Indigenous nations
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This is our collection of links to Haisla folktales and traditional stories that can be read online. We have indexed our Indian lore section by tribe to make them easier to locate; however, variants on the same legend are often told by American Indians from different tribes, especially if those tribes are kinfolk or neighbors to each other. In particular, though these legends come from the Haisla tribe, the traditional stories of related tribes like the Kwakiutl and Bella Bella are very similar.
The Transformer (also known as the Changer or Reformer):
A mythic figure common to many Northwestern tribes, who brought balance to the
world by using his powers to change people, animals, and the landscape into the forms they have today.
Raven:
Raven is the culture hero of the Haisla and other Northwest Coast tribes.
He is a benevolent figure who helps the people,
but at the same time, he is also a trickster spirit and many Haisla stories about Raven have to do with
his frivolous or poorly thought out behavior getting him into trouble.
Mink:
Mink is another Haisla trickster character. Indeed, some of Raven's more light-hearted adventures are sometimes told with
Mink as the protagonist instead. However, compared with Raven, Mink is a more negative character who primarily embodies
traits that are looked down upon by the Haisla people (greed, recklessness, arrogance, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor hygiene,
etc.) Haisla legends about Mink are often humorous, but also are cautionary tales about how not to behave.
Haisla Stories:Haisla Legends by Gordon Robinson:Haisla Living Landscapes:Tales of Kitamaat: Legends, Folk Stories and Customs of the Haisla People:
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