PONU STORY - by Lorene Sisquoc

Ponu’
Story s
Written by Lorene Sisquoc
Illustrated by Zoe Storz

Ponu’s Story
written by Lorene Sisquoc
illustration and design by Zoe Storz
a collaborative project of
Mother Earth Clan
& Media Arts for Social Justice
Project Coordinator: Gina Lamb
copyright 2022 Lorene Sisquoc

I named this book Ponu after my youngest daughter
who, since she was a little girl, was always interested
in my stories and our traditions.
She now teaches others how to make baskets, toys and
games and how to make delicious meals, medicine and
useful things from our native plants.
I am hopeful that through passing these traditions
on to her children and nieces and nephews
our ways won’t be lost.
- Lorene Sisquoc
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Dedicated to
my family, my teachers,
and our future generations.
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Our early ancestors were given beautiful instructions of how to live on this earth
in a good way. They passed these ways down from generation to generation.
Then suddenly...and sometimes slowly, these ways were forbidden, forgotten, hidden,
and in some instances of resilience were still passed on to the next generation.
This story is about remembering the ways of our ancestors and about living
in a good way on this earth.
When I was growing up, I only learned bits and pieces from my grandmother
and other family members. When I was a teen, I wanted to learn more, and
fortunately I was around those from many different tribes that shared their
ways with me. These teachings inspired me and planted the seeds for me
to make it a big part of my life to learn, share, and preserve our
beautiful teachings and values from our ancestors.
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This story begins in a time when there was great sadness,
confusion and destruction on Mother Earth.
The people of the earth had grown so greedy and had no knowledge
of their purpose for being here or their connection to
the earth’s sacred balance.
Their purpose was to be the protectors of the earth.
Many people had forgotten this and the sacred balance was broken.
People could no longer breathe the air or drink the water without
becoming sick. Many animals disappeared from the face of the earth.
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It was indeed a very sad time.
However, there were people who truly cared about Mother Earth
and tried to learn the sacred ways of living without destroying her.
Ponu was a young woman who felt deep in her heart that something
must be done to bring back that sacred balance and connection
between Mother Earth and the people.
She would often go to places where there was still some wilderness
to pray, to sing and to learn about the gifts of Mother Earth.
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Many times,
she would just sit under
the Old Grandmother Oak Tree
and imagine the world pure and clean
as it was in her great-great-grandparent’s time.
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One day, Ponu came upon a hidden cave.
She crawled in and noticed what seemed to be
a magical tunnel leading upward.
The farther she got, the colder she felt.
The walls of this tunnel were of crystal with many sharp edges.
“Be careful,” she thought. “You must keep going.”
Then she felt the warmth.
It was the sun!
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Finally she was near the top and she could hear water.
She came to the end of the tunnel,
and found it was the opening to another world.
It was beautiful!
There was a waterfall in front of the opening.
And just on the other side, was a pond so clear
that you could see all the life in it.
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Ponu could hear the chanting of the birds,
all sorts of birds – in colors and sizes
she had never seen before.
They sang songs to her, and she could understand them.
She swam in the purifying waters
and had no fears or thoughts of sadness
or worry of the world she left behind.
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Then came the animals.
They too spoke to her in a magical language
Ponu could understand.
They each shared some of the gifts they had to offer.
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Coyote was first.
She taught Ponu the songs of love
and respect for Mother Earth.
She taught her the songs of sadness
for when you lose someone you love.
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Squirrel, mouse, chipmunk and woodpecker
taught her how to store up food
for the winter.
Beaver and packrat
showed her how to build a good strong home.
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Spider and hummingbird
taught Ponu how to weave.
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Deer showed her the plants and grasses that were good to eat.
Mama bear showed her how to care for the young.
She showed her which plants, berries
and roots were good for food.
She showed her which to use for healing the sick.
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The hawks showed her beautiful dances
and offered their feathers for decorations
and ceremonies.
Mockingbird taught her prayers and songs
to use at sunrise and sunset.
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The beautiful moon maiden taught her many songs
and showed her how young girls should behave.
She taught her how to weave designs in her baskets
and play fun games using strings.
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Badger showed her how to have courage
and how to face her fears.
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Owl told Ponu many stories and legends of the night.
She also learned to respect and not fear owl.
Owl said, “I am not the bringer of death,
I am only a messenger.”
She told her that only the most sacred people
could use her feathers.
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When morning came,
eagle taught Ponu some prayers.
Eagle said that she would help take the prayers
of her people to the creator.
Eagle gave Ponu a feather from her tail
and said to give it to her holy people
to help them when they needed
strength and guidance.
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Eagle said to use tobacco, sage, sweet grass
or cedar when praying.
She said that she would come and help carry
the prayers up to our creator.
If she could not come,
then she would send red tailed hawk
in her place.
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Eagle said to use tobacco to smoke in prayer only
and to offer the smoke to the Four Directions,
Mother Earth and our creator.
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Eagle said,
“All of this will help your prayers to be heard
and will help the people to become more in
balance and feel their great importance
as protectors of Mother Earth.”
Eagle said,
“Remember the songs and chants of the birds
and all of the lessons from the animals
and Moon Maiden.”
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Eagle told Ponu to go
back to where she came from
and share what she had learned
with all who would listen.
She said,
“Teach the children
because they have a pure heart.”
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At that moment,
Ponu was startled by the loud noise
of an earth moving bulldozer.
She woke up from the
strange, magical dream she had
and realized that she had fallen asleep
by Old Grandmother Oak Tree.
Or was it really a dream?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lorene Sisquoc (Fort Sill Apache/Cahuilla)
mother of three, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother
of one. Sisquoc co-founded the Mother Earth Clan
Cultural Programs in 1986. She became volunteer curator
& co-founder of the Sherman Indian Museum in 1991.
She is currently Curator & Culture Traditions Leader of
the Museum and has taught classes in Native American
traditions and basketry at Sherman Indian High School
since 1995. Sisquoc is the first elder/scholar-in-residence
at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, CA
and an Instructor at University of California, Riverside.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Zoe Storz is a 20-year-old artist born
and raised in New York City. Currently,
she studies Studio Art and English at
Pitzer College, primarily focusing on the
intersections of painting, photography,
and poetry.
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project coordinator: Gina Lamb
A project of Mother Earth Clan & Media Arts for Social Justice
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