Canku Ota - May 22, 2004 - The Eagle and the Snake – Redman Speaks

Back in the Rocky Mountain headquarters of the Tribe Of the Eagle, there was tremendous excitement. With the six warriors on their way to contact the six major tribe's, there was much to be done! Every day was filled with excitement and enthusiasm. The warriors worked hard on improving their already significant fighting skills. Every woman worked hard to prepare the tribe for movement, if necessary. They also prepared provisions for Thunder Wolf, his son "Thunder Warrior", and the tribal spiritual leaders for their journey to the upcoming meeting with the never before seen tribal leaders that the six warriors were in the process of contacting.

At this time, Thunder Wolf was getting old, and his half-white son Thunder Warrior, who was a formidable fighter, with great intelligence, was to lead the tribe's warriors on this mission. Thunder Warrior was an extremely good looking, tall man with long dark jet black hair and piercing brown eyes. As Thunder Wolf's son, he had been exposed to all of the information that had been brought into the tribe from the outside world. Furthermore, he was the tribe's best martial artist, and one of the best weapons and explosive's experts.

The elite warriors who had been selected would travel to different Reservations in order to bring the six major western tribe's together to discuss the reemergence of the Tribe of the Eagle, and the decision that they had made. There was the Lakota Sioux Nation on the Pine Ridge Reservation in Southwest South Dakota and the Sisseton Reservation in Northeastern South Dakota. The Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. The Commanche Nation in Lawton, Oklahoma. The Apache Nation in Northeast Arizona. The Cheyenne Nation in Lame Deer, Montana, and the Nez Perce Nation in Lapwai, Idaho. While there were many other major tribe’s that could be contacted, this was the starting point for the Tribe of the Eagle.

Sonny Boy was on his way to meet with the Spiritual Leaders of the great Lakota Sioux Nation. His first stop would be in southeastern South Dakota, at the revered Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Then he was to go into northeastern South Dakota to the Sisseton Indian Reservation. Sonny Boy carried a Glock 9mm, semi automatic pistol with plenty of ammunition, in case he encountered trouble. He also carried a two shot Derringer, which he kept concealed on a spring loaded, slide mechanism, located on his right forearm. This was in the event of sudden, unexpected danger, he could simply move his wrist to the right, and this motion would cause the Derringer to "spring" into his hand, and a shot could be gotten off in the "blink of an eye", with the person that was shot, really never even knowing what had happened.

His goal, as he left Colorado, was to hitch hike north, along Interstate 25, up into Wyoming. Then he would hitch hike east along Route 20 into Nebraska, and then take Route 27 north into South Dakota, and into Pine Ridge. As Sonny Boy began hitch hiking along I-25, he was almost immediately picked up by a tractor-trailer rig. The driver, George Webster, was a hard-nosed old tractor-trailer driver, about 57 years old. His tough exterior was not his true way, but simply the way many truckers are until you get to know them, and they feel comfortable with you. Sonny Boy was easy to feel comfortable with, as his great people skills, and tremendous sense of humor made it easy for anybody to feel relaxed and comfortable with him.

Sonny Boy had never seen a car or a truck before in his life, so the experience was really something strange for him. The tribe had done the best that they could to prepare each of the six for their journeys, which included sessions with Thunder Wolf's wife, Sarah, who was a white woman from the twentieth century world who had been brought back by warriors during a foray many years earlier. Things like trailer trucks, cars and airplanes are incredibly hard to envision, if you've never seen them before, so Sarah did the best that she could to prepare them for what they would encounter! Sonny Boy and George were getting along great, even though Sonny Boy had a terrible dislike for white men and spoke only broken English. George obviously knew that Sonny Boy was a Native American, so it was easy for Sonny Boy to keep the talk geared towards Native American information.

Sonny Boy told George that he was traveling for the first time in his life, and that he had grown up in a remote section of a reservation. He told George that this was his first exposure to the outside world. George was very helpful in telling Sonny Boy about many things about the world. As talk turned toward the Pine Ridge Reservation, George had many sad and terrible tales for Sonny Boy. George told Sonny Boy about how Leonard Peltier, a Native American scapegoat was imprisoned and held against his will in a Federal Prison in Leavenworth, Kansas. He told Sonny Boy that this had been the result of what everyone knew to be a Federal Government conspiracy against him. He told Sonny Boy about the original trial, the illegal extradition of Peltier from Canada, the ridiculous parole farces that had always kept Leonard in prison, even in spite of health problems and many more details that interested Sonny Boy.

Sonny Boy was enraged, but never let George realize the extent of his anger at what George had been kind enough to tell him. The information did however reaffirm his resolve to see the Tribe of the Eagle’s mission was to be fulfilled! It would take many hours to cover the several hundred miles to Orin, Wyoming, where Sonny Boy would be dropped off.

The two stopped at a large truck stop for lunch in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Sonny Boy was amazed at all that he saw. The two ordered lunch. Their waitress was very friendly, and Sonny Boy felt very comfortable. Many of the truckers knew George, and shook his hand with enthusiastic greetings. George introduced Sonny Boy to everyone that he knew. They were all very nice to him. It felt really good, thought Sonny Boy. George paid for Sonny Boy's lunch, and Sonny Boy was very thankful. As the two drove along, Sonny Boy couldn't help but be amazed at the gear shifting, and other driving techniques that George used to make the big truck go. He kept asking questions, which George always politely answered. Finally, around Chugwater, Wyoming, George pulled off to the side of the road and asked Sonny Boy if he would like to try to drive the big rig. George was running empty, and he wasn't on any pressing time-table for once, so he thought that maybe Sonny Boy would like to try it. Sonny Boy's face lit up like a little kids. He was really excited about George's question. Sonny Boy said that he would like to try, so they switched seats.

George explained everything to Sonny Boy, then he helped Sonny Boy get the rig ready to roll. Sonny Boy couldn't stop grinning. This was really fun! Finally, he got it going after an expected jerky beginning. George coached him through the gears, and since the driving was going to be relatively straight, he let Sonny Boy drive for about 30 miles. Just before Wheatland, Wyoming, the two switched around again. Sonny Boy was ecstatic. He kept thanking George over, and over again. As they finally approached Orin, George asked Sonny Boy if he needed any money.

Sonny Boy thanked him, but said no. George told Sonny Boy how much he had enjoyed meeting him, and he wished him all the best in the world. Sonny Boy told George how much he had enjoyed meeting him, and thanked him for all of his kindness. As the big rig slowed down, and the air brakes hissed, the rig came to a stop and George shook Sonny Boy's hand. He also urged Sonny Boy to be careful. Travel in general can be dangerous, but in particular, as an unknown person at Pine Ridge, and not knowing anyone there, he needed to be very careful, because as a result of all that has happened there through the years, strangers are not well received by most.

Sonny Boy waved as George drove off. He thought about how nice he had been. He thought briefly about what his message would mean to the world that George knew, but all in all, it didn't matter. The Tribe of the Eagle had a mission to perform, and that was all that mattered. Then he thought about the next portion of his journey.

Geoff Hampton is an internationally known author, speaker, motivator and business consultant. Hampton is the Executive Director for St. Mary's Health & Fitness Center in Powell, TN and is also a regular columnist for the wellness/fitness Website www.fitcommerce.com as well as Canku Ota. He can be reached by E-mail at GEOFFLHAMPTON@aol.com His national anti-obesity/diabetes campaign, The Wellness Wakeup Challenge can be reviewed at www.fitcommerce.com/wellness