A girl, ostracized for relations with a dog, bore three pups. Discovering her sons’ incest with their sister, she led the family north. While crossing the river, they transformed into stone: the three siblings became the rocks, with the smallest downstream, and the parents became rocks on opposite riverbanks.
Source:
Two Tahltan Traditions
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
vol.22, no.85, pp.314-318
July-September, 1909
► Themes of the story
Transformation: The family members undergo a physical change, turning into stone formations.
Divine Punishment: The transformation into rocks can be interpreted as a form of retribution for transgressions.
Origin of Things: The story provides an explanation for the existence of the “Three Sister Rocks” in the Stikine River.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
There are three large rocks in the Stikine River between Glenora and Telegraph Creek, known to the whites as “Three Sister Rocks.” The Tahltan tell the following story of their origin. Once a long time ago in the Tahltan country a number of people were living together. A girl of one family was discovered to have had connection with a dog, and this made her relatives and the other people so ashamed that they deserted her. After they had gone, she and the dog lived together as husband and wife. After a time she gave birth to three pups, — two males and a female. When they had grown to be big, the mother suspected the boys of having connection with their sister, and to make certain of this she smeared gum on the girl’s hands at bedtime.
► Continue reading…
Next morning she discovered the marks of their sister’s hands on the backs of both the boys. This confirmed her suspicions. She then left home with her husband and children, and journeyed north. Reaching the Stikine River, she crossed over to the north side, and then asked the children to follow. They crossed one above another in the stream, all holding hands. The father stayed on the south bank of the river and watched them. The youngest boy was downstream, his elder brother farthest upstream, their sister being between them. When they were in the middle of the river, their mother called to them to let go the youngest. They did as directed, the current taking him downstream. At the same time the other two disjoined hands; and immediately the whole group, including the parents, were transformed into stone. The dog-children now form the rocks in the river known as “The Three Sisters.” The smallest rock is more detached and farther downstream. The rocks on each side of the river opposite are the Dog and the Woman.
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