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 |  | Monday November 23, 2009 2:41 AM |
 | | Native American Myths and Legends | |
how Coyote started a ditch for the salmon around Spokane falls
When I first saw where the falls in the Spokane River are, many
years ago, there were some houses started in town. The Coyote
dog caught a lot of salmon there at the falls because the salmon
couldn't get over them. The Indians used to camp at Peaceful
Valley and catch salmon at the falls, too. They would dry the
fish after spearing or hooking them.
Coyote went up to Coeur d'Alene,
for the Spokane River runs from Coeur d' Alene Lake. He
found a nice looking woman and said he wanted to marry her. She
said, "I think I will marry you." Coyote said, "If you do, I
will go and dig around the falls so the salmon can come up the
river to Coeur d'Alene. Her folks were glad the salmon would be
coming up the river. Coyote came back and dug and dug around the
falls so the salmon could come up the river. (I saw where he dug
around them.)
Coyote decided to go back again and ask if the
maiden would really marry him. So he went. She told him, "No, I
don't want you. " So Coyote went back and he quit digging. And
that's how he left it there.
And no salmon can come up the river.
(Inland Northwest - Spokane)
As told by Margaret Adams.
Margaret Adams was an Upper Spokane, who moved with her family to
the Coeur d'Alene Reservation according to the Agreement of 1887.
from Children of the Sun - A History of the Spokane Indians
by David C. Wynecoop, Wellpinit, Washington © 1969
Last Updated
December 23, 2004
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