In the Valley of the Smoking River; the Beginning A synopsis A member of an unnamed tribe, circa 1700 AD, Summers Gift gives birth to a special child named Little One. He is special in more ways than can be immediately observed, with the most obvious being that he is born with the "withering sickness." His legs are but two undeveloped stumps, which would keep Little One from walking or running. As was the custom, the old medicine man is summoned to perform a blessing and deliver the little boy to a holy place where Little One will return to his ancestors. In the next life, Little One will have a whole body and walk amongst his ancestors. This is Little One's fate--or is it? Standing Elk, at 10 years old, does not understand nor accept the decision to have his little brother, Little One, leave this life and enter the next one. Standing Elk did not understand the challenges facing his brother, so in his naivety, he intervenes, stopping the old medicine man from delivering Little One to the holy place. The old medicine man tries to explain the challenges Little One will face and the fact that the child will never walk. Standing Elk stands his ground making a commitment that if Little One cannot walk, then Standing Elk will carry him; a commitment far beyond his years, making the two boys as one, yet still separate. The two brothers walk the same yet different paths. Little One and Standing Elk both learn from their father, Strong Bear. However, raising children in this culture is a village affair. Beyond their father, the old medicine man, Sees Far, grooms Little One toward becoming a holy man and possibly a future medicine man. Standing Elk's mentor, beyond his father, is Lame Deer, the tribe's leading warrior. Lame Deer teaches Standing Elk to become a warrior and possible future tribal chief. Both boys hone their skills and learn of their individual paths, but also learn together and form an almost seamless entity. Together they face many challenges. Challenges that develop them into the leaders they are both destined to become. As years pass, Little One and Standing Elk grow, learn, contribute and face great challenges. Together the two youngsters: - experience their first buffalo hunt - play key roles in the survival of the tribe through the "long hunger" - meet their future brides - share their vision quest and the lessons learned from their spirit guides - face two separate attacks from their nemesis tribe known as the Pawtanay - experience tribal life and customs While Little One and Standing Elk complete their spirit quest, they come under attack from the Pawtanay. Using their wits and spiritual abilities, they defeat their attackers. This act adds to the legend as the "circle of life in the valley of the Smoking River continued, as it had for untold generations, and this was as it should be."
About the Author: THE SONG OF ONE MAN Hagaoda "the turtle" Ronald A. McMillian, also known as Hagaoda, the Turtle Storyteller, was born in the spring of 1947. As a young boy, Ron's family moved frequently and he had little time to make lifelong friends. Books about Indians and natural history became his companions. Learning as much as he could about the Plains Indians somehow made his heart fulfilled. Spending his summer days and sometimes nights wondering the woods and imagining how it would have been to live in those earlier times, started a life long journey that now makes his written stories come to life. After finishing High School, Ron joined the Navy and spent the next three years traveling the world. Upon finishing his duty to his country, Ron, returned to the Kansas City area where he attended a local junior college. 40 years ago Ron met and married his beautiful dark haired wife, Barb. It was with her that he attended a Cherokee Pow-Wow. Barb's cousin was the head woman dancer at that gathering. It was there that he began to understand the drum beat hidden in his heart. His real love, storytelling, has allowed him to travel, teach and inspire many young children and those young at heart. As a natural storyteller, he started collecting and retelling the stories of the Plains Indians. When his children came along, he used them to refine his storytelling skills and later he began traveling and sharing his stories at schools, libraries, colleges and festivals around the country. He has been called upon by the federal government and many other organizations to speak on Native American history, art, music and culture. Ron tries to spend as much time as his job and wife will allow living in one of his traditional lodges. If he is not traveling somewhere you can find his lodge set up at his home, which his wife refers to as the "spare bedroom". Art and music are a very important part of Ron's life. Following the customs and traditions of the old one's Ron makes nearly all of his clothing, jewelry and art. He hand carves his flutes according to tradition and each one has its own voice and design. The story of the flute and what it represents is one of his family's favorite stories. Ron's children and grandchildren are responsible for him finally putting these stories down on paper, so that they would not be lost. With the help of his only life-long friend and with the encouragement of his wife his first book is now a reality with more to follow.