Origin of the frog crest among the Kiksa’di

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

Origin of Things: The tale explains the origin of the frog crest among the Kiksa’di clan.

Mythical Creatures: The frog, producing a mysterious song, plays a central role in the story.

Sacred Objects: The frog becomes a symbol of significance for the Kiksa’di clan.

► From the same Region or People

• North America
  • Sub-Arctic Region
    • Tlingit Lore

Learn more about the Tlingit people

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The story was obtained at Sitka.

A married couple went from Sitka into Gaya’ bay, and camped at Ga’xgu-an. They were there for perhaps a month. One morning they started out hunting. Then they heard a song on Gaya’ bay. They listened. They did not hear plainly. [The man’s] wife said to him, “Do you hear it?” He said, “I hear the thing making a noise over there.” “Turn toward it,” they said. They went toward it and saw it. It was a little frog which the man let float down to his wife in the stern. He said, “It is for you.” So they brought it to Sitka. This is how the little frog’s song came to be known, and this is why the Kiksa’di claim the frog.