Keeper'n Me

On his first night on his grandpa’s old trapline, Garnet feels powerless, realizing the true power of nature. He starts to love it much more than city life. The next morning, he finds the remains of his grandfather’s old cabin. Garnet experiences a flow of emotions. He imagines the faces of his ancestors and his childhood, and he hears “voices from a history that got removed” (245). He realizes that this sacred place is the part of himself he was searching for and his place of prayer. Garnet knows that he must carry it in his heart always, as “land […] is a feeling” (245).

The place feels familiar for Garnet and he knows what to do to survive. On his second night, he concentrates on listening to the land and its “heartbeat.” He begins to feel safe, knowing that he is part of it. Later, he has dream of two eagles watching him while on a canoe on the lake. The two eagles transform into a man and a woman wearing ceremonial clothing and two eagle feathers in their heads. Then, they fly away, transforming into birds again.

Garnet notes that seeking a vision through dreams and prayer is an old tradition. A vision quest was a four-day ritual during which young men would be sent on the hills for four days to pray. Sometimes they would have visions, which would be personal and sacred to them as guidance for their life. Garnet knows that he must talk to an elder such as Keeper about his dream.

On the third day, Garnet makes the tobacco offerings, starting his prayer. He follows Keeper’s instructions to focus with his body, mind, and spirit. He smudges himself with smoke to reconnect with his own heartbeat and ultimately with the world around him. His thinks of his past life, his homecoming, and the things for which he is grateful. When he smudges again, he sees an eagle on top of a tree. Later, he finds a feather in the branches—a symbol of honor. Home begins to mean more to Garnet.

Keeper knew that Garnet was ready to take the trip and complete the ceremony. A tobacco offering is an “individual thing” because it is personal. Being alone in nature, people find the “humility and respect” necessary for prayer and ceremony (260). Living in nature, people realize that the land has “real power” that helps them find their own. Keeper thinks that young people must grow up learning how to be a part of the tribe through respect and humility, realizing how actions affect everyone.

Garnet returns home, finding his family waiting for him. Jackie tells him that he is “lookin’ jake,” meaning good. Garnet tells them that the place felt like home. His mother explains that that land was the first thing about which his father and grandfather taught Garnet as a kid. They used to take him along while trapping and talked about Ojibwe stories and traditions.

Garnet tells Keeper about the eagle feather and his dream. Keeper says that the eagle is a powerful symbol and dreams might take a long time to think about. He explains that two eagles turning into a man and a woman symbolize the ancestors and tradition. Keeper notes that to be a true Anishinaabe, Garnet must be whole and complete by embracing his male and female side. The eagle feather will always remind him of the teachings. Keeper gives Garnet the two eagle feathers that Harold gifted him. They embrace, and Garnet realizes his profound connection with Keeper. His mother tells him that the Creator sent Keeper on Garnet’s path.

Everyone learns that Garnet earned an eagle feather. The community decides to organize a feast to honor Garnet. Garnet does not understand, and Alice explains that a feast is a way for the community to celebrate and be together.

The community prepares for the feast, which feels like a “cultural revival.” Stanley tells Garnet that his example is important, as he showed the others how Ojibwe tradition can help a person. Garnet is surprised, and Jackie explains that following the tradition is doing what feels right.

Keeper notes that a feast brings the community together and reminds them that they “need each other” (285). A feast is also about “remembering.” Everyone sits in a big circle, and the elders pray. Then, the young start serving the people. They start with the elder men and women, then they feed the women and children. Keeper says that the sharing of responsibility reminds people that they are equals.

Song and drums play when Garnet arrives with his family at the feast. Many people have gathered, including relatives from nearby reserves. Chief Isaac arrives with Keeper and an elder named Lazarus, a leader and teacher. They all stand up, and Lazarus starts the prayer in Ojibwe while Keeper burns cedar. At the end of the ceremony, Lazarus shakes Garnet’s hands, telling him that he was friends with his grandfather and knew his father. He says that they would be proud of Garnet. He advices Garnet to listen to Keeper as he still has things to learn. He also says that his dream is key to his life path. Lazarus stresses that the people must “[m]ake a good story of [their] life” to live forever “in the hearts of [their] relatives” (296). Garnet thinks of being a storyteller.

The community gives Garnet gifts. He is nervous but realizes more about ceremonial processes. His mother is proud of him and tells him that he is now part of the community and will always be. As a present, she gives him the clothes that he was wearing the day of his return. She remade them to resemble a ceremonial ribbon shirt. The feast ends, and Garnet tells Keeper that he loves him. Keeper says the same. Completing his journey to the path of the Anishinaabe, Garnet feels like a whole human being.

Five years after his return home, Garnet continues learning and still spends time with his guide, Keeper. Keeper advises him to be a storyteller and tell the world the truth about “Indians.”