Many of the Indians tribes of the Northwest and beyond had myths and legends dealing with salmon. The following summaries are some examples of these stories. If you want to read the "real" legends, please refer to the bibliographical information.
This story is about a chief that is so attached to his daughter that he does not want her to leave, but he understands that she has to go someday, so what he does is he sets up a contest. This contest was to see who could break the antlers off a deer. The Snail, Squirrel, Otter, Beaver, Wolf, Bear, and Panther could not break them off. If you want to know who broke them off read this wonderful story.
"After repeated taunts from the tricky bird, the creature rose, shook itself, and became whole and clean and very good to look upon, and the assembled company saw that it was the Salmon."
Spence, Lewis. Myths and Legends of the North American Indians."The Story of the Salmon." New York, New York: Multimedia Publishing Corp., 1975. pp. 282-283.
Salmon's father is killed. While taking a bath in a magic pool, a spirit told him who had killed his father. To find out who killed Salmon's father and what he does about it, read the legend.
"The Salmon shot an arrow towards the forest, and the forest went on fire. He shot an arrow towards the prairie, and it also caught fire."
Spence, Lewis. Myths and Legends of the North American Indians. "Salmon's Magic Bath." New York, New York: Multimedia Publishing Corp., 1975 pp.284.
This story is about God making the earth and the creatures on it. While he is making the earth he told his most trusted friend, the Wolf, to make a creature big enough to rule the water and land. When the wolf went to make this creature, he thought to himself, "If I make this creature it will rule me too!" So what he did was to make a fish, the Salmon. The wolf knew that once the God saw this fish, he would eat it and that he, the wolf would be the king of the land and water. If you want to find out if the king went with his plan read this great legend.
"It was spectacular and exciting, and they did not think about the cruelty to the salmon, or the waste of good food fish. The elders as usual protested and as usual the young people took no notice."
Burland, Cottie. North American Indian Mythology The Wolf Clan and the Salmon. New York, New York: Peter Bedrich Books, 1985 pp. 33-34.
This story is about a chief that had an awful dream that really disturbed him. He called his council people and asked them what this dream had meant. He finally figured out what it had meant. If you want to find out what the dream was, read this story.
"My white brothers and sisters, I had a distrubing dream a week ago. I have spent many days trying to figure out what it means. Finally, I have figured it out."
Burland, Cottie. North American Indian Mythology. Words From The Wise Ones. New York, New York: Peter Bedrich Books, 1985
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