Mythology & Folklore

Story: Chinook Ghosts Story Source:  Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon , by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Ghosts, Source: Pexels Summary Plot: For some strange reason, the ghosts wanted to buy a wife. They bought Ioi, which was Blue Jay's sister. Blue Jay was a wise bird. Noticing that his sister was gone, after one year, he decided to go look for her. He asked all of the trees, "Where do people go when they die?" But they had no answer. He asked all of the birds the same question and they did not have the answer. At last, he asked his wedge and the wage told him that he would tell him if he received payment.  The wedge then took him to a village which was the land of the dead. He found Ioi there. Blue Jay saw all of the skulls and bones on the floor. One of them was Ioi's husband. When it grew dark the bones came to life and became ghosts. Blue jay began to sing, and the ghosts would turn back to...

Story: How Kemush Created the World Story Source: Myths and Legends of the Pacific Northwest, especially of Washington and Oregon , by Katharine Berry Judson (1910). Klamath Lake I really enjoyed this story because I am really interested in creation stories. There were other creation stories in this unit but this one got my attention better. I think it was because the story of Coyote and Silver-Fox did not make much sense to me. Plot Summary: In the beginning, Kemush, Old Man of the Ancients, created the world. Kemush sprung quickly from the ashes of the northern lights and made the world at the call of Morning Star. In the beginning, the earth was flat and bare. Kemush planted the grass and roots in the valleys. He set the trees, the pine, the white pine, the juniper. Kemush created the animals and placed them in the world. Kemush made the earth and the earth was new except Shapashkeni, the rock, where was built the lodge of Sun and Moon. Then Kemush, with his da...