Tsimshian mythology facts for kids

Tsimshian mythology tells the amazing stories of the Tsimshian people. They are an Indigenous group living in British Columbia, Canada, and also a Native American tribe in Alaska, United States. Most Tsimshian people live in British Columbia.

Tsimshian myths are traditional tales passed down by speaking, not writing. These stories are divided into two main types. An adaawx is a "true telling" about animal spirits who appear as humans. These stories often explain how the Earth and its people came to be. A malesk is an adventure or history story. Its main purpose is to entertain, not to explain how things started.

A very important spirit in Tsimshian mythology is the Raven. He is known as We-gyet or Txamsem. Txamsem has a brother named Logobola. Logobola is believed to be the reason why there isn't always fresh, clear water. He is also linked to the fog where Txamsem once got lost.

The Raven: Creator and Trickster

The Raven, called Txamsem or Giant, is a main character in Tsimshian mythology. He is part of the Raven Tales shared by many indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The Raven is seen as the one who created the world. He also acts as a link between the physical world we see and the spirit world.

How the Raven Came to Be

Tsimshian creation myths say that the universe was once dark and still. It was filled with many animal spirits. In one story, an animal chief had a son who became sick and died. His body was burned. The next day, a new, bright boy appeared in the bed. He was "bright as fire" in the darkness. The chief adopted this boy.

At first, the boy did not eat. But some slave spirits tricked him into eating scabs. This made the boy incredibly hungry. He started eating so much that the chief and villagers sent him away. They gave him a special raven blanket. The boy left and then became the Raven.

Raven's Adventures and Tricks

When Raven arrived on the mainland, he was extremely hungry. He caused many problems for the people he met. In different parts of the myth, he acts as a trickster. For example, he once created a slave from rotten wood. Then he pretended to be a king and visited a village. The villagers asked the slave to invite Raven for dinner. But the slave said Raven was not hungry and ate all the food himself. Raven then built a bridge from cabbage. As the slave crossed, he fell to his death. Raven went down into the valley to eat the food from the dead slave's stomach.

Raven's Generosity and Creation

As Raven continued his journey, he started to become more generous. He decided to host a potlatch. This is a special feast where he shared food with many guests. As he spoke during the potlatch, he wished that everyone would turn to stone. And they did! This act gave shape to a world that was previously just spirits and ideas.

Images for kids

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  Tsimshian ceremonial club of carved antler bone, circa 1750. The head carved at top of the club may be the first owner of the Wolf crest, carved on the projecting tine. The club may have been used by Tsimshian shamans in religious ceremonials.