Alaska, 1922
In a warm Inupiat hut, an old woman with olive skin, aged dark hair, thick eyebrows, and brown eyes (wearing a caribou hide dress and a jade necklace around her neck) gazed into the light of the flame of a seal oil lamp. "And now, I have a story to tell," the old woman said as she picked the lamp up and set it down in an open area; the light of the flame lit up the interior of the hut, making the shadows look like Alaskan animals. "Long ago," the old woman told, "Before you – or I – ever entered into the world, my father was a shaman in my village. Everyone asked him for advice when needed, especially when it came to animals. You see, my father had a gift granted to him by the Great Spirits; and that gift enabled him the communication to animals. For many years, my father thought about handing down his gift to his first-born child – that was me – and he knew that time would tell.
"You might think I was born with a strong attachment for animals, particularly dogs, wolves, and whales. When I was old enough to run, I would run alongside the dogs in our village, or along the beaches whenever whales spouted upon the water's surface. That is why I am called 'Aqpat,' which is our word to run. My father witnessed me interacting with these animals many times, but he could tell that I had a hard time trying to talk to them when I wanted to.
"So one day, my father had a vision that he must travel far to seek out the spirits of the Northern Lights for advice on passing his gift down to me. I pleaded to go with him, but he told me that my mother needed me in the village to help with chores. 'This is man's work, little one,' he said.
"I missed him terribly, but when he returned, he had an extra special gift for me. He explained that when he made contact with the spirits of the Northern Lights, he was given a special jade that was said to possess the power of communicating with animals if worn by an individual. My father was skeptical at first, but the spirits told him to never underestimate their powers. On his way home, he took a thin strip of leather, and then put the jade onto it, turning it into a necklace. When he arrived home, he gave this very jade necklace to me. I tried it on the next day, and to my surprise, I found myself talking to the dogs and whales! That's when I learned it is important to respect your elders and never underestimate the powers of the Great Spirits."
We then get a view of a teenage girl looking at her grandmother with wide eyes. She also had olive skin and brown eyes; her hair was long, black, and braided with two feathers decorating the strands beside her left ear. She was also wearing a light brown caribou hide dress, a long, brown belt made from river otter fur, and a pair of mukluks – boots traditionally worn by the Native Americans of the north. "I respect you, dear grandmother," the girl said, "You took me in when my mother and father died in that blizzard several years ago, and I appreciate your hospitality. I do have one question – I like animals, especially dogs, and I was wondering if maybe you could travel to meet the spirits of the Northern Lights and give me a necklace like the one you have."
Aqpat, the grandmother, chuckled and answered, "My goodness, Qimmia! I'm afraid that a trip to seeing the Spirits is out of the question. I'm getting very old, and my legs aren't as good as they used to be. As for the necklace, well, I'm afraid you'll have to wait until the time is right to possess the power of talking to animals."
Qimmia's expression changed to disappointment as she asked, "Why, Grandmother Aqpat, why? I'm very trustworthy and honest. I promise to never let anything happen to that necklace!"
Aqpat shook her head with sorrow and said, "I'm sorry. But you see, animals still roam parts of our village, and they still come to me for advice. I need this gift so that I may talk to them and help them. You know that you shouldn't take gifts for granted."
"I know, grandmother," the girl sighed as she stood up, "I think I'm going to… see if… we have enough food for tonight's supper." Qimmia gave her grandmother a look of disappointment and sadness before she walked out of the hut.
Outside, a blanket of snow had covered the ground, and most of the other people in Qimmia's village were preparing to retire for the day. The young girl just picked up her parka and put it on, preparing to take a little walk. As she walked away from her huts and the village, Qimmia sighed and said to herself, "I don't understand. Everyone in my village knows their place and their path, but I don't. I wish I knew what lies ahead so I can prepare for it. I've learned so much all my life, but I feel so lost. What should I do next?"
Qimmia then knelt and looked over at the frozen Arctic Ocean off in the distance as she sang:
The earth is cold
The fields are bare
The bushes fold
Against the wind that's everywhere
Qimmia looked over at the sky and saw some birds fly away, and then she looked off in the distance to see a mother polar bear with two cubs.
The birds move on
So they survive
When snow's so deep
The bears all sleep
To keep themselves alive
Qimmia then stood up and started walking a ways as she continued singing:
They do what they must for now
And trust in their plan
If I trust in mine somehow
I might find who I am
But where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear
Which is the voice that I was meant to hear?
How will I know
Where do I go from here?
Qimmia then stopped and looked up at the sky, remembering times when she was a child. She remembered seeing her surroundings differently than she did now, and she remembered a dreadful time when she said goodbye to someone close to her.
My world has changed
And so have I
I've learned to choose
And even learned to say goodbye
The path ahead
So hard to see
It winds and bends
But where it ends
Depends on only me
Qimmia felt a rush of wind as she placed her hand on her chest and gave one last glance at the Arctic Ocean before she decided to go back to her village.
In my heart I don't feel part
Of so much I've known
And now it seems it's time to start
A new life on my own
But where do I go from here?
So many voices ringing in my ear
Which is the voice that I was meant to hear?
How will I know
Where do I go from here?
When Qimmia came back to her hut, she was shocked to hear her grandmother coughing inside. Qimmia ran into the hut and asked with worry, "Grandmother, are you okay?"
Aqpat looked at her granddaughter and answered, "I'm fine, child. It's just a little cough I picked up, and hopefully it will be gone tomorrow."
Qimmia gently took her grandmother by her arms and led her to her sleeping mat. "Here, Grandmother," Qimmia said, "Lie down and get some rest. I'll pray for you to feel well tomorrow."
Author's Note: The song "Where Do I Go From Here?" is from Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World ((c) Disney
