The Roar of the Falls: My Journey with Kaya

When we’ve filled our baskets, heavier now with the dry pink eggs, we make our way down the slope, and I realize I can see all the way to the edge of the horizon, where the sky touches the earth. It’s breathtaking. I look down, and see a round, smooth pink stone, cool and heavy against my palm. I pick it up and put it in my pouch. It’ll be pretty once it’s polished.

When we get to the river, I study the men and boys fishing, the roar of the falls almost drowning out their calls to each other. Many stand on rocky outcroppings along the shore holding long, thin poles. I watch a man pull his pole up from the water with a wiggly salmon attached. He speared the fish! Other men stand on wooden platforms built out over the falls, their bodies braced against the spray. They’re holding big nets with long handles. Kaya says the men must be strong to fish against the force of the current and lift the heavy salmon.

Suddenly, I watch as a man topples over into the ground. My own heart lurches into my throat. Before Kaya can respond to my shout, three men rush onto the platform and reach over the edge, pulling the man to safety. Kaya explains the men have ropes tied securely around their waists to protect them if they fall. The man is safe. I had no idea fishing could be so dangerous. I am grateful Kaya was there to help me when I fell on the riverbank.

When we get back to camp, Eetsa is busy packing several bundles. She says Falling Leaf is about to have her baby. Kaya says she’ll watch the twins. She pulls a handful of straw out of a basket. She turns the straw into a little horse and hands it to Wing Feather. Kaya shows me how to twist the straw into another horse for Sparrow. Their small faces light up, and then they ask for a second and third horse!

After the boys rush off to play, Brown Deer comes over and spreads out an animal hide with shells filled with paint. I wonder if I’ll be able to help her with this project, and I hope she’ll show me which colors to use. Just then, I realize it’s quiet. Where did the boys go?

The three of us jump to our feet and holler for the boys. Kaya says they may be hiding. We search the camp, calling their names, and just when I think something bad must’ve happened, I spot two pairs of moccasins peeking out from behind the tepee. Kaya and I creep around the side, catching the twins on their hands and knees. We pounce on the boys and they shriek with delight.

When the boys say they want to play a game, I show them how they can play monkey-in-the-middle with a ball and Long Legs between them. We play until the boys and Long Legs are panting and tired, flopping down in the grass to catch their breath. Then, Rabbit comes up to Kaya and asks if she’d like to play shinny. Kaya declines, saying they’re watching the boys.

But when Kautsa comes back to the camp and offers to take over the boys, Kaya tells me we now have time to rest. We can either paint the buffalo hide with Brown Deer, or play shinny with Rabbit. I really want to paint the hide with Brown Deer, but I also know Kaya wants to play shinny, and I don’t want to disappoint her.