Chapter 1

Mid-December 1859

In the northeastern section of what would later become Wyoming, the Lakota Sioux wintered in the deep valley of the Powder River Basin. It had been snowing for the past two days, and Chumani [meaning ‘dew drops’] was getting low on edible and medicinal herbs and plants. It was the duty of the women folk to seek out and forage for food and medicinal herbs.

She told her fifteen-year-old daughter, Winona [meaning first daughter], to search the village’s perimeter for what they needed. An only child, she was humble, dutiful and well liked throughout the village. Winona respectfully nodded, donned her hooded coat and boots and left the tipi to begin her search. Winona walked the perimeter of the village, then widened her circles. As the eastern slope became steeper and more irregular, she crested the ridge and started looking on the far side. It had been moderately snowing. After being out for about two hours, she decided to go home. When she turned to retrace her steps, she was frightened because the snow had covered her tracks. It was then that she realized that she had strayed far enough away from the village to see any smoke rising from village fires and was struck with fear realizing she was lost. She tried to settle her nerves and find her way home. After about an hour, she was no closer than she was when she decided to return home. She realized that by panicking, she was not using the skills her father had taught her.