An Australian travel writer touring Canada
was checking out of the Vancouver Hilton, and as he paid his bill said to the manager,
"By the way, what's with the Indian chief sitting in the lobby? He's been there ever
since I arrived."
"Oh that's 'Big Chief Forget-me
Not'," said the manager. "The hotel is built on an Indian reservation, and part
of the agreement is to allow the chief free use of the premises for the rest of his life.
He is known as 'Big Chief Forget-me Not' because of his phenomenal memory. He is 92 and
can remember the slightest details of his life."
The travel writer took this in, and as he
was waiting for his cab decided to put the chief's memory to the test.
"G'dye, myte!" said the Aussie,
receiving only a slight nod in return. "What did you have for brikfast on your 21st
birthdye?"
"Eggs," was the chief's instant
reply, without even looking up, and indeed the Aussie was impressed.
He went off on his travel writing
itinerary, right across to the east coast and back, telling others of Big Chief Forget-me
Not's great memory. One local noted to him that 'How' was a more appropriate greeting for
an Indian chief than 'G'dye myte.'
On his return to the Vancouver Hilton six
months later, he was surprised to see 'Big Chief Forget-me Not' still sitting in the
lobby, fully occupied with whittling away on a stick.
