Dreaming Together

By Derek Stephen McPhail

A sceenplay of magic realism inspired Canadian alternate historical romance, set during the 17th century smallpox epidemic in Wendake.

A young man who doubts himself struggles to help his family to freedom through the natural law that defines him and his people.

"History is the story of how we got where we are, what happened and what it meant. A matter of tragedy for the individual and comedy for the society. Over the long pulses of historical time, reconciliations can be achieved, that's the comedy; but, every individual meets a tragic end. We have to admit here that no matter what else we say, for the individual death is always an end and a catastrophe."

"The Years of Rice and Salt" by Kim Stanley Robinson

• Language: English
• Publisher: Float Street Press
• Release date: Aug 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201970376

Derek Stephen McPhail

Born in Northern Ontario at Sault Ste. Marie, Derek spent much of his adult life as a performer or staging technician. Known as Stephen or “uncle Steve” by his pals, he studied both, Theatre Tech and later, Film Studies, at Ryerson University in Toronto. He is a proud parent and grandparent, singer, songwriter, producer, actor, screenwriter and filmmaker. Derek Stephen McPhail resides in the charming village of Providence Bay on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada.

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INTRODUCTION

This is a magic realism inspired alternate historical romance and any similarity to historical characters is purely coincidental. The story allegedly takes place during the smallpox pandemic in the mid-17th century, that devastated the Wendat people, at Wendake, in the southeastern corner of Mnidoo-Gami / Lake of the Spirit, now called Georgian Bay in Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada.

The Blanc Francais (French) called these Wendat people the Huron. Their related neighbours between Lake Huron and Lake Erie: Tionontati and Attawandaron, they called Petun and Neutral. The Haudenosaunee tribes, who lived farther south, the French called Iroquois. These various tribes were originally members of the ancient Wendat Confederacy, who shared similar linguistic, architectural and agricultural traits. Many of the pandemic survivors were later absorbed into the expanding Iroquois Confederacy, or forced west into Michigan and south to Oklahoma, where they're now called Wyandot or Wyandotte.

Scientists now claim evidence suggests debris from a comet passing near the planet exploded over Canada and northern Asia about 12,900 years ago, causing massive flooding and what's called the Younger Dryas period. This killed off the Clovis people and large megafauna, sending the earth back into an ice age for another 1300 years. As the ice retreated and the land recovered, Ancestors of the Wendat people of the corn came north to the newly created Great Lakes from the surviving people of Mesoamerica, in what is now Central Mexico, so some say.

ACT I - SANCTUARY

MINDEMOOYASEBE LAKE - MICHIGIWATINONG VILLAGE - 1649

ONDITACHIAE (15), a slim and solemn native boy, passes through a break in the woods to reveal the morning sun reflecting off the sparkling water of Mindemooyasebe (Mindemoya) Lake on Mnidoo Mnising (Manitoulin Island). Settling on a beach rock and dazzled by the brightness of the view, he presses the palms of his hands against his eyes.

ONDITACHIAE'S REMINISCENCE - LAKE MINDEMOOYASEBE BEACH - 1644

YOUNG ONDITACHIAE (10) and his older brother, YOUNG ATISKEN (14), enjoy happier times collecting clams with their mother, Wolf Clan Matriarch, AWATAERCHI (34), and father, Tionontati Snapping Turtle Clan CHIEF ANONOINDAON (39). Anonoindaon approaches Onditachiae and sets down his basket.

ANONOINDAON

Such a beautiful day! Life doesn't get much better than this.

Young Onditachiae smiles at his beloved father and admires the contents of his full basket.

ANONOINDAON

Never take for granted the serenity and wisdom of the Spirit, the company of our community and all relatives great and small.

YOUNG ONDITACHIAE

Yes, Father...

ANONOINDAON

From one day to the next, everything changes. It's our challenge in life to be brave and embrace whatever may come.

JESUIT MISSION STE. MARIE - RESIDENCE - WENDAKE - 1649

PERE GABRIEL (34) hurriedly enters the office of PERE GENERAL JEAN (55) in the Jesuit Residence in Wendake (Huronia).

PERE GABRIEL

Another dozen Huron passed away last night from smallpox in the nearby village of Ossossane. Easily 70% of the Huronia population have died tragically since I arrived five years ago.

PERE GENERAL

Nothing to worry about, as what's more important is to continue the excellent construction work. Keep busy whatever healthy Hurons you have finishing that. This impresses the simple savages and inspires more converts.

PERE GABRIEL

Our chapel, residence, cookhouse, smithy and trade goods storehouse are now complete. If only our prayers and ceremonies would help these poor desperate souls.

PERE GENERAL

Let's get that bathhouse finished, as they love their sweat lodges. Do you not appreciate this plague has been a blessing for us? These arrogant savages had no interest in the Word of God, till they realized their pagan medicine jokers had no power over this disease. Only then did they turn to us for the promise of divine healing with our Holy Ritual of Baptism.

CORN FIELD - EKARENNIONDI-BY-THE-ROCK - BLUE MOUNTAIN

CHIEF SASTARETSI (49) a muscular middle-aged Wolf Clan Chief of the sacred Tionontati village of Ekarenniondi-by-the-rock, pauses to wipe the sweat off his brow. He continues struggling till he finally rips the stubborn roots of a pine shrub out of the ground at the edge of his wife's corn field. AATAENTSIC, his vibrant loving wife and Deer Clan Matriarch approaches carrying a large basket and water bag with her husband's lunch.

SASTARETSI

How blessed am I? Your timing is perfect.

AATAENTSIC

So few men to help with this difficult job these days. Don't imagine your efforts are not appreciated.

The affectionate couple engage in a warm hug, then joyfully spread out a blanket.

EKARENNIONDI-BY-THE-WATER - TIONONTATI VILLAGE

Tionontati Snapping Turtle Clan Chief, Anonoindaon, and his Ojibway brother-in-law, Loon Clan CHIEF BASWENAAZHI (41) stroll along the beach of the Nottawasaga Bay.

ANONOINDAON

No mystery the Robe Noire are responsible for the devastation in nearby Ossossone and the other Wendat villages in Wendake. Never was such illness before their arrival: fever, chills, vomiting, body aches, confusion, rash and sores that scab over, before eventual death.

BASWENAAZHI

Abomination!!

ANONOINDAON

Now we burn the bodies! No longer do we bury the bones according to ancient custom. We should be preparing our beloved Awataerchi in the traditional way.

BASWENAAZHI

Strange, but we live in strange times. Your family should have stayed with us on Mnidoo Mnising.

ANONOINDAON

So true, but you know my responsibilities here. Please take Atisken and Onditachiae with you to the safety of your home in Michigiwatinong.

BASWENAAZHI

Of course, am happy to do that. Will take them with me, when I leave later today.

MINDEMOOYASEBE LAKE - FOREST PATH - 1649

Onditachiae (15) as a young buck, hikes happily along a path by the shore communing with nature. Reaching a vantage point at the north end of the lake, he recognizes a canoe approaching in the distance. He turns and runs back towards the village.

MICHIGIWATINONG - MINDEMOOYASEBE BEACH

Onditachiae's older brother, Atisken (19), and cousin, SAOKATA (19) from Ossossane, are met by Atisken's uncle, Chief Baswenaazhi (45), as they arrive in their heavily loaded birch bark cargo canoe.

BASWENAAZHI

Greetings, Atisken, Saokata... Glad to see you arrive safely.

ATISKEN

Greetings, Uncle... There was a good harvest in the Tionontati villages. We bring sunflower seeds, hemp and tobacco, plus the usual three sisters.

SAOKATA

Greetings, Chief... Of the three sisters, not as much squash and beans as usual, mostly corn.

BASWENAAZHI

Atisken, your brother, Onditachiae, should be here to welcome you.

ATISKEN

How is that young rascal?

BASWENAAZHI

Off wandering in the woods as usual. The boy is still troubled by the loss of your parents to the Blanc Francais disease.

SAOKATA

Cousin is not alone in his grieving these days.

ATISKEN

Maybe we can interest him in joining us on our next trip.

BASWENAAZHI

He is strong enough to hold a paddle. Would be the best thing for him.

CARGO CANOE - LAKE MINDEMOOYASEBE

Enjoying a beautiful calm and sunny day, the Ojibway-Tionontati brothers and their Wendat cousin make good time paddling south down Lake Mindemooyasebe and its river to the bay.

SAOKATA

Nice to have wind and weather in our favour. Lake Mindemooyasebe is not always so pleasant. Remember that time my family came to visit years ago.

ATISKEN

More sheltered than the open water of Lake of the Manitou, but a storm can still sneak up here.

SAOKATA

Oh yes... On the final leg of the journey, a vicious storm appeared and we had a tough paddle north to Michigiwatinong. By the time we sheltered in Granny Ataronchrono's lodge, we were exhausted and soaked to the bone.

Atisken laughs, as he remembers the sight.

ATISKEN

Your sweet sisters, Attinenda and Otsehaweh, looked like drowned rats.

SAOKATA

We all did! Were so grateful for the warm and dry, especially that first night.

ATISKEN