October

Right between the lazy days of summer and the chilly days of autumn, there’s a time when the days are sunny and warm, but the nights are crisp and cool. It’s called Indian Summer. The green leaves of summer begin to change their hue to yellow, orange, and burnt red; pumpkins and maize ripen in the fields. The name also serves to remind us of the days when Native Americans harvested nature’s bountiful array of nuts, fruits, and vegetables; fished its clear running rivers for salmon and trout; hunted the herds of wild buffalo; and stalked the mountains for bear, moose, and deer. Nature had blessed these people with everything they needed just before the winter snows began to fall in Indian Summer. And the people respected and nurtured nature’s gifts throughout the year in return.