Early Indigenous Literatures

Reconciliation through responsibility

The grandmother narrates here how the young woman's lineages came to be--through the process of the trial, the family is made whole again albeit not without much sense of loss for the dead/murdered. The young man cannot reenter belonging to his Nation until he has passed the trial--just as an enemy would have to--because he has removed himself from the circle of responsibility. He cannot be reinstated until the family of the dead make that call. Importantly, the father is a respected "old warrior" and his holding of the young man's hand must be visible "so the people can see"--his acceptance expands outward such that the young man is now once again of the community. The marker of community is further indicated as one of "compassionate voice" as the father accepts the young man as his son.

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