Two brothers flee after killing their stepfather, pursued by their vengeful mother. To hinder her, they throw various parts of a caribou behind them, each transforming into different terrains: caribou hair becomes herds, the stomach turns into boggy land, bones create rocky ground, and meat forms marshes and lakes. Finally, they throw fire-stones, which ignite and consume their mother. This tale explains the origin of the region’s diverse landscapes.
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 tale provides an explanation for natural features like mountains, valleys, and other terrains.
Conflict with Nature: The brothers create natural obstacles to evade their mother, highlighting a struggle against natural elements.
Family Dynamics: The narrative centers on the complex relationship between the brothers and their mother.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
Once two lads killed their step-father and then ran away. Their mother became distracted at the loss of her husband, and chased them, intending to kill them. She became possessed of extraordinary powers of speed, and soon drew near her sons, who were travelling on snowshoes and carrying caribou-meat. They threw some caribou-hair behind them, which at once became transformed into an immense herd of caribou that dotted the plateau so thickly, that their mother could not pass through them. She then transformed herself into something very small, and rolled through. Again she drew near; and the lads threw the contents of a caribou-stomach behind them, which changed into a boggy, mossy country full of thick brush. She surmounted this and came near again. They threw the stomach or tripe of the caribou behind them, and it became transformed into a piece of country with deep gulches, canyons, and valleys.
► Continue reading…
Again she came near; and they threw some caribou-bones behind them, which became transformed into a tract of very rough, rocky ground. Still she pursued them. They threw some meat of the caribou behind them, which changed into marshy ground and lakes. Finally they threw their fire-stones behind them. They changed into fire. Their mother ran into it and was burned up. Had it not been for these men throwing the parts of the caribou behind them, the country would now be level instead of rough with mountains, valleys, gulches, rocks, and brush, as it is now.
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