Native American Wise One

Note: These interviews with our Native North American Wise One are in reverse chronological order. Scroll down to the end for the oldest conversation.

2/24/2009

Sorry that I didn't have a chance to talk to the North American Wise One last fall but I went to his teepee in October and he had a big "Gone Fishing" sign hung over his little flap that was tied shut. I went again last week and the sign was still there. I hope nothing happened to him! I doubt it though or I would have heard...

Perhaps he was hiding out and didn't want to tell me about the winter because it sure was a rough one. Unlike last year, it was significantly below average in temperature--but it also was snowy like last year. It wasn't the hardest winter I remember but it was getting close. It started early and it still is here. If it wasn't for two warm spells--one in early January and one a week or so ago, there would be a whole bunch of snow on the ground. Right now, there is roughly 6 inches, although in protected spots in the woods there is over a foot. It was interesting to note that the National Weather Service was intially calling for a warm winter! Too bad I couldn't get a hold of our Wise One or we would have cut even more wood! While I don't think the Wise One pays attention to sunspots I found something of interest on the spaceweather.com website. Right now there are no sunspots. They have a link there to graphs of the history of sunspots. I looked at the sunspot cycle (centered on January 1) for 1934, 1954 and 1995--these were the hottest summers in Michigan ever. Then i looked at the Jan 1 2009 data (this is actually only looking back) and it looked the same as those other years. Interesting. Once I get a chance to talk to the Wise One, I'll bring this up. One thing I know, I won't pay any attention to the NWS summer forecast--I learned my lesson!

7/13/2008

Magicland Farms' own Native North American Wise One has finally returned from his trip. He won't tell me where he was but I have my suspicions...especially when I saw those two pails full of quarters in the corner and a red circle near Mount Pleasant on a Michigan Road map!

"Wow, Wise One, that sure is a lot of quarters over there!" Did I detect a slight upturn at the corners of his mouth?
"You're late this year, white guy!" He took three quick puffs on his pipe.
"Yeah, I've still been trying to figure out what you were telling me back in December about that winter. What exactly did you mean by your comment "No snow Christmas, the coldest month will not be?" It was 50 degrees two days before Christmas and 45 degrees the day after but there were some flurries on Christmas itself! What didja mean about 'the coldest month will not be'?"
"What you think?" He was now definitely smiling.
"To be honest, oh Wise One, I think you didn't have a clue so you muttered hogwash!"
"Only squaws talk to me that way, white guy!! No brave has enough spootsma to bang their lips together like that! See Teepee's flap! Let the sun shine in on your way out!"
"Wait! What is the rest of summer going to be like--you have lots of people waiting for your wise word!"
"Summer will stay long and Injun summer will come early and, like welcome guest, won't want to leave!"
My shmoozing did seem to work since he had tiny smile as he spoke. However, his index finger pointing at the flap indicated he was done with me for the day.

3/19/2008

Well, winter finally seems to be on life support but it already has had its fun. According to the thermometer it was nearly a completely normal winter. However, if you look at the snow and bad roads and several days of arctic weather it sure didn't seem that way. When I last talked to our North American Wise One in early December he was very vague about the winter (see the 12/10/2007 discussion)--I'm still not sure what he was talking about. Perhaps, perhaps, he wasn't sure either but was afraid to admit it! I plan on seeing him in a couple of weeks to find out about the summer. Hopefully, he won't be so vague!

12/10/2007

Winter already seems to have set in and from first appearances it's going to be tough--Pickerel Lake already has a lot of ice--albeit super-thin-- covering much of its surface. However, after I talked to Magicland Farms' own Native North American Wise One, I got a different impression... quite a different impression...

As usual, I noticed the Wise One smoking his pipe when I entered his tepee. I'm not sure what exactly he was smoking but I'm really not that inquisitive...especially with him--he can get awfully grumpy if I ask him the wrong question!

"Hi there! I love that headband! Is it new?" I was shocked! I think I saw the corners of his mouth turn up a fraction of a millimeter! Was he about to smile?
"Squaw friend gave it!"
Yes! He did smile...well almost! "It's cold outside and think it is supposed to get even colder with snow tomorrow! I think we are going to have a good old fashioned winter. Don't you?" Was there another smile growing on his face? Couldn't be!
"You not hear about global warming, white man? It's all over the web, dumbskull!"
Well now he sounds about normal...there was no need to worry about our Wise One after all! "Sure I did, but it still feels awfully cold! Maybe this global warming will skip a year."
"No snow Christmas, the coldest month will not be."
"I get that you think Christmas will be mild but what's this about the coldest month? Are you thinking the end of the world will happen right after Christmas? If not, what are you trying to say? Perhaps you think January will be much warmer than normal...isn't that it?"
"My words speak themselves..."
Well I left his tepee without a word but the chill I felt didn't only come from the cold outside air...

11/1/2007

In the next few weeks I am going to again visit the North American Wise One to find out about the coming winter--stay tuned...for now, it seems like he sure was right on the summer 2007 summer forecast. It was a typical Kentucky/Tennesee summer. How do I know for sure? Well, we have two grow two types of pecans--one type -- our Wisconsin type -- came from Pecan trees growing along the Mississippi in southwestern Wisconsin. The other type came from trees found growing wild in the Kentucky area. Both types have hardy trees--they made it through the past 30 winters OK. However, only the Wisconsin type fills its nuts on a regular basis (the Kentucky type needs a long hot summer) --that is until this year when even the Kentucky strain had nicely filled, sweet nuts!

6/25/2007

Well, on Father's Day I finally got enough guts to mosey down to our famous North American Wise One. By this time I sort of knew down deep about the summer but wasn't sure how he'd break the bad news to me. I soon found out...

When I first walked into his teepee I sort of figured out what the Wise One would tell me. There were three boxes. The small box had "Six Inch Desk Fan" written on it. The medium sized box had "REMOTE CONTROLLED PEDESTAL FAN" on the box. But, the tell tale sign of what the old Injun thought about the coming summer had to be what was printed on the humongous box which took up about a third of the teepee's room. On this box were written the word's "Category Five Hurricane Fan Enclosed." While I was studying the box I was startled by a surprisingly brittle voice!

Hi White Man! Why so grumpy looking? No need to worry about cutting firewood for at least three moons!
I think I could have guessed that! I think I also can guess what you think about the coming summer!
Ugh! Me don't like you grumpy! Want puff from pipe?
No thanks, Wise One. I feel better already. Perhaps it's because you seem a bit gentler in your old age!
Old age! I've only seen 100 winters! You should talk to my great grandad!
Maybe I'll do that! Where is he?
In his teepee laying on his blanket!
Oh, its tough getting old. How long has he been there?
Since moon appeared. Played slots for three hours straight!
Oh. Well, what exactly do you think about this summer!
Cool for Apache but warm for Ojubway like me! No blankets for 3 moons and no firewood for 4 moons.
In plain language then, you think it will be a very warm latter half of summer and a warm early fall. Right!
(The Wise One nodded.)
What about the rain. Will there be enough for the crops?
I don't go to Casino!
Hmm, well . Despite the bad news, it was real nice talking to you. Is it okay if I stop by in a week or so and see that big fan in operation?
Ugh! Ugh!

5/1/2007

Well, I have to admit that our North American Wise One really knew something about the 2006/2007 winter. He seemed to imply winter was going to be warm until Christmas and then turn cold, or am I mistaken on what he said? Maybe I am a Pea Brain like he seems to think. Well anyway, it was obviously warm until about January 10 and then turned cold. HOWEVER, IT DIDN'T TURN COLD ON DECEMBER 26 LIKE HE SEEMED TO IMPLY! Well, he was pretty darn closeanyway, I have to admit. As soon as I get enough guts I am going to stop over to his tepee soon and find out about this summer. Wish me luck!!!

12/1/2006

Well it looks like Magicland's own Native American Wise One was right on the money about the summer. It sure was a hot one,although not quite as hot as the summer before. But he never mentioned about all the rain--of course I never asked him about that! What about the winter? I'm going over to his tepee soon and asking him. I hope to get there a few days after Labor Day and bring him some colorful Indian Corn. I'll report soon after that. Update: Will report BEFORE Halloween!

11/1/2006

Well, I finally got around to asking Magicland's own American Wise One about the coming winter.

Gee, Oh Wise One, that smoke from your pipe smells great! And I really like that headband! Is that new? By the way, you seem to look younger every year! Holy Buffalo! You sure were right about last summer! It might not have been as steamy as the year before but it sure was a scorcher!
Ugh!
What?
I said Ugh, White Man!
Oh. Well, what about this winter. Will it be colder than last year?
Your turnips will be nice and green until Christmas and then they will turn black.
What?
Ugh, you've spent heap too much time in corn patch this year, Pea Brain.
What?
Me Oh Wise One will make it clear as melted snow. This winter will start out comfortable--old Squaws will only need one blanket but after Christmas even young Braves will need two blankets.
Oh I get you! Winter will start out mild and then will end up cold! By the way, why do you seem so downcast today.
Tiger's Lost, Pea Brain!

5/1/2006

Oh, wise one, last summer (2005) was very warm. What type of summer will we have this year (2006)?
Heap hot summer! No need to cook corn this year! The sun roast it before picked!
Really! Does the smoke from that pipe tell you this or perhaps the Mockingbird speaks to you?
No! White man on other side of creek put in central air!