Natsilane facts for kids
Natsilane (pronounced noht-sy-KLAH-nay) is a brave human hero from the old stories of the Tlingit and Haida people. These groups live along the coast of the Pacific Northwest in North America. Natsilane is famous for his part in the "Blackfish" (or killer whale) creation myth. This story explains how the first killer whales came to be.
These ancient tales often show humans and animals living together peacefully. The animals are often seen as powerful, almost god-like beings. They are always called by special names, like "Raccoon" or "Raven." Other similar stories explain things like why Raccoon has rings on his tail or why Puma hides in the forest.
The Blackfish, or killer whale, is very important in Haida culture. It is also highly respected by the Tlingit people. This is because the Blackfish seems to have a special connection with humans. It is a very powerful force of nature. It can be deadly and scary to almost all creatures, but it is said to protect humans. The story of Natsilane tells us why this is so. There are many versions of the tale, but the main idea is always the same.
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The Story of Natsilane and the First Killer Whale
The story begins with a young warrior named Natsilane. He was very skilled, smart, and kind. Because of this, he was expected to become the next chief of his village. His brothers were very jealous of him. They made a plan to get rid of him.
One day, Natsilane's brothers took him fishing far out at sea. They went further from shore than ever before. When Natsilane started to worry, his brothers suddenly threw him overboard. Then, they rowed away, leaving him to drown.
Natsilane's Rescue and New Home
As Natsilane began to sink, a Sea otter found him and saved him. The Sea otter floated Natsilane to a large island. It told him that the mainland was too far away for it to help him get back. Instead, the Sea otter promised to look after Natsilane. It showed him the best places to hunt and fish on the island.
Once Natsilane was settled on his new island, the Sea otter gave him one last gift. It was a pouch full of seeds. The Sea otter told Natsilane to plant them. Natsilane did as he was told. Over the years, the seeds grew into many different kinds of trees. These trees are now common in the Pacific Northwest. Natsilane used wood from these trees to carve tools and build a boat.
Creating the First Blackfish
Natsilane wanted to thank the Sea otter. So, he decided to carve a new totem. He tried carving with wood from all the different trees. Finally, he chose a large yellow cedar tree. He carved a huge fish from it and left it on the shore for the Sea otter to find.
The next morning, Natsilane went to the shore. The carved fish was gone! Instead, swimming in the bay was the first Blackfish, the very first killer whale. With his new boat and supplies, Natsilane traveled back to his home village. The Blackfish guided him.
When he arrived, he found his brothers fishing again and arguing. Natsilane ordered the Blackfish to destroy their boat and drown his brothers. The killer whale did this right away. When the Blackfish returned, Natsilane gave it a new command. He said that from that day forward, the Blackfish must never harm a human again. He also said that if it found a human in trouble at sea, it must help them. Then, he sent the whale off into the ocean. Natsilane returned to his village, which his brothers had been terrorizing. He became the new chief.
Another Version of the Story
In a different version of the tale, Natsilane had married into a village far away. He was a very skilled carver and hunter. In this story, it was his wife's older brothers who were jealous and betrayed him.
During a sea lion hunt, Natsilane jumped onto a rocky island. He wounded a sea lion with his spear. Instead of helping him, his brothers-in-law did not follow. They left him stranded on the deserted island. The youngest brother-in-law, who looked up to Natsilane, protested, but it was no use. As night came, Natsilane began to freeze because he had no way to start a fire. Then, a sea lion, shaped like a man, rescued him.
It turned out that his rescuer was sent by the King of the sea lions. The King asked Natsilane to help save his son. Natsilane realized the King's son was the sea lion he had wounded during the hunt. He was able to pull the broken spear from the sea lion's side. This allowed the infected wound to drain. The King was overjoyed. He safely brought Natsilane back to his adopted village. Natsilane briefly reunited with his wife, who had thought he had drowned. She brought him his carving tools. Natsilane took them and went into the nearby forest. He camped in secret to plan his revenge.
Carving the Killer Whales
Natsilane first carved a Blackfish from spruce wood. He tested the carving in a series of four pools that led to a cove. It floated for a short time, then sank in the first pool. His second carving was from red cedar. This one leaped from the first pool to the second, but then it also sank. The third carving was from hemlock. This one leaped from the first and second pools, but sank in the third.
His fourth carving was from yellow cedar. This one successfully swam through all the pools and out to sea! Natsilane thanked the King of the sea lions. He then told the yellow cedar Blackfish to sink the canoe of his brothers-in-law, who had gone on another hunt. But he told it to spare the youngest brother-in-law.
After sinking the canoe, the Blackfish returned to Natsilane. Natsilane told it never to hurt another human. The youngest brother-in-law washed ashore in the cove. He eventually became the village chief after his father. As for Natsilane, he was never seen again. However, some people claim to have seen him riding two killer whales far out at sea.
Natsilane in Pop Culture
- A small human character in the animated Disney TV show Gargoyles is named Natsilane.
- A version of the Natsilane story (called 'Natsaclane') is told in the 1993 movie Free Willy.
