A Wook's Tale
by Yanos
My name is Yanos. I am a Tree-Carer.
You may be wondering what a Tree Carer is. I am pleased to answer questions from aliens and Wooks alike and especially welcome the curiosity of refugee Wooks who have never lived on Kashyyyk. I am also saddened though. Not so long ago, most Wookiees would have had a close relationship with their Village Tree Carers and a reverence and understanding for their duties. Now, due to the devastation of war, oppression and enslavement of our people, many Wooks do not know their own heritage and most revered customs.
The role of the Tree Carer is vital to the Wookiee community, but, like many traditions, it can vary from tree to tree, and from village to village. Sometimes Tree Carers have been referred to as Wookiee Shaman or Wookiee priests.
Often, we act as a shaman or spiritual guide for our people. We maintain religious shrines and keep in close contact with the Forest Spirit. We help other Wookiees commune with the Forest and, in several cases, have worked to aid Wookiees who spiritually sever their Forest connection.
Tending to spiritual matters is only one aspect of the life of a Tree Carer. One of the most revered rites is the collection of Wroshyr seeds. The mighty Wroshyr sprouts seeds every hundred years. In preparation, the Tree Carers fast, meditate, and make offerings of fruit, purified water, meat from the fiercest creatures of the Shadowed Lands, and strands of our own fur and strands of fur from Wookiees from the community (ensuring the spirits of the Wooks continue to flourish and grow in the new seeds). As the time for the Seed Collection nears, the rest of the community begins to participate as well, leading up to a ceremony, feast, and celebration.
The seeds are cherished and used to plant new Wroshyrs. The Tree Carers watch over the seedlings, making sure they are safe and healthy. Sometimes Tree Carers from several villages will work together, taking turns caring for a sapling.
Another responsibility of the Tree Carer is to make sure the Wroshyr that holds the village remains strong and healthy. The village Tree Carers carefully chose the branches to be trimmed, for use in crafting or building. The Tree Carer also supervises the delicate extraction of Tree Blood (or sap, if you are an alien) for use in healing arts, cooking, and even drinking. Tree Blood is also crucial for many Wookiee ceremonies. Several times a year, the Tree Carers will make a thorough inspection of the tree, looking carefully for any problems. The Wroshyr and the Wookiee people are intertwined; one cannot flourish if the other does not.
One of my favorite parts of being a Tree Carer is spending time with the young Wookiees. Tree Carers visit the School Branch every chance they get, sharing our love and knowledge of Wroshyrs and heritage with little Wooks. We also always hope to find young Wooks who have a special spark of reverence for the Wroshyrs. When we find a Wookiee with an especially strong connection to the Forest, we make sure to nurture their ties, in hopes that someday that young Wook will become a Tree Carer.
And there is more, visiting the sick or elderly, presiding over Life Day ceremonies, and some Tree Carers even act as mediators in disputes. In short, the Tree Carer does what is needed to care for Wroshyrs and Wooks alike. I cherish every second of it.
But our world has changed. Villages are empty, Wooks go missing, and trees are injured. And even now, more aliens pour onto our planet, cold and uncaring for Wookiees, our beloved Wroshyrs, customs, plants, and creatures. What can we expect? Some of these aliens do not even seem to care for their own kind.
This is why I now live on the ground, on a foreign world.
I will not go into the details of the attack. There was so much bloodshed and horror. I do my best not to think of it. What I do remember, with perfect clarity, is each and every villager, friend, and family member. Froyyova, who was so proud of her hand sewn toy banthas. Every Wook in the village under 150 had a beloved toy bantha that had been crafted by her. Grozurra was the bravest hunter in the village. He had once brought down Stoneleg the walluga with his bare hands. Snolanna, who dyed her fur so often, she was a different color each time I saw her. Nawnik, who always had a joke ready to tell and a pint of Jaar ready to sip on. He spent his days healing ro-roos and other small creatures that fell victim to the random cruelties of the aliens. And there are so many others, captured, and caged. I remember every face. I remember our Wroshyr, every leaf, every branch.
I stayed as long as I could. I did not want to leave Kashyyyk. But, our Wroshyr was injured and could not survive. My fellow remaining villagers and I had to flee our home or become slaves. I suppose I could have hidden, lived in seclusion below the canopy. But, the other Wooks needed me. And I did not want anyone to forget the Forest Spirit that nourished and sustained us for so long. I have heard that a Tree Carer without a tree is half a Wookiee. I had once thought it to be true. But how could it be? We no longer live in Wroshyrs, yet I see the trees have rooted in the hearts of Gaaranta, Moya’, Gaarbacca and so many others. In the times we live in, I believe the Wookiee people need to learn about aliens, alien cultures, and make new allies, but also that we need to keep our beliefs and heritage strong if we are to be free.
I can even say that I am happy now, I am surrounded by good Wooks who relish the old stories, histories, and tales. We sing, dance, craft and hunt, just as we did in the Wroshyrs. We celebrate Life Day and other holidays. We have even shared celebrations with many friendly aliens. We live as free people… well, as freely as anyone can in this galaxy.
Best of all, even I have been surprised by resilience and hope that can live in a Wookiee. When many Wooks are forced to flee, they are able to gather only one or two precious items. Maybe a holo of a loved one, or an heirloom. In some cases, a seed or two from the Wroshyr that held their village.
When I first landed on Dantooine, I tried to go about my duties as Tree Carer as best I could, which mostly meant comforting devastated Wookiees, helping to find missing Wookiees, and making sure everyone got housing and food. Some recognized me as a Tree Carer. Wookiees who had come from all over Kashyyyk, from many different villages began telling me their stories. Many gave me the seeds from their home trees, telling me to take care of the seeds and make sure the saplings that contained the spirits of their Wroshyrs, villages and ancestors grew strong.
I do just that. Each and every seed is carefully planted and nurtured. I meet other refugee Wooks and teach them how to care for the saplings. Our spirits grow and thrive, just as the saplings do.
“Aoacwo cakahrcahao ooww aoacwo Woohiee ahc aoacwo scoocao akrcwooaahoohuc wwrchuahao aoacwo wwoorcwocao akrcoohoahwawoc.”
Yanos 1 ABY
Translation to Galactic Basic:
“The spirit of the Wookiee is the most precious fruit the Forest provides.”