Program: Lucinda Makes Amends

Here is a link to the 1951 recording made for the Seattle Centennial series Their Name Was Courage which is a dramatization of the colonization of the Seattle region. https://soundcloud.com/paul-nunn-604692201/lucinda-makes-amends

This particular story is about an incident when Lucinda was a 12 year old and thought a series of events, prevents bloodshed between her neighbor and a neighboring tribe. There are some problematic racist comments from the characters in the story and a stereotypical racist voice representation of the native antagonist. I would like to sort out the truth from mistruth in the story, and learn about "See-Kay-Num", the person that was villainized in the story.

Here is a History Link article about Lucinda Collins' adult life and her trained cows

https://www.historylink.org/File/395

Partial Script That needs further editing and completion:

SCRIPT

Narrator: THe years go by. The poeple change and the landscape. But beginnings remain. THese are the stories of the people who made those beginnings. the dreamers. teh believers. the workers. Their Name….. was courage.

N: This is the story of luncina collins who lived at the duwamish settlement a few miles south of seattle in 1853. It wouldnot have happend at all if the settlement were not too close to Seecadems indaian vilage.or even if lucinda had not been afraid for her own father

Luncinda: I didnt wanna be afraid of Papa. I love him.

N: Luther collins was a fine man but entriely too stern with his 12 year old daughter in a pioneed life that was already stern enough for a child without playmates with out any fun at all

Luther Collins: lucinda! Lucinda!

L: Im coming pa

LC: Where were you lucinda

L:Just by the trees behind the barnI was looking for lady slippers for mama to take to mrs denny . she likes flowers. She-

LC: I told you not to go into the woods alone.

L: I wasnt in the woods not really papa

LC: I told you that “See-Kay-Dum”(SCM here after)has been hanging around. How many times do you have to be told that indian is bad? Answer me!

L: I dont know papa

LC: Youd better know. If you disobey me once more I ll send you back east to my relatives unitl you grow up and get some sense. Just once more, do you hear? Now Your mother and i are going to town. I tied the new calf in the front yard. You are to stay within sight of it. If any indians come around, call Henry Vanassault. He promised to work in his near field. Is that clear?

L: Yes

L: (Crying)

Samantha Collins: Now lucinda you're too big of a girl to by crying like this about nothing.

L: Papa said he was gonna send me back east. He doesnt love me anymore

SC: He does love you child

L: Then why is he always so mean to me. He talks to me like he hates me. I dont mean to do things wrong

Lucinda you should try to understand your father he is so strict because he is afraid. For you in this wilderness with hundreds of savages around us. Now the older settlers say the indians will move their village in a few more months

Will mr vanassaults family come with then

Yes youll have friends to play with

Samantha! Im ready to go!

We’ll hurry back and if ship has come in Ill coax your father to buy a pound of sugar. A whole pound!

Sugar! Can we save some for strawberries

Of course we can, now do be careful

THe spring sun was warm on lucindas back she lay on a log and carefully watched the calf. This time she was determined that nothing should happen to displease her father. And it looked like nothing could happen she could he the ring of mr van assaults axe not very far awya. There was no sign of indians. Just an indian dog that trotted by. Then because she laid so still and tryied so hard to please her father by so carefully watching the calf and the sun was so nice and warm. Lucinda went soundly asleep

Bark bark moo

N: Lucinda woke with a start. 3 indian dogs were attacking the calf

Linda picked up a large stick and rushed toward the dogs. Get away you dogs Ill beat you. Dont bite me. Mr vanassault ogh please mr van come quick they are killing the calf. Hurry Mr van hurry

V: Stand back lucinda

L:don t hit the calf mr v

V: Dont you worory about that calf- Ive got to get a bead on that ker at the calfs throat. Ill just turn around here so I can get my sights on him. I got him. that sone dog that cant kill calves anyway. Ill let the other 2 get away

L: Is the calf alright?

V; Sure just a little rip on its throatis all. Itll heal in no time

L: Not before papa gets back

N: Waitng for her parents to return, one thing came clear to lucinda. She had to tell her father before he saw the calf, and that meant right away

Oh its good to be home. Ill have supper ready lither as soon aas youre done with the stock.

Cant be too soon for me, im mighty hungry

We couldnt get any sugar lu but we did get some honey. Lee terry found a bee tree

Why whats the matter child. You look sick

There was some trouble

Trouble! What kind of trouble

I went to sleep and the calf. I didnt mean to go to sleep

LC: Stop crying and tel me what happen

SC: Now dont cry dear, im sure it wasnt ur fault

Some indian dogs jumped the calf. its not hurt much. Mr v got there in time and shot one of the dogs and...

LC: Shot an indian dog? Reckless fool! I suppose it was secanums dog?

L: Yes

Oh no

did nt v know it was sec dog?

I didnt have time to tell him didnt know it was importand

LC: Important! I supposed a mans life isnt important to you

L dont

Go to be luc ill take care of you when I get back

Youre going to talk to him V?

If he is still alive

N: A long time later when her father still had not returned she saw her l crept from bed to the kitchen door. She saw her mother sitting by the table in the growing dusk. A musket accoss her knees. When her father returned l was still there huddled on the floor trying not to cry at what she heard

SC: So SCM didnt waste any time

LC: Thank god it was dusk and he miss sec isnt too good a shot

L: (whispering) Good oh goood

SC: Maybe he’ll keep missing

Id liek to think thta but van a was too reckless . one of these days he give sec too good a chance at him i terird to warn him but he said eh was shot once and he said if he was ever goign to be killed be indian lead if woul dhave been then

The fool

Is luc safe do you think?

Oh no danger therer SCM isnt stupid enough to kill a child even thought he isnt very bright. You see he know his cheif will portect him when he kill van a but if he killed child then his cheif would help us hang him. Lu is just dangerous to the rst of us like in this affair

She signed Van Asselts death warrant

This settlement is no place for a child

L: I dont mean to be dangerous

N: Let no one think lu wasn't a bright girl. pioneer life had mader her smarter by far than the average 12 year old. Her father was most certainly right. A homestead so close to an indian village was no place for a youngster. Not one as hounded by bad luck as was Lucinda it seemed for a time Her luck had changed when she slippe dout of her cabin at village and sped throught the forrest toward the indian village.

Stop what white child do here

I came to see you

Why

To Stop you from kill van a to a. To save your life.

SCM: SCM safe. Indian law saw i kill him when When he kill my dog. Go home!

The great spirit came to me last night. He sent me to tell you van A already has indian lead in his body . no indian can ever kill him.

Oh…. that not tru

SCM! You saying the great spirit would lie?

Great spirit speak in white mans language. SCM not understand good

You can understand this the great spirit says he guides van a bullets He is the best shot in all the word. cant miss

SCM: Oh. Crows? on wing?

Yes. Even crows on wing

SCM: Scm must see that . today he come to see great spitit guide bukllets. Bring cheif and many braves. All must

All must see if…. White girl lie

CROWS on the wing!

Van a couldnt hit a crow on a fencepost

But ive see you shoot a them on the wing papa

You father is much better shot than mr Van Asselt

And that bullett story about v not being killed. SCM would have to be stupid to believe that.

But you said he was stupid papa . you did say it

Now don't cry lucinda

Tell me werent you afraid of SCM

I was afraid but papa said SCM wouldn't dare hurt me. Last night in the kitchen I heard heard him

Papa said papa papa.

But you did say it

I think some chickens are coming home to roost luther

This is no laughing matter woman. A mans life is at stake it might be our own as well

Well there are other things more important than our lives. And one is love and trust of a very brave little girl

She has shown more love and trust than w have luther and i think its about time we showed some trust in her.

And just what do you mean by that

Ieamn just just this. If lU is sent back east, I go too.

You what

So lutehr collins you better get busy and fix that stupid SCM

And just who am i supposed to do that?

I dont know but if you really love us youll do it

Ahh! Women!

The indians are already in van meadowmomma. There mr v.

I see him lu

but where is papa did he really mean it when he said he was ogig to town

Dont worry lu

He isnt here. He doens love us enough to even help save mt v

N: LU and found a palce in the meadow by

then suddenly

No matter what you do I coudlnt stand to send you away

When her father returned trying not to dry with what

There is only one shot in the territory that good

Poppa! Wait for me!

Oh no he didnt see me