A lone tribesman, guided by a talking wolverine, is led to a steep riverbank where he feigns death and gains the upper hand. He springs up in the wolverine’s camp, slays its kin, and, in a final act of magic, throws his bloody phlegm at a tree, which transforms into pine wood for his arrows. The humbled wolverine concedes and lets the man go on his way.
Source:
Athabascan Myths
by Frank Russell
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.13, No.48, pp. 11-18
January-March, 1900
► Themes of the story
Origin of Things: The tale explains the origin of pine trees being used as arrow wood.
Supernatural Beings: The wolverine speaks and behaves with magical intent, guiding and testing the man.
Conflict with Nature: The man battles and overcomes a pack of wolverines in their own environment.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Slavey people
Told by Tenegorley. (Simpson, winter of 1897-98)
There were a number of Indians in a camp who went away one by one and were lost. At last only one remained, and he also decided to leave the camp. He soon encountered a wolverine, which said, “I know who you are; you will have to go before me.” As they went along they came out upon the river at a point where the bank was very steep. The wolverine said, “You must slide down.” So the Indian slid down the bank, and the wolverine ran around through a ravine. When the man reached the bottom, he caused his nose to bleed, and put some of the blood on a spear, and then laid down and feigned death. When the wolverine reached the spot where the man lay, he took him up and carried him to his camp across the river. After placing him in the middle of the camp he began to sharpen his knife. The man soon opened his eyes and looked for a stick; when he found a stick he sprang up and killed all the wolverines except one young one which ran up a tree. The man blew his nose and threw the phlegm at the tree, and it was transformed into a pine. The wolverine then said, “That will do for your arrows; now you must leave me alone.”
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Dreamtime Whispers 