The woman eventually gave birth to a tiny whale who was much beloved by everyone in the tribe. He followed the boat''s wake, and soon caught up to the pair on the village shore where many people arrived to stab Keiko to death. When the whale awoke, he saw his wife was gone. Sing to him now, that he may rest.' So she sang a lullaby, and Keiko slept. Finally, the brother whispered to his sister, 'your husband has eaten too much. The brother ate little, while beckoning Keiko to eat more than his share. She swam to the cliffs to gather eggs and birds for a feast to serve their guest.
His wife had grown fond of him, and now she tried to calm Keiko. Keiko became frightened when the boat stopped directly over his home. The woman''s brother was bound to preserve his family honor so he built a boat and sailed out to rescue her. The spirit in the skull eventually pulled her out to sea where it turned into a beluga whale, named Keiko, who made the woman his wife. A young maiden left her village one day searching for bird eggs, and returned with a whale skull which she wore like a hat. Beaver reminds us that we have to act on our dreams to make them a reality.Ī myth told by traditio nal people across the Arctic describes a totemic marriage between a woman and a beluga whale. She became covered with brown fur, her apron turned into a tail, and thus she became the first beaver. The pool became a lake and because of scolding words from her husband, she refused to leave it. As she swam, her leather apron kept slapping the water.
She dammed a small stream to make a pool for swimming. One legend tells of the origin of the beaver being a woman with brown hair. Beaver is an important crest and the subject of many legends. Also known as the carpenter of the animal kingdom, a builder of dreams.
When killed, it was taken to the chief's house, sprinkled with eagle down (a symbol of welcome and friendship) and generally treated as a high ranking guest.Ĭ reative, Artistic and Determined. Due to its power and human-like qualities, the bear was referred to by West Coast people as Elder Kinsmen. As a symbol of great strength, authority and mobility it is an important family crest. Bear is the protector of the animal kingdom, awakening the power of the unconscious. Strength, Learned Humility, Motherhood and Teaching.