In a time when the Earth was flat and devoid of rain, snow, or wind, humans and animals were indistinguishable and suffered from scarcity. A father, unable to quench his son’s thirst, shot an arrow into a mound, releasing the world’s rivers. Seeking more, animals journeyed to the sky, releasing elements from a woman’s bags, introducing seasons and forming mountains.
Source:
Traditions of the Ts’ets’a’ut
by Franz Boas
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.9, No.35, pp. 257-268
October-December, 1896
Vol.10, No.36, pp. 35-48
January-March, 1897
► Themes of the story
Creation: The narrative explains the formation of mountains and the introduction of seasons, detailing how the previously flat and unchanging world transformed into one with varied landscapes and climatic cycles.
Origin of Things: It provides an account of how essential elements like rivers, rain, snow, and winds came into existence, attributing their origins to the actions of early beings and events.
Supernatural Beings: The story features anthropomorphic animals and a mystical figure, the goose woman (Xa txana), who possess knowledge and control over natural elements, influencing the world’s transformation.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Tsetsaut people
In the beginning there were no mountains. The earth was level, and covered with grass and shrubs. There was no rain, no snow, and no wind. The sun was shining all the time. Men and animals were not distinct yet. They were in dire distress. They had little to eat and nothing to drink. Once upon a time a man made a bow for his son, who was asleep. When the child awoke it cried for thirst, but his father was unable to give him any water. He offered his son grease to drink, but he refused it. Then the father gave him the bow in order to quiet him, but the boy continued to cry. Now the father took the bow, and shot the arrow into a small mound of dirt that was next to the fire. When the arrow entered it a spring of water came forth, and the boy drank. From it sprang all the rivers of the world.
► Continue reading…
But there was no rain and no snow. The animals held a council, and considered how to procure them. They resolved to go to the end of the world, to make a hole through the sky, and to climb up through it. They did so. When they reached the end of the world all the animals tried to tear the sky, but they were unable to do so. All had tried except two ermines. One of them jumped up, struck the sky, and tore it. The other ran through the hole, and then all the animals helped to enlarge it. They climbed up through it, but when all had passed the hole closed again. They were on a large, beautiful prairie, and walked on. After they had gone some time, they saw a lodge in the far distance. They reached it and entered. There were many bags in the house. One contained the rain, another one the snow, a third one the fog, and still others the gales and the four winds. The men sat down and debated what to do. Only a woman was in the house. Her name was Xa txana (goose woman). They said to her: “It is dry and hot on earth. We have nothing to eat, and nothing to drink. Give us what we need, for you are keeping it in your house.” The goose woman replied: “All that you need is in these bags: rain and snow, the winds, the gale, and the fog. If you tear them, it will be winter. The North wind will blow. It will be cold, and the ground will be covered with snow. Then the snow will melt, the West wind will blow, and trees and shrubs will bloom and bear fruit. Then another season of snows and cold will follow.”
Now the people tore the bags, and it happened as the woman had predicted. Clouds began to gather, and snow was falling. At the same time the level ground changed its form, and mountains arose. Then the animals went back. Again the ermine tore the sky, and all went down. Then the animals ran into the woods and separated from man.
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Dreamtime Whispers 