3 minute read
Tolowa Dee-ni Story
Story Adapted by Sheryl "Suudaachu" Steinruck, December 2021
One night, Sk’vm' (Coyote) was lying on his back singing a Nee-dash shee-ne' (Dance Song). He began to notice how beautiful the Svn'-taa tr'e' (Star-girls) sparkled as they nee-ghaa-dash (danced) in the night sky. Sk’vm' could see how the abalone shells, naa-set, and their beautiful beads and necklaces glimmered and sparkled in the moonlight. Sk’vm' noticed that they danced all night long. When daylight came they disappeared. Sk’vm' thought he could dance with them during the night. And, during the daylight he would sleep and rest Svn'-taa-tr'e' as he thought they did. So, he made up his mind. He had to go up into the night sky and dance with the beautiful Svn'-taa-tr'e'.
Sk’vm'
Sk’vm' asked all of his friends to help him reach the Svn'-taa-tr'e'. His friends told him, "Don't be silly. You don’t belong up in the sky." That didn't matter to Sk’vm'. So, his friends said, "Well then. We'll help you." K'wee-t'a'srtr'e' (Spider woman) said she would spin him a web to shot him up into the sky. When the web was done all of his friends pulled back on the sling and let Sk’vm' go. To everyone's surprise Skvm'
Skvm' nee-dash. reached the Svn'-taa-tr'e'. The Svn'-taa-tr'e' grabbed onto his arms to keep him from falling back down to Nvn-nvst-'a~ (The-Earth).
Sk’vm' said, "This is nice." He loved dancing with these beautiful Svn'-taa-tr'e'. Sk’vm' told the Svn'-taa-tr'e', "I can do this until morning. Then I can stop to eat and sleep." The Svn'-taa-tr'e' said, "Oh, no, no, no. We never stop dancing. We dance all night and all day. If we don't keep dancing
K'wee-t'a’sr-tr'e'
we will fall from the sky and burn up." "Oh", Sk’vm' said. Sure enough when the sun came up they kept on dancing. They danced all day and all night. Day after day. The Svn'-taa-tr'e' held him tight and they kept on dancing. At first, Sk’vm' nudged and deliberately rubbed his arms against the beautiful Svn'-taa-tr'e' until his fur wore off to his elbows. Sk’vm' became very tired, thirsty, and hungry but they danced on and on. Pretty soon Sk’vm' was nothing but a rack of bones and he began to hang down between the Svn'-taa-tr'e'. They had to hold him tighter and tighter even when he asked to be let go. Finally, Sk’vm' said, "Just let me go. I'm so tired, hungry, and thirsty." The Svn'-taa-tr'e' said, "No. If we let go of you, you will fall to Nvn-nvst-'a~ and die." Sk’vm' said, "Well, I'm going to die anyway. Just let me go." So the Svn'-taa-tr'e' agreed and let Sk’vm' fall. By this time, Sk’vm' was barely alive. Sk’vm' tumbled down, down, down through the clouds. Some fattened Haa~-chu (Geese) were flying from their Grandmother's house in the South and were heading to their Grandfather's house in the North. Just then, Sk’vm' landed onto the back of a fat Haa~-chu. Because Sk’vm' was so hungry and thirsty this Haa~-chu smelled very tasty so he chewed on her neck. "Hey, stop it! What do you think you’re doing? Get off of me!" Haa~-chu knocked Sk’vm' off her back and flew on.
Haa~-chu Skvm' lhan!
Xwii-nee-dash.
Sk’vm' fell closer and closer to Nvn-nvst-'a~. By the time, Sk’vm' hit the ground he was nothing but skin and bones. On impact, his bones shattered and were scattered everywhere. That is why, to this day, that we have Sk’vm' living everywhere on Nvn-nvst-'a~. Hii-waa-sha~ (The End)
Submitted by: Sheryl “Suudaachu” Steinruck, Education Department Director, 707-487-9255, Ext. 1173
