Week 9 Reading Diary Continued: Origin of the Tribes

The Creation of the Tribes (Chinook) from the Pacific Northwest unit

I always find it fascinating  how Different Indian's have creation stories. From most of the creation stories I have read, they start with animals. I find it that this could be a reason why Indians respect animals so much. Maybe another reason why they see then as an equal, Instead of superior to.

In this creation story, it started out with a monster beaver and a coyote. In Lake Cleellum. They story is told of how animal people would try to fish in Cleellum but Wishpoosh the beaver would drag them down to the bottom of the lake.

One day the Coyote the wisest and cunningest of them all decided he would change this. He went fishing in the lake but his pole was no ordinary one. Coyote had fastened a spear to his wrist with a strong cord. When Wishpoosh attacked him the coyote speared the beaver. Then Wishpoosh dragged him to the bottom of the lake. Yet, the coyote would not go down without the fight for his life. The two had an epic battle. They fought and fought dragging each other through the water.

The two had fought so hard that they began to tear out the banks of the lake. Water began to rush through the mountains. With each stop, that coyote and Wishpoosh made a lake was formed. Then when they started back up again in motion a new bank was torn out. Water flew downstream. The water then rushed down to a meeting place, of the Yakima, the Snake, and the Columbia Rivers,

Coyote was beginning to get short of breath. He would not stop fighting, though. He had to take down Wwishpoosh. This is when coyote reminded himself of who he was, cunning and wise. Coyote turned himself into a branch. He drifted toward Wishpoosh and then he was swallowed. Once inside of Wishpoosh he changed back into a coyote. Coyote took his knife and cut the inside of Wishpoosh.

Coyote was very tired and Muscat came to help him. The two tore apart and Wishpoosh and threw the pieces over the land. The creation began with each piece.

From the Head of Wishpoosh Coyote made the Nez Perces- Great in Council 

From the arms, he made the Cayuses- Powerful with a bow and war club

From the legs he made the Klickitats- Famous runners 

From the ribs, he made the Chinooks- Short, fat people

Map of Nez Perce, found on Wikipedia

With each piece of Wishpoosh, the monster beaver coyote made a tribe. He created something that would level the playing field. He created the Tribes of the Pacific Northwest.

This story gave me some create ideas for when I rewrite my creation story of the Cherokee Indians for my storybook. It also started off with two animals in a fight. In this creation story, I liked how with each piece of the killed (sacrificed) animal something was created! There is never any waste.

Story from the Pacific Northwest unit: Origin of the Tribes by Katharine Berry Judson (1910)