Gathering the Stories » Uncategorized

River Spirits: A journey “of place”

Haven — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 00:58:00 +0000

Drawing the cover for graphic novel project.

Drawing cover

Drafting first page.

Progress of first page.

ɬaxayam, from the GTS research team. Si & Bow

First page of text reads:
I wander here in dream, and relive the lore of old- slowly fading into calm waters of a once wild stream…

Many of us River People speak about still hearing those waters fall. Like a longing at the doors of our dreams..or a remembering we know in the beating of our hearts.

Amongst the joyful leaping of Salmon.

Up stream, Back home.

Chinook Jargon Greeting

Haven — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 19:37:59 +0000

Kloshe Konaway, ni-ka yah-hul Si Matta, Watɬlala Chinuk tum’ wa-ter Kopa Hiyu chuck. Kahta maika?

Greetings every one, my name is Si Matta, I am Watɬlala Chinuk (Cascade Indian), from the Cascades of the Columbia River. How are you?

A Timeless Vortex

Haven — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 22:36:10 +0000

The constant sounds of falling water and rustling winds make up much of the landscape of the Gorge.

Dog Creek Falls, Washington

The warm Pacific ‘Chinook Winds’ dropping their rains against the cold easterly draft of the Plains. I love being in that cold nip of winter, everything is bright and chill. I get lost in the language of falling water, often watching the afternoons fade into the waining of dusk. There is a vortex here, that makes time stand still.

The Legend of Tsagaglalal (She Who Watches)

Haven — Sat, 26 Oct 2013 07:17:16 +0000

A woman was chief of all who lived in this region. That was a long time before Coyote came up the river and changed things, and the people were not yet real people. After a time Coyote, in his travels came to this place and asked the inhabitants if they were living well or ill. They sent him to their chief who lived up in the rocks, where she could look down on the village and know what was going on.

Coyote climbed up to the house on the rocks and asked, “What kind of living do you give these people? Do you treat them well or are you one of those evil women?”

“I am teaching them to live well and build good houses,” she said.

Edward S. Curtis photo.

When she expressed her desire to be able to do this forever, he said, “Soon the world will change and women will no longer be chiefs.”

Being the trickster that he was, Coyote changed her into a rock with the command, “You shall stay here and watch over the people and the river forever.”