A powerful hunter with shamanistic abilities encounters a Duci’ne who attacks him. The hunter remains unharmed, and the Duci’ne, out of arrows, offers to become his protector in exchange for mercy. Following the Duci’ne’s advice, the hunter evades other Duci’ne hunters. When they eventually confront him, he kills them all, demonstrating his superior power.
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
Supernatural Beings: The Duci’ne represents a mythical creature interacting with the human protagonist.
Divine Intervention: The hunter’s shamanistic powers and guardian spirits suggest a connection to higher powers influencing mortal affairs.
Good vs. Evil: The confrontation between the hunter and the Duci’ne, followed by the hunter’s battle against the other Duci’ne, embodies the classic struggle between opposing forces.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about Tahltan people
There was a man who had many strong guardian-spirits. He was a great hunter, and had shamanistic powers. Once when he was hunting, he met a Duci’ne, who attacked him, thinking he would easily kill him. He shot one arrow after another at him; but the man simply shook himself, and the arrows passed by. At last the Duci’ne had no more arrows, and was now at the mercy of the hunter. He said to the latter, “If you spare me, I will be your protector. I shall talk to you, and you will talk to me, and I shall be able to help you.” He said to the man, “Now, to be safe, you must walk in the water of the creek a long distance on the road home; for there are many of my people around here, and, if they find your tracks, they will take your scent and run you down, as dogs do.” The hunter did as directed. When the Duci’ne reached his camp, the other people said he smelled different, and accused him of having killed a man.
► Continue reading…
He denied it; but the others would not believe, and put on their moccasins to go hunt up the man. The Duci’ne, who had returned, said, “You will find out that I have spoken the truth, for the man I met is not like other men. He is far more powerful.” They found where the man had made a fire when he talked with the Duci’ne, and where he had taken to the creek. They followed both banks, and at last caught up to him where he had left the water. They shot all their arrows at him, and missed him. The man then killed them all. An old Duci’ne was following up the others to pack in the man’s flesh; but when he came to his dead comrades, he turned back. When he reached camp, the other Duci’ne man said to him, “I told you, and now you see. The man has killed all those who hunted him.”
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