Kwakiutl Whale Jacque. M. Blackwell

I, the mighty whale, give warmth and food to the Kwakiutl, people of the great water. As the men push their sixty-man canoes, through the surf, I lead them with a humongous splash to best fishing. From the shore, the tall, cedar trees wave their thick branches in the west wind.

Fierce and tempestuous, the Kwakiutl fight my brother, the dashing waves as they struggle to bring their nets full of salmon onto the rocky shore. Proudly and loudly, I will sing the song of the Kwakiutl.

Working outside, the towering men hunt elk in the cold, misty forest Working outside, the towering men hunt elk in the cold, misty forest. Feminine and generous, the women weave soft clothes for their families from cedar bark. Happily and thankfully, the children gather juicy blueberries by the rapid stream.

From a burning cedar, the men scrape the inside of a glowing log for a solid canoe. Wisely and intelligently, the women cook tender deer over the blazing campfire. Polite and splendid, the children help clean the plank campfire. Polite and splendid, the children help clean the plank houses facing the ocean.

Irate and perturbed, the Kwakiutl, my people, spot white clouds on my brother the roaring sea. My sister, the massive, gray rocks, block their passage to our joyful village. Running toward the shore, the Kwakiutl watch the gigantic canoes carrying white men with face like bear.

Unable to land their canoes, these men left the cold, blue water of the Kwakiutl tribe for a season. Around the flaming fire, my people celebrate with skin drums and wild dancing at their potlaches.

Today my people, the Kwakiutl, strive as fisherman in the great troubled water. Working in the forest, they cut down my friend the cedar to make houses for the white man. Tanned and hard working, many Kwakiutl still live in the land of their fathers.

Slowly and cheerfully, most children go to the white man’s school Slowly and cheerfully, most children go to the white man’s school. At powwow, all of the Kwakiutl still celebrate the potlatch of their forefathers.

I, the strong whale predict many good things for my tribe, the Kwakiutl. Knowledgeable and superior, my people will maintain the traditions of their elders. Excellently and splendidly , their native language will never disappear.

From the ocean, I, the mighty whale, will provide food and warmth for my people, children of the cedar. This is the legend of the Kwakiutl tribe, people of the whale, my people.