What the Turtle Told Her Children

By Valerie Van Campen

Zoe and Zachary Jameson are 14-year-old twins who live on the Allegheny Reservation of the Seneca Nation in Western New York State. They are children of two cultures, struggling to find their place in the modern world while honoring the traditions of their Native American ancestors. About to begin their summer vacation from school, they prepare for long, hot days of chores, sports, and family gatherings. Every year, it's the same thing, there's never anything new happening. Then their cousin Heather gives them some exciting news. Their eccentric Aunt Fawn is coming for a visit. A storyteller, Aunt Fawn always brings fun and a bit of mischief into everyone's lives. Join the twins as they travel, listening to Aunt Fawn's tales of local ghosts, monsters, and other legends.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cedar Grove Publishing
• Release date: Oct 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781941958223

Book preview

future.

Foreword

I wanted to write this book to tell the stories the way I first heard them growing up in the 1960's and 70's. At that time, very few Seneca stories were written down. Oral tradition changes over time, as each storyteller brings something of his or herself to the story. The story can also be shaped by signicant events in the life of an individual or a culture. Much has changed for the Seneca Nation in the last fifty years. Though the stories are still beautiful works of verbal art, they have changed as well.

Whenever I use the phrase the Seneca Nation of Indians, well-intentioned, politically correct people gasp. Um, you mean to say Native Americans, right?

Actually, I don't. When you enter Seneca territory, road signs proudly welcome you to the Seneca Nation of Indians. The tribe's website is https://sni.org/. Most Senecas I know refer to themselves as Indians, and so do I.

Thank you for choosing this book. I hope you enoy it.

Aunt Fawn Is Coming

Zac sat down at his computer and prepared to Skype with Matthias. A cousin, Leo, had recently moved to Germany. Leo's mom was in the Army. He thought Zac, Zoe, and Matthias would have a lot in common and felt that they should meet. Matthias was very interested in all things Native American and had a fondness for spooky tales and legends. Nervously, Zac summoned his sister Zoe, took a big sip of his iced tea, and began.

Matthias answered immediately and greeted Zac with a warm smile.

I'm Matthias Kramer. Greetings from Stuttgart!

Hi, Matthias. I'm Zachary Jimerson, but you can call me Zac. Everybody does. I'm fourteen and live in Salamanca, New York on the Alleghany Reservation of the Seneca Nation of Indians. I have a twin sister Zoe. What a pain she is! I also have two older sisters, Taylor and Stephanie, and an older brother Justin. I like raising goats, fixing cars, and fishing.

Anyway, last summer was the coolest one ever. I guess I'll let Zoe tell you all about it, though. She's the one who wants to be a storyteller.

Zoe pushed Zac's rolling office chair away from the computer, and scooted over.

Hi, Matthias. I'm Zoe, and just so you know, Zac is a pain, too. So you want to know about life on the Rez, huh? I'll have to tell you some things about our family to help you understand. Well, it all started last April. I was sitting on my great-grandparents porch....

**********

I was rocking my little nephew Andy, who was about six weeks old. His mother, our older sister Taylor, was in the house. Taylor was helping Granna care for her ninety-nine year-old sister, Aunt Hazel. It was the end of April, the first warm day of spring in western New York State. The snow had finally melted, well, all except for a few dirty looking piles on the north side of the house.

The trees all had green leaves, but it would be another few weeks before there would be apple blossoms and lilacs. However, the Reservation was showing other signs of life. Birds were nesting and there were squirrels in the garage attic.

A baby cottontail nibbled clover in the yard, but ran away when it heard a bicycle coming. Felix, our German shepherd barked and wagged his tail. Our cousin Heather was peddling up the road. She turned into the driveway and parked her ten-speed against the porch. Heather climbed the steps and sat down on the big porch swing. Zac joined us. He had been digging for earthworms in the side yard.

I shifted Andy to my other shoulder and greeted her.

Hey, Heather? Did you come all the way up the hill from Jimersontown?

Yeah, Mom wanted me to take some corn soup and fry bread to Mrs. Redeye. She said I could stay until dinnertime. Dad will pick me up on his way home. Hey, did you here the news? Aunt Fawn is coming to visit!

I was surprised. She's coming all the way from Virginia? When? Why? It's not a holiday and nobody has died.

Heather laughed. Oh, I know what you mean. It seems like everyone always goes to visit Aunt Fawn and Uncle T. They don't come up here very often. Anyway, Mom says that Granna asked Aunt Fawn to come and help out. Uncle T will be out to sea for most of the summer, and with the wedding, graduations, and Aunt Hazel being sick, it would be good to have another woman around.

Zac snorted at this. Hey, guys are not totally useless! I help out around here, too. So when is Aunt Fawn coming?

Heather reached over and tickled Baby Andrew's chin, and was rewarded with a smile. She'll be here in two weeks. Mom said I could help you guys get the guest room cleaned up. It probably needs a good airing out and dusting. We can do it on Saturday.

Okay said Zac. That works for me. It should be fun having Aunt Fawn around. She certainly livens things up.

The following Saturday, we got Aunt Fawn's room ready. As we finished making up the bed, we heard Granna and Aunt Hazel talking. Aunt Hazel seemed a bit upset.

"Sis, I don't know why we needed Fawn to come. Things are going well enough around here. She always stirs things up.

She's the reason the kids all go away to school. She encourages them to dream big. Problem is, they don't always come back home. Fawn didn't."

"Hazel, I need a little extra help. You're turning a hundred, Justin will be sixteen, and we'll have baby Andy's dedication. There are two graduations and Stephanie's wedding is less than two months away. That means lots of sewing. Besides, Fawn is