Hupa traditional narratives facts for kids

The Hupa traditional narratives are a collection of myths, legends, and stories passed down through generations by the Na:tinixwe people. These people are also known as the Hupa tribe, along with the Chilula and Whilkut groups. They traditionally lived in the Trinity River basin in northwestern California. Today, many Hupa tribal members live on the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Reservation in Humboldt County, California. In 2023, the reservation had a population of 2,287, with the main town being Hoopa, California.

The Hupa people's oral stories are quite similar to those of their neighbors, the Karuk and Yurok, even though their languages are different. These stories are unique compared to many other California groups, but they share some connections with the traditions of the Northwest Coast of North America.

Hupa myths often explore a time before humans existed, when special spiritual beings called Kīxûnai were active. These Kīxûnai still influence the world today. Legends also tell stories from when humans lived, sometimes including religious characters. All these traditional stories have been translated into English from the original Hupa language.

Exploring Hupa Mythology

Hupa mythology includes many fascinating stories about the world and its creation. These myths can sometimes vary slightly from one village or family to another. The stories shared here are some of the most widely known and accepted versions.

Powerful Spirit Beings: Hupa Deities

The Hupa people have stories about powerful spirit beings, or deities, who shaped their world. These deities share some similarities with those of the neighboring Karuk and Yurok tribes, but also have their own unique characteristics.

• Yīmantūwiñyai is a spirit whose name means "the one who is lost across the ocean" or "old man over cross." He is seen as a combination of two Yurok deities: Wohpekumeu, who is known for being tricky, and Pelekukwerek, a heroic figure.
• Yidetūwiñyai means "the one lost to us from the north." This spirit is unique to Hupa stories and doesn't have direct matches in Yurok or Karuk mythology, though some believe he might have connections to stories from southern tribes.
• Yīnûkatsisdai translates to "in the south he lives" or "upstream he lives." This deity seems to be similar to the Yurok spirit called Megwomets.

Yīmantūwiñyai: Creator and Protector

In one important myth, Yīmantūwiñyai appeared in a special myth-place called Tcōxōltcwediñ when the land was covered in smoke. He created fire, and then the Kīxûnai spirits appeared. He also freed deer, Salmon, Eel, and surfish, which helped start the Klamath River.

Yīmantūwiñyai traveled south along the river, shaping the land by creating a lake and other important landmarks. He helped ensure safe births for people and protected them from dangers. He also shared baskets and taught the Kīxûnai how to fish. He showed people how to use soaproots (Chlorogalum) as food and identified important medicines like Hypericum scouleri and redwood sorrel (Oxalis oregana). He also brought different languages to the world. With help from birds, he gave the buzzard its bill and taught many other birds, like the largest Woodpecker, Crow, and Eagle, how to fly.

When smoke rose, signaling that humans were about to appear, the Kīxûnai spirits left for a world beyond the ocean. Yīmantūwiñyai wanted to make sure the world would be big enough for many generations of people. However, on his journey west, some mythical beings called Maiyōtel distracted him. Because of this, he couldn't make people live forever. Yīmantūwiñyai then returned to the south of Big Lagoon, where he created a special sweat-house for people to dance if there were problems with the ocean.

After humans appeared on the land, he traveled to the southern edge of the world. There he found Bluejay and a woman who would become Wintūn. Bluejay, calling him her nephew, asked about all the different kinds of people he had met and if he had shared meals with them, which he had. Finally, Yīmantūwiñyai went to the north world beyond the ocean, away from the human realm. He told his grandmother that he had created many medicines for the people.

Yidetūwiñyai: Spirit of Dance and Fortune

Some Hupa stories suggest that Yidetūwiñyai might be the same spirit as Yīmantūwiñyai. In one myth, he was born as a twin from the sun and the earth, becoming part of the ground we walk on. After living in the world, he became lost from humans when smoke rose to signal their arrival.

Yidetūwiñyai is connected to ten special dances. It is believed that he sometimes borrows dance regalia from homes in the valley at night and returns them in the morning. Young men who wish to become successful and acquire valuable dance items often pray to Yidetūwiñyai for his help.

Yīnûkatsisdai: Guardian of Plants and Food

Yīnûkatsisdai is the powerful spirit who controls the world of plants and vegetables. In his story, a woman found him as a baby inside a hollow tree. Later, another woman took him down the Klamath River, where he eventually became a rock near Big Lagoon.

He created all the trees and plants that humans use. Sometimes, when people didn't respect nature's gifts, he caused floods. Yīnûkatsisdai can also appear among people disguised as a young boy with a long beard, carrying a basket filled with acorns and other vegetables. If he sees people wasting food, he might cause a time of scarcity or famine. During such times, it is said that crows might try to get him to share the food he holds back.

The Tans: Deer Guardians of the Hills

Unlike the previous deities who live in a separate spirit realm, the Tans are powerful spirits who live close to humans, right within nature. They are known as the deer-tending gods and make their homes in the hills and ridges along the valley.

The Tans are cautious around strangers and often send spies, like spiders or small birds, to observe people. Hunters are expected to sing and pray to the Tans on their first night in the hunting grounds. If a hunter does not show this respect, the deer might be kept away, or the hunter might face difficulties. However, if a hunter sings and prays, the Tans will send a deer to stand still, making the hunt successful. It is believed that the deer's spirit watches to ensure its body is treated with respect and then reports back to the Tans.

Hupa Legends: Stories of People and Events

Hupa legends tell stories about people, historical events, and important cultural practices. These tales often explain how certain traditions began or share lessons about life.

The Boy Who Brought the World Renewal Dances

This legend explains the origin of the traditional World Renewal or ch'idilye dances, which are also performed by the Yurok and Karuk tribes. These dances are very important for maintaining balance in the physical and social world. They involve songs and dances meant to please the Kīxûnai spirits.

Two main dancing ceremonies take place over 10-day cycles, usually in August and September. The White Deerskin Dance travels downstream through the Hoopa Valley until it reaches Bald Hill. Ten days later, the Jump Dance is performed at Bald Hill.

These dances are said to have been inspired by a special boy who grew up in the xontah nikya:w (Big House) in the Ta'k'imlding (acorn-cooking place) village. He was a good boy with a gift for singing. One day, he disappeared into a cloud to join the Kīxûnai in the sky. Years later, he returned to his father to tell the people exactly where and when to perform the two dances. He promised to always be there, watching the Jump Dance from behind the fence.

Grandfather's Journey and Healing

Minnie Reeves, a Chilula woman who married into the Hupa family line, shared a legend about her grandfather. This story likely happened in the late 1850s or early 1860s, a time when there was much tension between settlers and the Hupa and Chilula people.

Minnie's grandmother became very ill, so the Chilula shaman sent her grandfather to find a respected Hoopa shaman. On their way back from Hoopa, her grandfather and the shaman encountered danger from a group of settlers on horseback. The shaman was lost, but her grandfather pretended to be hurt and then managed to drag himself to a nearby cedar-bark hunting shelter.

Concerned, the people from home went searching for him and found her grandfather, thinking he was gone. When they tried to move him, her grandfather suddenly awoke from his deep sleep. He shared a vision of a white Grizzly bear helping to heal his injury. He was then carried home and eventually recovered.

The Clever Woman's Return

This legend is one of many stories about raids on the peaceful Hupa people by groups from the south, sometimes called mining'wiltach' ('their faces-tattooed'). These raiders were likely the Yuki people or the Hayfork Wintu.

Long ago, during a Brush Dance in the Me'dilding village, a woman was taken away by a very handsome man. He brought her far away to his bark house, and she later gave birth to their son. The man would take the woman with him when he hunted, using a magic Jump Dance basket (na'wehch) that could instantly bring down deer.

Years later, the man set the basket down to pick up a deer. The woman quickly grabbed the basket and used its magic to overcome him and escape. By dawn, the man was no longer a threat. The woman retrieved her son and all the valuable items the man had collected. They traveled home for two days. This legend helps explain why there were wealthy families in the Me'dilding village.

The Mysterious Scratching

This legend comes from a popular type of story about mischievous spirits, which often relate to beliefs about unexplained bad events (k'ido: ngxwe). Generally, these spirits are said to visit old burial grounds, peer into houses, and bother people who are alone outside. They are known to cause trouble or bad luck. During this time, people often suspected others of causing such problems.

Long ago, during harvest season, a group of women camped in a bark hut to gather acorns. Once they had collected enough, the women headed home to get help from the men, leaving one woman behind with the acorns. On the first night, she heard a noise like an animal scratching on the hut. In the morning, she saw scratches next to where she had been sleeping, which made her think a spirit was bothering her.

That night, she cleverly placed a log with a blanket on top where she had slept before, and she sat hidden beside it. Again, she heard scratching in the middle of the night, and a hand reached in to take the log. The woman acted quickly and managed to stop the spirit by causing it to lose its grip. She traveled home in the morning. On her way, she found people mourning the death of the man who had been bothering her. She revealed what had happened, exposing him.

Hupa Tales: Lessons and Laughter

Hupa tales are often entertaining stories that were traditionally told by women and passed down from mothers to daughters. Because Hupa-Yurok society valued harmony and avoided causing arguments, these stories were often shared among women while they cracked acorns and cared for children, though men would often listen too.

Coyote and Frog

Coyote (the husband) and Frog (the wife) were a married couple. One night, Coyote disappeared for a long time before returning home. After an argument with Frog, he left again. Frog eventually found him at a Brush Dance.

Frog went home to make a special dance dress and then returned to the dance, taking a spot beside Coyote. Coyote, however, soon turned his attention to another girl who was dancing and sat down with her. He tried to trick her, but she cleverly avoided his schemes. Coyote became frustrated and realized she was k'yilk'ye•xe, a tricky spirit. He then galloped back home.