An elderly hunter named Xe’nda encounters mysterious beings who assist him in hunting caribou. Upon awakening, he finds only wolf tracks, realizing the wolves had aided him. They also teach him to craft shovel-nosed snowshoes, enhancing his hunting efficiency. This story explains the origin of the Tahltan’s “Wolf snowshoes.”
Source:
Tahltan Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.32, No.124, pp.198-250
April-June, 1917
Vol.34, No.133, pp.223-253
July-September, 1921
Vol.34, No.134, pp.335-356
October-December, 1921
► Themes of the story
Origin of Things: The narrative explains the origin of the “Wolf snowshoes” used by the Tahltan people.
Cunning and Deception: The wolves disguise themselves as humans to communicate with Xe’nda, imparting valuable knowledge.
Moral Lessons: The tale imparts lessons on humility, the importance of accepting help, and the value of adapting to new methods for survival.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
An old man called Xe’nda, and many people, were hunting caribou, but they could not kill any. They were starving, and became weak. Xe’nda went hunting one day, although he could hardly walk. He came on a long trail of fresh caribou-tracks, and followed it. After a while he came to where a number of snowshoe-tracks followed behind the caribou. He saw where the caribou had begun to jump, and the people had run after them. Soon he came on a dead caribou, then on another and another. He thought some of the people had killed them. He pressed on, and soon heard talking, and then saw a number of strange people beside some dead caribou. They called out in the Kaska language, “A man is coming!” and then invited him to come nearer. He asked them who had killed the game. They answered that they had. They lighted a fire, and cooked and ate the two caribou there.
► Continue reading…
They said to Xe’nda, “Your snowshoes are too narrow. You cannot run fast with them, and the caribou get away. If you use snowshoes like those we have, you will be able to travel better and get game.” They showed their snowshoes to Xe’nda, and further told him he could have all the caribou they had killed. Xe’nda thought he must have slept; and when he woke up, the fire was out, and two caribou-skins were lying there. He looked for tracks, and saw only wolf-tracks. He returned to camp, and on the way came to the caribou-carcasses he had first seen. He cut out some meat and took it along. He told the people that he had killed caribou, and the people went out at once to carry in the meat. When they got to the carcasses, they saw that the caribou had been killed by wolves, and they knew that the wolves had helped Xe’nda. After this, the people made snowshoes like those the Wolves had shown to Xe’nda, and they obtained more game. In this way did the Tahltan learn how to make the shovel-nosed snowshoes they now use; and this is why snowshoes of this kind are called “Wolf snowshoes”. The kind used by the Kaska are named “Moose snowshoes”. Both tribes used the same type of snowshoe formerly, but discarded them, and adopted each a different style.
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