Murray the Lobster.
One lady after another made their way to the oceans edge, tugging lines and collecting bins of fresh seafood to pull to the pit behind us, Peni picking up our cage as she answered me, "It's not like we're killing Bambi."
"We save that for later." Emily followed with her basket of oysters, smiling.
"It's just Sebastian." Peni said, pulling one out with a wicked grin, "Ariel! Ariel!"
It was Murray. Shaking my head, I said, "That's so wrong..."
Em walking past had only caught the tail end of the discussion, calling over, "What about Sebastian? I thought he was gone..."
I couldn't even respond. Evil Peni was using her wand to send the lobsters in a dancing circle around me, her voice pouring from them in a rousing rendition of "Kiss The Girl." Yeah, I would be having nightmares about this later. Half-laughing, half-horrified, I turned to Peni, "Your terrible, you know that right? First Bambi, now Sebastian...what's next? Thumper?"
Grinning bigger, she rubbed her stomach, "Yummm.. rabbit." Swishing her wand, she lined the lobsters along the edge of the pit, her voice high with fake warning, "Don't jump! Don't do it!" I couldn't watch.
Peni POV
One by one I made the lobster plunge into the depth of the roasting pit. I hugged Sara as she hummed loudly, trying not to listen to the sound of all of the shellfish roasting below us. After layering all the food in on top, we covered it with seaweed before closing the pit.
"Don't worry. They don't feel anything. We'll after the die they don't." I was being evil. I knew it. Before I could traumatize Sara anymore, we walked over to where all of the Cedar Plank boxes we used to cook our famous soup the old fashion way. Three boxes were ready with ingredients for a Shrimp bisque, Squash, and Clam Soup. After adding all of the ingredients, we used thick, heat resistant clothes to pull hot stones out of the fire to drop into the soup making each of them instantly boil. All afternoon we would continue changing out the rocks to keep it warm for everyone to enjoy.
Besides the roasting pit and soup, we had large grills to cook the meat, some skewrs for slow roasting meats over the fires, and areas prepaired to bake the Salmon and Stealhead Trout once the men brought them. Inside were all the other side dishes and desserts. As more women arrived, they added more dishes to the tables lining the large Dining Hall.
Once the food was done, we walked around to see if anyone needed help setting up the different rooms where our Tribal wears would be exhibited and displayed. I followed my nose to the woodsy fragrance of the cedar bark, cattails, bear grass, and sweet grass we'd collected for the weaving demonstrations. It was very important to us that we harvest our own materials like collecting our own grass, bark, wood, shells, bone, or sinew for drums. Rows of already made baskets were displayed on long shelves around the room. They were some of the best designed baskets I'd ever seen, with our signature loop trim on each one. Our people were always known for their weaving, especially in our water proof baskets and woven clothing.
The woven clothing our people were known for were being displayed in the next room. The shredded cedar bark skirts/vests/shirts, along with our rainproof hats, woven headbands, as well as specially woven designed swears, vests, hats, and mittens were on display. All day some of our best weavers, including my Mamaw, would be doing live demonstrations in both rooms.
Another room was hosting some of our carving work. We come from the great tradition of the tall totems of the North Pacific. Carving had been a tradition in our Tribe since animal spirits mingled with human ones. Besides the tall standing Totem Poles, the Quileute have always carved canoes, personal totems, and celebration masks from either white bark or Red Cedar. In many ways carving is a hobby many of us take up. Most recently, Marcus and I have been working with the boys to carve our own totem Chess Pieces. It's nothing we'd put on display, but we are enjoying it. Again, some of our Tribes best carvers would be in the room during the day demonstrating their skill.
Across the hall from that was a room stocked with past and present tools our Tribe use for hunting. It's always been important in our Tribe to have balance when it comes to hunting. Our Tribal traditions teach us that we are Ancestor's to the animals, so all hunting and fishing are done in moderation and never in a way that is wasteful.
Our ancient hunters used to use or infamous woolly haired dogs whose hair we used for blankets and clothes, to hunt. The tribes fastest runners would track game with the dogs, guiding game to killing zones by camp or canoes where hunters would lay in wait to strike. A good Quileute hunter could shoot an arrow more than one hundred yards with accuracy. Examples of our bone tipped arrows were on display. Arrows were most commonly used to hunt rabbit, grouse, eagles, seagulls, and other birds. Snares were used for smaller prey. For larger animals, spring poles, spears, or Deadfall traps were used. Elk, Wild Cow, deer, cougar, bear, lynx, raccoon, even beaver, and rabbit were our tribes man source of land mammals. Though we don't eat most of the other animals, elk, beef, deer, and rabbit are still widely enjoyed on the Rez.
That brings us to what the Quileute were know for - Sealing. The Quileute were the top Sealers of all of the North Pacific Tribes. In Whaling, we were second only to the Makah. Examples of our ancestors famed sea hunts, along with spears and artistic renderings were on display. Outside harbored along the beach were six of our hand carved canoes that best demonstrated the exemplary skill our Ancestor's cultivated over generations.
The right side of the room showed all of the ancient ways of hunting with the tools used for it, on the left side of the room where pictures about our modern day hunting. I traced my finger along the picture of Marcus standing in the tall grass beside John with riffles where a heard of Elk were emerging from crossing the fog covered Quillayute River. For the Feast, a Hunting Tournament proceeded today's fishing one. There were even pictures of the Pack bringing in some game we tracked down. Throughout the day, our best tracker, Rich Nighthorse, would be giving more details history of our Tribes hunting, how things are done today, and a really interesting lesson in tracking that Jaki and I were really excited to hear.
The room next door to that hosted a variety of our hide wares: drums, rattles, leather, etc. Connected to that room was another that showed a variety of our weaving, quilting, and sewing, along with our shell and bone bead work. All of it made me feel so proud to be Quileute. Sara asked a depth of questions as we navigated the different rooms. It was really nice to share with her so much about our people. We always appreciate anyone who holds a respectful interested in the way our people do and have done things.
Making our way back outside, we passed the Bonfire area where the Festivities would be held that night, to find spots where chairs and large pieces of driftwood were around a smaller day fire as a sitting space. When we sat, I showed Sara our sacred James Island where our Chief's where buried. It stood proudly among the haystack rocks peppering the shore. Further out to sea, a large pod of whales lingered of shore.
While we watched their water acrobatics, we heard familiar voices walking up the shore. Brailee and Ab were walking along the waters edge, Ab with his pants legs rolled up letting the surf swirl around his feet. I laughed to Sara, watching all the single women around watching the wind swept Ab approach. A couple of women called over in Quileute asking me if he was single. I nodded back, admiring him myself before telling Sara, "Your Dad is abnormally hot."
"Well, he is my dad," she laughed.
Standing behind Sara, I waited for my chance to give Sara's little Braileebug a squeeze before tying around her waist a small traditional shredded Cedar bark skirt and a ring of flowers for her hair. She, like her Mama and Pap, were honorary Quileute today. She gave me the sweetest kiss and I taught her how to say "thank you" in Quileute, before turning to tell Sara that her daughter was too cute for words. It made me miss my little Blissful of love. But I knew she and Deni were having a good time with their Baba Blaise in Antigua.
"Sara's been entertaining the lobsters for us," I told Ab as I greeted him.
"Let me know what she's cooked so I know what to say I am allergic, too," he teased as he planted a kiss on my cheek. We lead them back to grab a seat to wait for the men to arrive from fishing.
Comments:
OH GOD!!! I laughed my ass off at the lobsters. Poor Scrappy...I see a lobster infested visit to Dr. Cullen in her future LOL. That was too too funny! I really enjoyed learning more about the coulture and the things the community is known for. Great job at painting a picture of the pride and the life of thier people!
Poor Sara and her no domestic skills. She and Peni are night and day there, huh? You can tell this is Peni's world. The lobster thing is funny ladies, Peni is evil! I really enjoy all the detail your putting in as far as the tribal customs and history. This is fantastic.
MURRAY!!!!!!!! BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Thank you for giving my poor dead fish a tribute. Murray #1 RIP. Very cute...and I feel Sara on the eggs and toast thing. Karyn~Good job on explaining the Quileute stuff...Its all really interesting. On to part 3..........
Already a member? Click here to log in
This is a post that is not only a celebration for our characters, but is also a celebration of the Quiluite Tribe and much of it's historical, tribal legends and belief's, embleshed, of course, by our imaginations. Party with us as we stretch this Portlatch into the party of this century...or at least the month. It's a gathering of friends, family, and community that we're stretching over a 3 day frame to give you the time to devulge yourself in the immensity and intensity of the Quileute culture.
Peni Clearwater written by Amorentia. Marcus Flint written by shtteredprncess. Sara Black written by shtteredprncess. Jalil Clearwater written by Amorentia. Aberforth Dumbledore by shtteredprncess. Emily "Em" Roche written by shtteredprncess. John Ellis written by Amorentia. Wayne Clearwater written by Amorentia. Sam Uley by Amorentia.
Want to read more? What to join in the Creative Writing fun? Our full stories are in the RPG writing group Through The Looking Glass. Link HERE to join as a reader or writer.
- Amorentia
Message Friend Invite (Original Poster)