A Gift to the People

Muskogee Boy’s Training

When a Muskogee boy is around five years old, he begins learning how to use a blowgun. Now many of you might not understand why, but bear with me and then maybe you will understand. The blowgun is made from bamboo usually, but also sometimes made from hickory or willow. These both have a soft center that is easily bored out. It is treated by steaming. Then it is fire hardened. This is done to make it stronger and for it to last. The darts are usually made from quills, wood, or bone. One of the best sets that I used was all made from bone, then serrated so that the poisons would hold better.These then had feathers attached to them.

Young boys and even girls begin practicing using these blowguns. Small leather balls, bark, leaves (palmetto) or saw grass are rolled and dried out to use for target practice. This starts out as a game for youngsters. The ball is thrown or rolled and the youngsters all try to hit it. Naturally every child knows his or her own darts. Each dart made has specific markings just as arrows and spears do.

This is very competitive. The elders, clan mothers, and all members of the tribe encourage, praise and even wager on the youngsters. Naturally every kid wants to be the best. During certain ceremonies such as the Green Corn Ceremony, these youngsters will be selected to compete against other tribes of the Nation. It is an honor to be selected by your clan to represent the clan, and even more so to represent your particular town.

See, in the old days, there were White Towns and Red Towns. White Towns were for clans that were administrative; politicians, orators, scholars, artists, craftsmen, distributors, etc. The Red Towns were for warriors, war clans, spiritual leaders, medicine people, and even what you would call sorcerers (wizards) today.

These towns kept the Blood Laws, and they all had a large post that was red with blood. When warriors or a spiritual leader made a vow for blood, justice, or war, the hatchet was struck into this post. These towns competed at the ceremonies, and these youngsters strutted around like young turkey gobblers, all proud to represent their People. Towns wagered all kinds of things in these games. Now most of you wouldn’t have wanted the responsibilities of the wealth and pride of your clan and entire town on your shoulders as a young child, but any Muskogee child looked forward to this. This is a game of life, so you see and learn the lessons of life very early. If you lose, your People will lose all they have wagered and that was usually quite a lot. But, you have also disappointed your clan and People. See, these practices taught youngsters the importance of their lessons, practice, and dedication to the People, because even though it was a game, it was a War Game. A youngster will become a warrior and the skill and dedication he or she learns might save the People or cause them to lose their life. So, instead of a game competing against other members of the Nation, they are protecting the People by killing enemies who are attacking the People.

 Many of you probably think a young child could not save his People from an enemy or the large force of an enemy, but you would be wrong. Numerous stories of these actual acts live in the hearts and history of the Muskogee Nation.

In using the blowgun, it is silent but also very, very deadly. No grown man can survive the poison mixture. It will kill a bear, panther, deer, or whatever living thing you hit. A Muskogee child is taught to be silent, and to stalk, to be one with the land. The art of camouflage is a way of life. A child could single-handedly take out an entire war party by using a blowgun. The poisons that are used are very fast and will immediately take effect. Different poisons are used for different things.

Now, imagine just for a moment: Here you are with a bunch of your friends walking in the woods of the South. Gnats and mosquitoes are everywhere. You feel the bite, and slap yourself where you are bitten. You think nothing of it. You are Dead! What just hit you was a tiny poison dart. You were last in line behind your friends. They don’t know you just collapsed, eyes bulging, and totally unconscious. As you hit the ground, another of your friends is already dropping, and the rest of your friends still don’t know that a little five or six year old is taking you all down.

Chapter Six

Muskogee Boy’s Training