Big Foot

Big Foot

By: Domineque Bad Bear

There was a Native American boy about five or six years of age. With no parents or family around scared, cold and hungry. It started raining and he was so young he didn’t know how to fend for himself in the wild. He laid in the grass crying, hoping, waiting for somebody anybody to hear him to come save him. Many hours went by and nothing, there seemed to be no one around to hear him. Just then, sound of the wind went whooshing past him. Finally, he mustered up the courage and made his way to a nearby creek. As he approached the creek, he seen this big, tall hairy man. He was so tall and oddly covered from head to toe with fur. How unusual he thought. He’s never seen a man that looked like that before. This “man” spoke to him but not directly. Somehow, he could hear this thing talking to him but only through his mind. His lips never moved but he could hear his words clear as day as if this “man” was in his head.

“Hi young boy. What’s your name?” asked the “man”.

The boy told him his name and how he was all alone. The Native American boy asked this man his name too with a curious bluntness that children have, he asked why he was covered in fur. The man told the child through his mind again, well young child, I am Mni’ Tanka. I am a part of the big foot tribe.” This Native American boy only heard stories but never thought he would live to see bigfoot. The Bigfoot tribe was known as the protectors of the earth. These beings are not from this world. They can travel between our world and theirs through these portals, only coming to check up on the world and make disaster doesn’t strike.

“Why are you crying? Where are your parents little one?” asked Mni’ Tanka.

The Native American boy told him how he woke up all alone by himself. He told Mni’ Tanka of how he laid there for hours waiting and no one came. So Mni’ Tanka took the young boy by the hand and led him to these two trees that stood alone. As they walked between the trees, suddenly, they were in a completely different place. It was almost as if it was one huge lodge and every bigfoot that existed lived there. Away from them sat an older looking bigfoot. Face gleaming in firelight. Mni’ Tanka took the young boy over to him, explained what happened to him and asked what they should do. The old one told Mni’ Tanka to take him back and help him find his family. Men have never ventured into the world of bigfoot. So, it was a big no no on mmm for bringing the little boy over. They exchanged words that the little boy could not understand, but then Mni’ Tanka must have changed old one’s mind about the little boy because Mni’Tanka took him to his area of the lodge.

Mni’Tanka grabbed food and water for the little boy. As he sat there and ate, the old one watched from afar. Scared in a foreign place the young boy fell asleep. Mni’ Tanka woke him up and said it is time to find your family. He seen women and children going about the lodge bringing baskets of water in as the little ones followed not far behind them. One little bigfoot came over to tell the boy hi. He told him his name and how Mni’ Tanka was his dad. Mni ‘Tanka’s son, Mni’ Wakan did not have a mother, she had died in a forest fire trying to save other native peoples. Mni’ Wakan told the little boy of how she bravely got everyone out of the forest, but she had gotten caught between two fallen trees. Mni Wakan had tears in his eyes but said it was okay because now she roams earth as an eagle. The Sioux believe eagles are a sign of safety and security.

The little boy looked over to Mni ‘Tanka and seen he was done talking to the old one. Mni’ Tanka came over and told the little boy he was going to go look for his parents and he needs to stay by his son until he returns. During the time Mni’ Tanka was gone looking for his parents, Mni’ Wakan took him around and showed him their ways, their daily life, and even taught the little boy their language. A few days went by, and the little boy was getting worrisome about Mni’ Tanka, until late night one night he heard Mni’ Tanka talking to the old one.

“I don’t want to say it, but his parents are gone. I found them one days walk away from where he said he had woken up from. It looks like they may have been attacked by an animal. It’s a miracle the boy was not slain as well.” He spoke.

“What will we do with the boy then?” asked the old one.

“I could raise him like my own child. He has no one else from what I know. How about we raise him to be a man then we can return him to earth when he can fully fend for himself.” Said Mni’ Tanka.

The old man said he had to think about it. He said he will think on it for the night. Mni’ Tanka did not tell the little boy what happened yet. He did not want to upset the little boy even more until he knew his fate. At dinnertime the little boy asked what happened to his parents, but Mni’ Tanka said he couldn’t find them but that the old one is still deciding how much longer he could stay in their realm. When the little boy laid down to go to sleep, he worried of his future and where his parents might be. Once asleep he had a dream, it was of his parents, smiling and waving at him. Then a bright light flashed, and he seen their lifeless bloody bodies lying there. The dream scared the scared the little boy so much he woke up and seen the old one staring at him again.

“Come here, little one.” Said the old one.

So, the little boy went over to sit next to him by the fire. The old one told him about his parents. As the little boy cried his heart away, the old one told him he has a choice. Go back to earth and find other native people to live with on his own or to stay and grow up in their realm until he is a man. The little boy looked over at Mni’ Tanka and his son. He knew he couldn’t survive on his own. Who knew how long it would be before more native people came by? The little boy told the old one that he would stay until he is grown.

As time went by the little boy was no longer little and he had a new name, Walks by Himself. Given to him by Mni’ Tanka’s son. Walks by himself and Mni’ Wakan grew to be so close they felt like brothers. He knew he wasn’t going to have much time longer in their realm as it was nearing his time to leave. Mni’ Wakan pleaded with old one to let him stay forever, but old one refused. He said he didn’t belong in their realm. Walks by himself prepared himself mentally to leave that night while Mni’ Wakan was asleep to save the heartache. As he gathered his things, old one called out to him. Walks by himself went to go sit by old one.

“You can’t stay here in this realm forever. Man was not made to be immortal, but you can come back to visit when you please.” Said old one.

“What do you mean?” asked walks by himself.

“I mean, I want you to be a messenger between our people and humans. Teach them what we have taught you. Show them how to care for their world as we do. the time of bigfoot coming to earth is coming to an end. There are a new people coming from across a great lake. I do not know what they bring but they will never understand what and who we are as beings. Tell the natives we will not be there anymore; they must take care of the land on their own. My boy, you are always welcome to visit us. We will not abandon you. You are now apart of us.” The old one said.

Dawn was approaching and Mni’ Wakan woke up to see Walks by himself sitting by the old one. Walks by himself’s belongings were no longer there anymore and he knew he was going to leave soon. mms son woke up his dad and they went over to old one and Walks by Himself to give their goodbyes. Everyone was in tears saying how they will come visit when they can.

“You will always be my son.” Mni’ Tanka said.

“Don’t forget me in your new world. Ill always be watching.” Mni’ Wakan said.

Teary eyed, Walks by Himself went to the portal door and turned to wave goodbye to his family. As he exited the portal to his original spot, he found that he remembered what old one had told him, he remembered his new mission in life. Walks by Himself set off on his new adventure.

The End…………….