The Adventures of the Wee Bog Folk

Chapter One

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Tucked away in the innocent North Coast rainforests near the mouth of the Mighty Skeena River is the village of the “Bog Folk of the Limpet Clan.”  Little did they know of the drama that was to occur on that hungry river. Tiny creatures with ruddy, round cheeks and big red noses are moving about like mice in the forest.  Three of the Elders are deep in a legal discussion that will soon be coming to Council, unaware of the life and death decisions they would soon be called on to make. Sitting comfortably in a large cushion of Sphagnum moss is the Cedar Clan healer and Elder Fern who is mentoring young Sol Seal in the ways of the healing arts.  She is mixing up her latest brew with Labrador tea hoping to cure the flying clan children of their latest round of colds and coughs. Amongst these vignettes children are sliding down wet skunk cabbage leaves landing with a splash into the boggy moss.  Some of the youngsters trying out their wings for the first time.

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Within the deep emerald mounds of moss and brown sphagnum. woven cedar and willow domed huts and hollowed out cottonwood log structures spring up from nowhere.  One girl is preparing the mid-day meal.  There will be smoked salmon cooked in eulachon grease, salmonberries and tender greens., licking her lips as she smelled the aromas.  Clover is sitting comfortably by the village hearth with her first grandchild who has just begun sprouted her wings and will need careful supervision as she learns to master the childhood art of flying. Sandy and Lee are starting the day plaiting cedar roots into baskets.  Lee is showing them the now famous Tansy twist borrowed from the Cedar Clan.  Another local artisan, is looking on, thinking to himself that his designs are better.  Unknown to him, two youngsters, are flying above, giggling, and dropping cedar cones on the full grown folk, who keep fruitlessly swatting the air at imaginary flies. On a bowl-like rock, seawater is drying to harvest the ever present sea salt, the ever present trade good used to preserve fish.

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The fishing fleet is out. Captains Raven and Razor each crewed a carved cedar ship that was rowed within the harbour to rocky shores across the way at low tide to scrape limpets from the rocks, harvest small crab and octopi and detach clams from their holdfasts in tidepools.  They gaffed or netted herring when the run was in, drying most of them for later use or trade.  The razor clam, although too fast for the limpet folk to catch, left its shells in plenty on the beaches of a nearby sandy beached island. These were valued by toolmakers for their sharpness.  Kelp and other seaweeds were gathered as well, their bladders used as floats, the rest for food, rope and other things.

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Douglas, visiting from the Bog Clan, is fashioning a new harness for his seagull, Gus, who he rode from time to time.  It was hard for some, when they reached adolescence to lose their wings and Doug, who had never seemed to grow up had haphazardly worked at training gulls ever since he’d been grounded decades ago.  Now he could soar through the sky on Gus’ back, when the bird wasn't busy filling his cheeks,  reliving his childhood experience, but with an Elders eyes; looking for possible enemies in the area; bears, weasels’ and other carnivores and checking on the safety of the fishing fleet.  To be fair, there were days when Gus actually allowed Douglas to control his movements, usually after a good gorging feast; sometimes.

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Many weeks from now, the Limpet Clan would be hosting the autumn Gathering of the Four Clans.  There was a lot of work to be done in anticipation of this event.  Their village communal Clan Great Lodge must have an addition added as it is too small to fit all four Clans. Huts must be prepared to host the Elders from other Clans, and much food must be dried.  Everyone is busy.

Just last week, an expedition of traders from the various Clans headed up the Skeena River to trade with the Exchamsiks Clan, and possibly even the further Kalum Clan if time allowed.  Their plan was to return in time for the Gathering, where much trade would go on amongst the Clans.

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For today, the Bog Folk of the Limpet Clan will enjoy the sunny summer day.