Heritage by Richard L. DuMont

Author:Richard L. DuMont
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: teen fiction, native american, cheyenne, 1970s, basketball, reservation life, american indian
Publisher: BHC Press
Published: 2020-01-20T00:00:00+00:00

The Tribal Council met once a month in the Council Meeting Hall at the Chief Little Wolf Capital Building. The December session was scheduled that week starting at two thirty. Gray Man, Minatare, and Johnny arrived fifteen minutes early. They came in the Nova because of its powerful heater. The outside temperature sat at twenty degrees. A single evergreen tree, decorated with multicolored lights and ornaments, stood by the door. Shaking off the snow and cold, they entered the council chambers, sat in the first row of chairs for the audience, and waited for the meeting to begin.

In a few minutes the council members began wandering into the hall, shaking hands and greeting everyone they could before taking their seats behind a long oak table. They each had a name placard in front of them. President Lame Horse smiled at Gray Man. Margaret gave Johnny a wave that pleased him.

Jimmie Redd sat on the other side of the room, surrounded by friends and family. He wore a black business suit and navy tie and had his black hair cut into a flattop. Standing six feet, two inches tall, he looked professional as he waved to those he knew. The audience had grown to over forty people, a lot of them young. Johnny assumed they were friends of Jimmie Redd.

Gray Man wore jeans, boots, and a red-and-black flannel shirt. A bear claw necklace hung around his neck and a single eagle feather hung from one braid. He held a leather bundle in his left hand. Johnny thought he looked very much like a Cheyenne elder. The contrast between the two candidates could not have been more obvious.

The Pretty Feather clan, including Jeb and William, arrived and sat in the row behind Gray Man. Sarah, wearing a blue wool coat and leather gloves, reached up and patted Johnny on the shoulder. “Good luck.”

President Lame Horse called the monthly council meeting to order. Besides the president, the council members included a vice president, nine council members, and Margaret as the recording secretary. There was one open council chair where Charlie Kills Horse usually sat. Margaret took roll call and then read the minutes from the November meeting.

“Thanks, Margaret,” Lame Horse said.

“Now, the first order of new business is to find a replacement for Charlie Kills Horse, who as most of you know is quite ill. We have two candidates that have come forth and want to serve on council, Jimmie Redd and Gray Man. Both will address the council with their ideas and answer any questions. So, if there are no questions, let’s get started. I’m going to ask Jimmie Redd to go first.”

Jimmie Redd stood and walked to the podium, facing the council members. He smiled at them, turned around to greet the audience, and then returned to face the council. “Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate the opportunity to be a council candidate.

“As most of you are aware, I have had some problems in the past, but I want you to know that those days are over.

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