A small beaver, kept as a pet by the De’citan family, displayed remarkable intelligence, cleanliness, and even a knack for composing songs. After taking offense, it astonished its masters by singing like a human and fatally attacking one with a spear. The beaver’s actions, including undermining the earth beneath their house, led to its legendary status. The De’citan honor this tale through their beaver hat and songs.
Source:
Tlingit Myths and Texts
by John R. Swanton
[Smithsonian Institution]
Bureau of American Ethnology
Bulletin 39
Washington, 1909
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The beaver displays human-like characteristics, such as singing and using tools, indicating a transformation beyond its animal nature.
Trickster: The beaver’s cunning behavior, including undermining the earth beneath the house and deceiving its masters, aligns with the trickster archetype.
Supernatural Beings: The beaver’s extraordinary abilities and actions suggest it possesses supernatural qualities beyond that of a typical animal.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Tlingit people
Myth recorded in English at Wrangell, Alaska, in January-April 1904
Some people belonging to the De’citan family captured a small beaver, and, as it was cunning and very clean, they kept it as a pet. By and by, however, although it was well cared for, it took offense at something and began to compose songs.
Afterward one of the beaver’s masters went through the woods to a certain salmon creek and found two salmon-spear handles, beautifully worked, standing at the foot of a big tree. He carried these home, and, as soon as they were brought into the house, the beaver said, “That is my make.”
Then something was said that offended it again. Upon this the beaver began to sing just like a human being and surprised the people very much. While it was doing this it seized a spear and threw it straight through its master’s chest, killing him instantly.
► Continue reading…
Then it threw its tail down upon the ground and the earth on which that house stood dropped in. They found out afterward that the beaver had been digging out the earth under the camp so as to make a great hollow. It is from this story that the De’citan claim the beaver and have the beaver hat. They also have songs composed by the beaver.
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Dreamtime Whispers 