The Bear's Den; "HONK… if you love Geese"

The other morning, I was sitting on my old porch swing, as usual, saying my daily prayers. At this time of year, I often have a natural melody that accompanies them. The picture I present in this column is from that swing on my front porch. The lake looks tranquil and calm, loaded with bright fall reds, yellows, greens and browns. Several minutes before I shot the photo, the water was alive with nikas (geese). Yes´sir, and like the gentle cooing of a satisfied aquewa (infant in a blanket)… they were chattering and honking in a low chorus that was comfortable, lively and sooo lovely to hear.

This honking had gone on all night – and for the past week – just before the birds lifted off to visit area corn fields for breakfast. Now, Canada geese can communicate with different sounds, as many as 13, for greetings, warnings and to express contentment. Um-hmm, and American Indians learned them all because that bird was one of the primary meat sources for most of us back in the day. In addition to providing food, goose feathers were used to make beds, and goose grease was a really valuable substance. It was used for both cooking and for medical uses. Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin, primarily obtained from pine trees, and Indians were cooking it up long before the first whites arrived. What may surprise, you, though, is that turpentine is an ingredient in Vicks Vapo-Rub. Yep, and that´s why Traditional American Indians blended goose grease with turpentine and rubbed it on the chest to ease coughs and colds. This poultice was also used to relieve ear aches and soothe rheumatism, too.

Now, white folks already knew about geese when they got to our neighborhood. Heck, their folklore tells us that when the meat on the goose´s breastbone is thick, it means a cold winter is on the way. The saying, "All is well, and the goose hangs high," means that when the geese are flying high in the sky, then the weather will be good. Yeah, and there was a superstition that depending on color of the goose´s breast bone, you could tell what the weather would be like the following year. Some of this stuff was based on fact. The saying, "You´re a silly goose" goes to the fact that the birds give warnings of danger by honking loudly, and acting well… silly. But see, geese always have a sentry – one bird that stands guard – just to warn others nearby. Hey, there is method to this Creator designed madness, too.

For instance, a group of geese is called a gaggle, rather than a flock. When they fly together in formation, they are able to go almost 80% further than a single goose flying alone. By honking, geese are able to communicate their mutual success, and really put forth a full effort for the entire flight. They fly in the shape of a V, and, by winging this way; they are able to maximize the amount of output from each goose during flight – sort´a like a multi-engine airplane, eh. The more engines – the better. The goose in the front creates a slipstream which the geese following pass through, creating less drag on the overall group. The nikas behind help to push the geese in front of them. The effect is similar to a push-pull motion, which helps all members of the flight. The lead goose uses a lot more energy than the following geese, because he´s breaking wind. So, this nika tires much more quickly; thus, the lead goose position is rotated among all members of the flight. And, just as we two-leggeds look out for one another, no goose is ever left behind due to injury, sickness, or lack of energy, either. Usually, a few nikas will stay with the goose that falls behind, in order to encourage and help protect the goose, until he/she is ready to return to the gaggle.

Yeah, Indians had a few observations about these birds, as well. The one I know of, says, that should the nikas strangely, and rarely, fly south for the winter in early August… then a harsh winter will likely be coming. Although there are not very many old sayings about geese, there is ample respect for the nika given by all Traditional American Indians. To us, the Creator is in everything that breathes, hears, tastes, smells, senses and sees. All of these have lessons for us. Nature is a set pattern, and each two-legged must find a way to learn this pattern for happiness and harmony within their life. This will equal balance, eh. All creatures and plants share in this, and the goose fits finely into this… the Master of Life´s marvelous mold.

As a rule, American Indian animal symbols and their totems represent the physical form of a two-legged´s spirit helper – his or her guide. Geese are graceful on the water and in the air, where their ability to see far away – acutely – is way beyond any two-legged or four-legged norm. Geese are precocial which means that they are born with their eyes open. So it is… that the nika sees – clearly – through emotions. For this reason, he is often a spirit helper of clear-seers. I enjoy the nikas´ chattering and honking chorus while I make my whispers. That´s because it is a sound that´s comfortable, lively and sooo… lovely to hear.

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David Walks-As-Bear is an Inter-Tribal Elder and Kispoko Shawnee Indian. He works as a private game warden and detective and is a novelist and syndicated newspaper columnist living in Northwest Michigan. Contact him at his home paper The White Lake Beacon: 231-894-5356 or visit his website at: www.Walks-As-Bear.com. You can hear David´s brief "Traditional Elder´s Reflections" Mon-Sat, after the 10:00AM (EST) news on the radio. Go to: www.hometownradio.us and click WEEH-FM.

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