When the Plant Speaks and the Ancestors Answer

As we move through this season of becoming—when blossoms give way to fruit and the sun begins to stay longer in the sky—we offer this story.

It came through dream, spirit, and remembering.

Ka Papa is a story about vision, guidance, and what it means to carry sacred knowledge across generations.

This is a glimpse into our book, Walking Through the Seasons. But more than that, it’s a living moment—a message that told us:

“The people are ready.”

We invite you to receive it not as content, but as ceremony.

q̓anǂat̕ana - Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis)

The beginning of a remembering that never truly left

A Story From the Dream That Opened the Book

Ka papa

As we prepare to explore the plants of Spring, it seems fitting to begin with a story of connection and vision. The following narrative emerged from a dream about White Bark Pine, a resilient species that has witnessed countless seasons of change. Like many of our Indigenous stories, this one operates on multiple levels—as personal history, as cultural teaching, and as a perspective on our relationship with both plants and time. The wisdom shared through this story offers a lens through which we might better understand the Spring plants that follow.

By Darcy Fisher

“Ka papa (grandfather) is a story I was inspired to write early in 2020 after the onset of the world pandemic. I dreamt that I was being flown high above the mountains. At one point of the dream, I was able to see a small crack almost like a window carved into the mountain. Sticking out of this crack were branches which I was able to identify in my dream and brought into my waking moments. The highlight and teachable moment of this dream came when I had been brought back from flight and someone asked me if I knew what the plant was. That someone was my grandfather who had passed many years prior. He asked me if I knew what the plant was and I replied, “White Bark pine”. He excitedly shook his head and said, “yes, yes”, that’s when I woke up. I never dreamt of him before that time and we didn’t always have the best relationship, however whenever I needed spiritual guidance or help, I could talk to him, he would listen, and he would always end our conversations with “I’ll take care of it” and that always made things better. His showing me this plant in my dream was a way that we were able to “take care of it” and feel confident in the plant knowledge we’ve acquired and the gifts that we share. I hope you enjoy the following story”.

Before the humans spoke, the earth spoke first, and I will tell you the story the way my grandfather told me, through the language of the plants, through the magic of our ancestors and for the love of our people.

“High in the mountains where our nupika and ancestors still speak to us, live plants, insects, and animals that are rarely seen. These plants, insects and animals have their own stories and speak their own language (ʔa·kⱡukaqwum). This is the story of the plants gift”.

The old chief sang with the wind and strolled along the mountain tops – he gave thanks for the breeze and for the warmth of the morning sun. He offered a song and a prayer to the ancestors before he rested atop a stone. With his weathered hands he felt the stone, his fingers traced each line and crack that told its story – the old chief knew the mountains came to rest here long before his time and they would continue to rest here long after he was gone. In this moment of quiet the chief had a vision, and a calm enveloped him.

Through this calm the ancestors and nupikanin̓tik invited him to their fires.

Time had passed and the chief could hear children laughing and playing. The sound warmed his heart and called him back from the ancestors and nupikas.

“Nasuʔkin, Papa, kaʔkin kskikiⱡ ʔa·qaqna” (what are you doing?) – I was up here giving thanks to our ancestors and giving thanks for the children who will carry on our teachings. I was listening to the stories that come from our connection to all things here and now and the beings that are yet to come. What beings are yet to come? Asked one of the children. The nasuʔkin laughed and said, “after we have something to eat and finish our chores, I will tell you”.

Back at camp the children hurried to do their chores, they helped to make food, build fires, and collect water. The chief watched them and noticed they were working hard and moving fast, some of the children even finished their meals before the elders who were served first. While he watched the children’s activities he was reminded of the messages from his vision, important lessons he was to pass on.

He continued to watch, whilst drinking and eating slowly. The children now watched the nasuʔkin eat and drink, impatiently waiting for him to be done. The chief felt that all eyes were on him in this moment and savored the last bites and drinks from his meal. Next as he always did, he placed his bowl and cup inside each other and folded them in his buckskin. He placed his left hand over the top and gave thanks to creator, the ancestors and to the cooks. Then as always, he would grab his tobacco pouch, take a pinch, and raise it in all directions, he would fill his pipe, inhale, and say, “it is good”. Now the children rushed to be by the chief, by the grandfather watching the way he smoked, how he inhaled and nodded his head, how he hmmmmed, just before he was about to say something. The children admiringly gazed upon the nasuʔkin, waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the words that he would speak. The chief cleared his throat, took another puff and hmmmmed again. The children moved anxiously - mouths open waiting for the story. Finally, one of the children chimed in before the chief took another puff – “What beings are coming, you said you would tell us”.

Hmmmm, the chief started. Ahem, clearing his throat. The ancestors and the nupika told me of our future and our life with some new beings. Do you remember, the rock beings that make up these mountains, well they have come to rest before our time, and they will rest after our time. The ancestors and the nupika brought me to their fires and told me how to prepare for some newcomers.

***

Nasuʔkin, you have led your kind well. We have observed your patience, your love, and your connection to all things. It is your love, gratitude and connection that make you a great leader. It is also your love, gratitude and connection that will make this the hardest lesson you learn. Each of us has a gift and a purpose, when the newcomers arrive, they will have a purpose and gift, there will be many great leaders amongst them. Each free moving being of your kind will not move as freely, your gifts and the way you have lived will soon enter rest like the rock. The newcomers – they will come in numbers, they will almost outnumber your kind, they will be people. These people will be grateful, and they will be connected, they will care for their kind – they will be black, white, red, and yellow – they will be on all corners of the earth. When they come – they will be able to speak the language of the plants, animals, and creator. They will give thanks – and they will be patient, loving, and grateful leaders. Then when the earth gets smaller, they will be less connected, they will move too fast, and they will be impatient. When they arrive, they will wake up with the knowledge of their connection to all things – every being will serve them and have a purpose - the people will be grateful, they will give offerings, and they will pass on their knowledge. Plants, animal, and land will gift them with all they need; the people will be reminded that they must always give back.

You, white bark pine, are a chief, you will be medicine, you will be shelter, you will be food, you will be a teacher.

Today, your kind thrive and exist in numbers, you have cared well for your younglings, elders, and those yet to breathe life. You and your kind will share a similar path with the red people. Creator has gifted you with beautiful things and the way you will give life. Your purpose will be forgotten by the people and your kind will struggle – people will need trees for shelter among other things. They will forget your purpose and you will watch your kind be decimated, people will create ways that will destroy your roots, they will set fire to the rocks, and they will almost remove your kind from existence. Those yet to breathe life will have almost no elders, no shelter and will struggle to have strong roots. The teachings you pass on to your kind will vibrate long after you join the ancestors.

The red people, they will be gifted, and they will manage to connect to their lands.

They will take what they need, and they will leave the rest. Then as the world gets smaller, they will welcome newcomers to their land. At first, they will share teachings and remember the language of the plants, they will have misunderstandings, but they will learn to co-exist and adapt - but like yourself – their purpose will be forgotten. They will watch the newcomers come in numbers and they will struggle, they will watch their kind be decimated, they will watch them create ways to destroy their roots, they will be removed from their homes, and they will almost be removed from existence.

Those red people yet to breathe life, will have almost no elders, no shelter and will also struggle to have strong roots. It is your similar paths that will help you to understand each other, it is the similar path that will allow each other’s ancestors to communicate, and it is the similar path that will be the strength of your greatest gift.

It is because you have almost lost life, existence, and purpose – that you will be patient enough to gift, life, existence, and purpose. Your purpose when you leave here will be to teach this to the younglings, to honor your ancestors and to vibrate long after you are gone.

Thank you for sitting with Ka Papa.

This story was offered from our lives, our dreams, and the ones who still walk with us—seen and unseen. If you’re feeling something stir inside you, that’s no accident. This isn’t just about us.

It’s about you, too.

If it moved you—breathe. Touch something real. Sip something warm. Let what came through settle in your body before moving on. You’re not alone in what you carry. You never were.

The full book, Walking Through the Seasons, is still going through its final growth. But this story, and those to come, are arriving right on time.

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