Darryl Babe Wilson

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,lilrthuted t Joshua Peirc, SAN FRANUSCO. 1849 freezing temperature as the powerful ocean and ihe surging rivers merged in chaos. I impossible to escape from that isolated rock because of the currents and because of the was convinced—until I heard Grandfa dwelled within a different “time,” a different thers story and until I realized that he of a ii dural source. In his world, I was only a forrn infant. It is true today that when I talk with the old people I feel like rülladu ‘element.” He dwelled within a spirituality i white man). I feel like some domesti cated creature addressing original royalty— knowing that the old ones were pure savage, south for three nights before we could turn north. [My people landed at San Francisco ceeded. “We wandered for many nights. We hid during the day. It is said that we had to go born into the wild, free. traveling at night with no food until they and had to sneak to what is now San Jose, could turn northward.[ They [the U.S. Armyj were after us. They were after us all. We had In his calm manner, Grandfather pro Diamond Island: Alcatraz 101
102 5hurt Sloric5 fire because they would see the smoke and me to her. We cried. I know we cried. I people. Perhaps a generation approaching tion and custom and less satisfied to being We waited for him to holler as was the plan. We waited a long, long time. Then we heard: We were close to home. My mother squeezed found along the river. We could not build a time for two nights also. ‘There is a small island of mountains in climbed the highest peak. He was brave. We were all brave. It was during the sunlight. toki Tanjan’ [Mount Shasta! Mount Shasta! North direction!]. Our hearts were happy. ‘Axo- Yet! Axo- Yet! To-Jto-ja-toki! To-ho-ja shore [possibly the Benicia Straits]. We rest catch us so we must eat it [fish] raw. At night reached that place one of the young men upstream then jumped in. Everybody fol the great valley [Sutter Buttes]. When we make mistakes. We headed north for two nights. We came to a huge river. We could not cross it. It was swift. My mother walked far was there. So was my mother and grand are to survive as a distinct and autonomous inal knowledge now more than ever, if we for many snows now. The volumes of knowl Grandfather has been within the earth mother, to be careful. We had to be careful and not ed for two days eating dead fish that we lowed. The river washed us to the other we traveled again. Again we traveled, this edge that were buried with him are lost to my generation. a generation that needs orig will be more aware, more excited with tradi ago to forget the tragic episode that could Axo-Yet (Mount Shasta) are deep. The glar below: “Axo- Yet! Axo-Yet! To-ho-ja-tokt An old chief of the Pit River country, “Char edged. A truth that needs desperately to be long ago. and, standing with the sun shining full upon have been the termination of our nation, that caused the hunted warrior 140 years strands that I often identified as “silver.’ yellow—now that I better recall the coars ing white makes Grandfather’s hair nearl) him, hollered to a frightened people waitink seek and locate AlUsti Ti-tanin-mUi within reveal many truths to this world society that found and known for its value. Atwam, during a sparkling winter night still can’t read it, but if I could, I am sun Island long ago. A truth that needs to b is immense and confused in its immensity. will set us free.” Along with Grandfather, I It is nearing winter, 1989. Snows upor an,” and will seek this knowledge. think that It was a “truth” that the Mouse the “white man” and the world of the “Indi Tanjan!” That beautiful mountain. The landmark the mountains. Possibly that generation wil Perhaps the approaching generation will Brothers brought to our land from Diamond Grandfather’s letter is still in my files. I that the message would be the same as this understood. appreciated, and acknowl story that he gave to me as the moon listened and the winds whispered across a frozen off balance somewhere between the world of lie Buck,” said often: “Truth. It is truth that
Page 1 and 2: home. ‘ hwest I’luseum . — -
Page 3 and 4: Grandfather lived at Atwam, 100 mil
Page 5: * 100 Short Stories 4. crevassed (k
Page 9 and 10: I 4 I— 104 Short Stories beautifu

Darryl Babe Wilson

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