Free Two Old Women: An Alaska Legend of Betrayal, Courage and Survival by Velma Wallis Page A

wolves and other predators faded away, and the women fell into a worry-free sleep.
    They were no longer alone.

CHAPTER 8
A new beginning
    B efore the men left the next day, the women packed large bundles of dry fish, enough to restore The People’s energy for travel. Meanwhile, the chief waited anxiously. He feared that something had happened to his men, yet hope kept intruding on that thought. When the men returned, the chief quickly gathered the council to hear their story.
    The guide told the stunned people what they had discovered. When he finished his story, he told them that the women did not trust them and did not want to see them. Daagoo told them of the terms the women had set. After afew minutes of silence, the chief said, “We will respect the women’s wishes. Anyone who disagrees will have to fight me.”
    Daagoo was quick to join in, “The young men and I will stand by you.”
    The council members who had suggested abandoning the two old women were deeply ashamed. Finally, one of them spoke. “We were wrong to leave them behind. They proved it so. Now we will pay them back with respect.”
    After the chief announced the news to all, The People agreed to follow the rules set by the two women. After their energy was restored by the nourishing dried fish, The People began to pack, for they could not wait to see the two women. In this time of hardship the news of their survival filled the band with a sense of hope and awe. Ch’idzigyaak’s daughter, Ozhii Nelii, wept when she heard the news. She had believed her mother to be dead but knew, despite her own overwhelming relief, that her mother would never forgive her. Shruh Zhuu was so ecstatic that, when he heard the news,the young boy immediately gathered his things and was ready to go.
    It took the band quite a while to reach the camp where the bark had been stripped off the birch trees. The chief and Daagoo had gone ahead to meet with the two women, and when they arrived at the women’s camp, the chief had to contain himself from embracing them. The women eyed him with distrust, so they all sat down to talk instead. The women told the chief what they expected from The People. He responded by telling them their wishes would be obeyed. “We will give you enough food for The People, and when it becomes low, we will give you more food. We will give you small portions at a time,” Sa’ told the chief, who nodded his head almost humbly.
    It took another day before the band reached the new camp, unpacked and set up tents. Then the chief and his men arrived with bundles of fish and rabbit-fur clothing. Daagoo had hinted boldly to the old women of the poor condition of the band’s clothing after he spotted theirlarge collection of rabbit-fur garments. The women both knew they never would use the many mittens, head coverings, blankets and vests they had made in their spare time, so they felt obligated to share with those who needed them. After The People settled down in their new camp and their bellies no longer cried for nourishment, they became more curious about the two old women. But they were forbidden to go near that camp.
    The colder days came and stayed a long time, and The People carefully rationed the food that the old women shared. Then the hunters killed a large moose and hauled it many miles back to the camp where all rejoiced at the good fortune.
    All this time the chief and the guide took turns making daily visits to the women. When it became apparent that the two women also were curious about The People, the chief asked permission for others to visit, too. Ch’idzigyaak was quick to say no, for her pride was the strongest. But later, the two women talked about it and admitted to themselves that theywere ready for visitors. This was especially so for Ch’idzigyaak, who missed her family terribly. When the chief arrived the next day, the two women told him of their decision, and soon people began visiting. At first they were timid and unsure. But