The Beothuk Saga by Bernard Assiniwi

Author:Bernard Assiniwi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

35

Wobee was presented to Camtac, chief of the Seal Clan, leader of the nation’s guardians, and father of Ooish. Camtac welcomed Wobee with a smile, saying that he must now learn to live like a Beothuk. Then Camtac turned to his daughter and asked her: “Are you his wife already?”

The young woman nodded Yes, and looked at le Guellec. The Malouin seemed taken aback by the direct question, not knowing if Ooish’s father would accept their relationship. Using the few words he knew of the Beothuk language, he asked Ooish if he would now enjoy the same benefits as one who had been born a Beothuk.

Ooish said that he would, but added that this did not mean he was permitted to have more than one wife. She would not tolerate that. Camtac asked le Guellec if he accepted those terms.

“I do,” said the Malouin, explaining that that was the custom in his own country, where a man never took more than one wife. Christianity forbade it, and he had been born a Christian.

“I declare you committed the one to the other and to the perpetuation of the Addaboutik race,” said Camtac. “You must cover yourself with red ochre so that you will appear as the other members of the Beothuk Nation. Ooish will show you how. I am now old enough to withdraw from the affairs of the nation. You and the other clan members must choose my replacement from among the people of the clan.”

That night, the clan council met and considered three candidates: Whitig the Arm and two women, Wedumite Who Embraces and Ooish the Lips. When the council was ready to discuss Ooish’s candidacy, Camtac rose to leave, explaining that it would not do for his presence to influence the other councillors. He knew his daughter too well.

“In which case,” the clan elder said to him, “you would be abdicating your responsibility as chief, which is to designate your own successor.”

Hearing these words, Camtac answered that he would see his duty to the end, and remained seated in the council. He was opposed to those who would have a woman as chief, saying that he had lived during the time of Iwish the Devourer of Guardians, and had in fact been one of her victims. He believed that a male chief would do a better job. However, the other council members, including the clan elder, believed that choosing a female chief was no less appropriate than choosing a male.

“Your daughter is as knowledgeable in the bearing of arms as she is in the duties owed by a woman to a man. I do not understand your objection to her nomination! Furthermore, she is a direct descendant of Anin and Woasut, the first couple of the Bear Clan. Our tradition maintains that any descendant of our first couple is qualified to assume the leadership of the nation, and therefore is qualified to become a clan chief within the nation. My choice is therefore Ooish, leader of the guardians.”

The

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