Many hundreds of years ago, a young Native boy wandered in the deep forests around what is now our camp. At that time, the trees were much taller and bigger than they are now. He was alone because enemy tribes had attacked his people, killed his parents and captured his brothers and sisters. He alone escaped capture, and therefore was now by himself here in this forest far from home. He was a brave Native boy. The forest was friendly to him, and he wasn’t scared of the animals. To eat, he found berries, nuts and roots. He caught fish with his bow and arrow, and then cooked his catch over a small fire that he built himself. Many times he thought he would live like this until he grew up and became strong enough to free his brothers and sister from captivity. Then together they would return to his home where his people used to hunt. Thus, in his travels through the forest the young Native boy reached the shores of the small lake that is just some hundred metres away from the present Kotkajärve main lodge. To be exact, he reached the shore at the location where there is a small rocky cliff that juts out into the lake near the present day saun. At the top of the rocky ridge there used to be an old pine tree, the top of which had been broken off in a big wind storm. The broken top was especially suitable for an eagle’s nest - and indeed that’s where one was located. When the Native boy saw the eagle’s nest beside the lake, he decided to call the lake “Kotkajärv” or “Eagle Lake” In the nest lived an old eagle – he was so old, that his feathers were no longer black, but they had turned silver-grey. At the base of the tree, the boy lit a fire to cook his fish. Seeing him, the eagle flew down from his nest and perched on a rock beside the fire. He saw that the fish the boy had caught was very small. Surely he would still be hungry after eating it. So, the eagle spread his wings, took off in flight and disappeared far off into the blue sky. A short while later he was back and placed a killed deer in front of the boy’s feet. The boy skinned the animal and cooked it over the fire. For the first time in many months, he finally had had enough to eat so that his stomach was full like in earlier and better times. The young Native boy decided that he would like to stay here for awhile. Since it was already autumn and winter was approaching, he built a small shelter. The old eagle adopted him as his son, sat with him every day beside the fire and taught him how to speak in the language of eagles. The boy learned very fast, and soon the eagle was telling him all kinds of stories about the surrounding forests and lakes. The eagle taught him all the secrets of hunting - naturally, all eagles knew of these things. The eagle’s favourite topic however, was freedom. Eagles are proud birds who love their freedom. This is why they always have their nest perched atop high trees. From there they can see far and wide over the surrounding forests and countryside. The eagle also asked the boy to sing songs to him that he had learned at home, so that he would not forget his mother tongue. He was now fluent in the language of the eagles, and it was very important that he not forget his own language - the language of his family, for one day he would strive to free his captured brothers and sisters, and then he would have to communicate with them again. So the eagle and Native boy lived for years as father and son. The boy grew up to become a tall and strong man. His body was muscular and lean and his sight was as sharp as an eagle’s. He handled his bow and arrow like an experienced old hunter, so that never again did the eagle have to catch game for him. Indeed, the opposite was now true, as the boy often caught game for the old eagle. One day, the eagle flew down from his nest, and told the boy, “I am getting old, my spirit is tired and it is time for me to die. I am going to leave you my wings, for they are strong enough to fly through wind and storm. Take your hunting knife and cut off my wings. With them you can fly back to your peoples’ hunting grounds, free your brothers and sisters, and rebuild your home. The wings will carry you as long as you don’t destroy nature, as long as you don’t kill anybody or anything but your enemy or game, and as long as you always carry the proud spirit of the eagle in your heart.” Tears ran down the boy’s face. Nevertheless, he carried out the eagle’s wish, for he knew that the eagle was always sincere. He cut off the eagle’s wings and buried him under some rocks beside the old pine tree. Afterwards, he tied the wings to his arms and flew off to carry out the deeds as the old eagle had instructed. This took place many hundreds of years ago. The boy defeated the captors of his people, freed his brothers and sisters, and returned to his old hunting grounds to rebuild his home. When he grew old, he did not leave the wings to his children. Instead, one day he flew away - no one knows where to. The big pine tree on the shores of Kotkajärv (Eagle Lake) no longer stands, for it has long disappeared. The rock cliff is still there and we pass it when we walk to the saun. So today, when young people who visit Kotkajärve’s campgrounds are kind to nature, don’t kill animals needlessly, and carry the spirit of the old eagle in their hearts, they may one day see the Native boy appear atop the rocky cliff with the silver-grey wings of the eagle. Those who see the Native boy will one day themselves, upon growing up, receive the eagle’s silver-grey wings, so they can fly to the home of their forefathers, free the land and their enslaved people. Jämesäär, 1972 (Tõlge: nskm. Enno Agur, 02. II. 2002)
The Legend of Kotkajärve
Eestlased Kanadas | 13 Feb 2002 | EWR
Eestlased Kanadas
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