The woman who was killed by a clam

Source: 
Tlingit Myths and Texts 
by John R. Swanton 
[Smithsonian Institution] 
Bureau of American Ethnology 
Bulletin 39 
Washington, 1909

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► Themes of the story

Sacrifice: The woman’s tragic death highlights the sacrifices individuals make during times of hardship, especially in the context of a famine where gathering food is perilous.

Loss and Renewal: The community’s mourning and the subsequent feast symbolize the cycle of loss and the attempts at renewal through communal rituals and offerings.

Sacred Spaces: The sea serves as a sacred space in this narrative, with the community offering tributes to the water, acknowledging its power and significance in their lives.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Sub-Arctic Region
    • Tlingit Lore

Learn more about the Tlingit people

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Myth recorded in English at Sitka, Alaska
January-April 1904

There was a famine at a certain town and many people had to depend on shellfish, so the women went down to the beach at low tide every day to gather them.

One time a chief’s daughter went down and reached far under a rock to find some clams. Then a large bivalve called xit closed upon her hand, holding her prisoner.

Presently the tide began to rise, and, when it had almost reached her, she began singing a song about herself. She kept on singing until the tide passed right over her.

Then all felt sad and held a feast for her at which they put food, blankets, and other things into the water.