That could have as well been spelled mist-ic this week as the clouds hung low over the valleys and sat on top the hills. We don't often see traditional white Christmases in northwestern Oregon, but we do see a lot of white through frost or fog.The fog can
be so thick at night that it's like pea soup, but the day before Christmas, it was light, serving as a reminder of the mystic feeling of the coastal range where I live. The hills are broken by river valleys that sometimes run west directly into the Pacific Ocean. One hill over, they might flow east to larger rivers that head for the Pacific by a different route. These hills, from northern California up into Canada, are the fertile soil for many myths of the Native Americans who first lived here (First Nation as they are called today in Canada).When the Luckiamute band of the Kalipuya peoples lived in the area I now call
home, cedar forests towered over the land (where the people had not burned them off to enable the Camas roots, berries and other foods they depended on to grow).Some would build cedar longhouses; and in them, the people would sit around the edges and watch as storytellers with wonderful robes and masks retold the myths of how their people came to be and of the dangers that lay beyond the firelight.
There were stories of Big Foot throughout these hills, but also a wild woman. Dzunuk-wa was a creature of huge size with a black hairy body twice the size of a human and red eyes that glowed. Her lips are shown pursed in the masks that are still made to depict her. "Uh, huu, uu, uu," the people would hear in the distance and know that the one, who came with a basket on her back t
o steal away children and eat them, was nearby. The children always outwitted her due to her poor eyesight, but she had powerful knowledge of the forest where she dwelt and was much respected-- and feared. Was she a female Big Foot? Who knows...She is only one of the many inspirations for carved masks that depict the myths of the people, myths intended to teach people (as they are with most Native American stories) the wisdom they need to survive in a world that could be dangerous to those who were ignorant and unwary.
(There are many images of the Wild Woman in museums and shops in the Northwest. This image came from Free Spirit Gallery.)
18 comments:
You live in a fascinating area Rain...and with so much History....I LOVE those Masks....kind of scary woman, I guess, but the last mask is very beautiful!
Hope your Holiday was a lovely one....And that 2007 will be a GREAT year for you & yours!
I love the myths, mists, and mystics of the northwest. The coast range is so beautiful for a thousand miles, hugging the Pacific ocean. We've been having fog here too lately, and sometimes the tips of the Olympics peek through. It's nice to be reminded of what is often hidden.
Wow I had not heard of her. but the sounds she makes sounds like an owl!
Yep we certainly do live in a MIST-ic area! I can'e see the olympics today, but I can quite a lot, through the mist and fog!
I think I have come upon a kindred spirit here....I shall return as a reader. I too love the mist, and the legends of the Natives of the Pacific Northwest
Yours is a very understanding view of the Indian myths about our mist- ic valleys here in Oregon. The misty dark photos suggest spirits. Don't they? Myths similar to the American Indian scary woman might be lurking in our dreams somewhere?
I loved hearing the stories of the Native Americans who lived where you live now. Up in Washington and in Canada, you see so many of these masks. We told our share of family stories at dinner last night, with the teenagers groaning and saying they have heard them thousands of time. Your photos are wonderful, Rain. I'm glad you had a nice Christmas. How I wish you lived closer so we could sit over tea and swap stories. And who knows? Maybe we will meet one day.
The NW is a lovely area-I lived in Washington for a few years-but there are myths and shamans et al all over the world. Plus there are a lot of people who make myths more than myths and take it to ridiculous extremes. Sometimes a good dose of reality is the best elixir!
Looks like you have been busy. Merry late Christmas. I have been in Mexico on a cruise looking for warmer weather. Glad to hear the flood wasnt too bad although with the current storms you might be having another one. A late comment on Christmas newsletters. I like getting them although we joke about some of our friends that send out 2 pages of number 8 font type. Maybe going a little overboard there.
The northwest is an amazing area in that during the various parts of the year you can find almost every type of landscape and weather here someplace. It is indeed a good place to live but I really think all places have their positive points. This one is just ours.
Seems every area has their legends and stories. I often wonder the history of such things. Who was the first to begin the tale and what did they base it on.
Being in Florida, I only can imagine so much of what you describe. But you descriptions are so complete that my imagination takes hold.
Kind of interesting, my verification word ends in "hu".
zYour area does indeed sound very mystical and filled with energy. I love the stories of myths, so thanks for sharing.
Just as our landscape and weather are similar, so are our myths. Perhaps because we both live in the coastal range. It is so lovely.
Do you get totem poles and Raven stories or are you too far south for that?
On Christmas day we took the back roads avoiding Interstate Highway 5. We were delighted when we sighted ravens. I know little of the local myths. So my memory needs to be checked. As I recall when the male Indians became men they climbed the highest peak here and fasted until they saw visions of their animal spirit which they added to their name. Some saw the raven spirit as their own. These days people might think the Indian right of passage was ignorant. But if you go out by yourself in this country, you will feel frail and may look for strength in some other ritual.
The only Native American totem poles that I know still exist are up in the Puget Sound and north. There are totem poles down here now but they are either at the home of artists or for tourists. I don't think the Native Americans in this area made them as I think they traveled a circuit. I am not sure if any did in the Columbia River region, but mostly I think it was a thing from peoples north of us.
and thanks everyone for your comments and additional information. That's the beauty of blogging that we write something and then others add to it
I enjoy reading through a post that will make people think.
Also, thank you for allowing for me to comment!
I am always glad to see new readers and as long as they aren't selling something unrelated to the subject, I'm happy to moderate :)
Yes! Finally something about dennisjokes.
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