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Reveal or Conceal?
his words. Perhaps, alerted by the discontinuation of my scribbling,
Maurice looked up for the first time since he had begun speaking, and
made direct eye contact. His look was mild and gentle though he ap-
peared to be far away “as if” he did not see me clearly. Although he
continued to speak in a soft voice, his tone changed and his words
became increasingly forceful. This new posture served to increase
my distress and confirm my growing conviction that I had entirely
missed his meaning and would be unable to answer the inevitable se-
ries of questions I felt he would ask to check the quality of my per-
ception. I became conscious I had lost the direction of the narrative,
and scrambled to write down his every word as he continued speak-
ing. I “tuned” back in just in time to record the following interpreta-
tion of the dream:... and so my Blackfoot name is Naatsohsowaatsis, Last Tail
Feathers. I think the dream was good. Pi’ita (Eagle) brought you
to the circle. He wants you to find your place in that circle. Every-
one has a place there that belongs to him. And you’ll find what
belongs to you. And so Pi’ita put you in that circle. Maybe it’s for
your husband? I always pray for your husband. Every day at that
tree, I’ll pray for him. And for all those cripples (disabled). Pi’ita is
telling that you could call on him. That he’ll help. If you get into a
trouble you could call and he could help you out. And protect you.
Ah, he’ll watch over you like ah...ah guard. Like an angel, you
know? Like a guardian? But you need to honor him. You’ll honor
him. You’ll have to know that eagle song. Do you know that song?
[Yes. But I’m not sure I know it very well]. Then, first thing is...
then you learn that song. And learn it good. ’Cause you’ll honor
him with that song. Pi’ita is giving you that song so you can use
it. And so you’re brought to this place and to me. Those tail feath-
ers? That’s me! That’s my Indian name, Naatsohsowaatsis, Last
Tail Feathers. In that dream, that’s me. And Pi’ita is telling that
it’s gonna be better if you’ll be in one place. That wind? It’s gonna
be hard if you’ll jump all around. Listening to this one and that
one [various Leaders]. If you’ll do it that way, then it’s gonna be
no good. It’s gonna be hard and maybe too hard [like the wind in
the dream until Pi’ita shifts his course]. And maybe you’ll pay too