The Singing Scoutmaster: Birth of the Chinook People, The

Long ago, when the world was still young, Talapas, the great Creator, looked upon the Earth and breathed life into it. The land began to flourish with plants and trees, and soon, the Earth was covered with green forests and flowing rivers. Satisfied with his work, Talapas decided it was time to bring more life to the world.

Talapas called upon the spirits of the animals—the Totem Spirits—to take form and roam the land. Bears, wolves, eagles, and all the others appeared, filling the world with their presence and wisdom. The Earth Mother embraced them, and they lived in harmony. But Talapas wanted more. He wanted to create beings that would walk upright, beings who could speak and carry on the stories of the Earth.

To do this, Talapas summoned T'soona, the mighty Thunderbird. He gave him a special task. "Fly to the other place and gather the sacred eggs," he said. "Carry them back to the top of Kaheese, the mountain that stands near the Yakaitl-Wimakl, the great Columbia River. These eggs will hatch into a new people—the Chinook—who will be strong, wise, and noble."

T'soona flapped his powerful wings and soared high into the sky. He traveled far, crossing the clouds and the stars until he reached the other place. There, he carefully collected the sacred eggs and brought them back to the Earth. As instructed, T'soona placed them on the peak of Kaheese, where they glistened under the watchful eye of the sun.

But danger lurked nearby. The Old Giantess, a jealous and spiteful spirit, saw the eggs and grew envious. She knew they were meant to create a powerful new people, and she did not want this to happen. Determined to stop it, she climbed up the mountain and began to break the eggs, one by one. As each egg shattered, the Giantess cackled, thinking she had thwarted Talapas's plan.

High above, the Thunderbird saw what was happening. With a shriek that shook the heavens, T'soona dove down from Otelagh, the sun, his wings crackling with thunder and lightning. The sky darkened, and fire erupted as he chased the Old Giantess across the mountain. With a mighty flash of lightning, T'soona consumed her in flames, leaving nothing but a pile of ash blowing in the wind.

Thunderbird returned to the peak of Kaheese and looked at the eggs. Some had been destroyed, but a few remained intact, glowing softly. Slowly, the eggs began to crack open, and from them emerged the first people of the Chinook. They stood tall and proud, the children of the Earth, blessed by Talapas and protected by T'soona, the Thunderbird.

From that day on, the Chinook people lived in the lands near the great Columbia River, strong and wise, just as Talapas had envisioned. They honored the spirits of the Earth and sky, and the Thunderbird continued to watch over them, soaring high above, a reminder of the power that had brought them into being.

The Chinook people remember the story of their birth and the sacrifice made by Thunderbird to protect them. Whenever they see the great bird's shadow pass over the land, they know it is a sign that they are watched over, guided, and protected by the spirits of their ancestors and the mighty Thunderbird.