Kwakiutl Legends

by Chief James Wallas, Pamela Whitaker (Collaborator)

The stories in this book relate the traditional tales which Mr James Wallas has learned from his elders, who lived in Quatsino Sound and on Hope Island. Mr. Wallas's forefathers are members of a people known generally as the Kwakiutl, although the term is misleading because it originally referred to a sub-group living at Fort Rupert. The Kwakiutl inhabit an area which at present includes Campbell River at the southern extreme, Quatsino Sound at the western extreme, various inlets of mainland BC at the eastern extreme, and Smiths Inlet at the northern extreme. Traditionally, the Kwakiutl lived in villages located in this general area (excluding Campbell River an Cape Mudge) which were organised into tribes. Today, most of them live on reserves near towns, maintaining some remote villages for food preparation and preserving during the spring, summer and fall.

Genres: Indigenous, Mythology, Native American

200 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1982

Reviews

[Jacqui · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really fun quick read steeped in history. I was pleasantly surprised to find a section on Bigfoot legends. I looked into it briefly - Apparently these tales are common in many PNW tribes!

[Nathan Dehoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one to see if I could find any more information on the Dzunukwa, a being I saw referenced online. The Kwakiutl are a First Nations group native to the Pacific coast in southwestern Canada, including Vancouver Island. While I'm no expert, I've noticed that collections of Native American mythology that I've read tend to contain what are basically fables. They're short, animals talk, one animal often stands in for its entire species, and there's nothing that weird about a human marrying a killer whale. One story involves a mink (called Made-Like-the-Sun) has trouble finding a wife, and tries marrying several different inanimate objects. There are some thunderbird stories, and one denouncing dog fighting. Another is about a man who's partially made of sunshine. A legend about the discovery of fire has a deer taking it from the only man who has access to it, and that's why the hair between a deer's legs smells like smoke. I guess I've gotten a little more used to epic tales from European mythology, but even there they're more the exception and didn't exist until after centuries of oral storytelling.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories and legends recounted are numerous and brief. I find them sweetly charming. Raven has always been my favorite character in the North Coast Indian legends, the visibility of feathers under his infant skin hooked me. I am happy to have chanced on this book while traveling in the Pacific Northwest. The Edward S. Curtis' photos are fascinating but a little difficult to read - full page reproductions would have been helpful.

[Susan]

Folk stories from the Vancouver islands as told to Pamela Whitaker by Kwakiutl Chief, James Wallas (Ne mug w is).

The book is split into sections based on the dominate character in each story (Whale, Mink, Raven, Deer,. as well as Cannibal and the Bigfoot precursor 'Giant of the Woods'). Photos from Edward S. Curtis of Kwakiutl villages punctuate each section.

My favorite story was the one about Mink's multiple marriages. I hope all is well with Mink and his current Lizard wife.

I also hope Vancouver's Museum returns Chief Wallis' family totem rainbow to the grave of his nephew. This is another case of historians stepping over the bounds of decency in order to nab an artifact for their collections.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good collection of legends of the Kwakiutl from the Pacific Northwest. It has a wide range of stories -- creation stories, raven stories, thunderbird and mink and deer and whale and other stories. I stumbled on this book and am very glad to have found it.