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Rabbit and Jackrabbit are brothers. Rabbit lives in the mountains around what would become DeSmet. Jackrabbit lives out toward the Big Bend country of what would become central Washington. The winter is hard and cold. Rabbit worries about Jackrabbit, "He must be cold." Jackrabbit worries about Rabbit, "He must not have anything to eat." So each brother packs his backpack with gifts for the other. The Rabbit packs pitch to start a fire, while Jackrabbit puts camas and bitterroots in his pack. Each starts out toward the home of the other. Each comes to a mountain, we call it Tts’achalqs (Tekoa Mountain), and climbs to its ridge. There Rabbit and Jackrabbit see each other and ask, "How are you doing? I thought you would be freezing." "How are you doing? I thought you would be starving." "No, I am fine, with plenty to warm me." "I am fine as well, with good food." So they throw the things in their packs onto the mountain and go back to their homes. Camas and pitch have remained on and around Tekoa Mountain ever since. (Abbreviated from Frey, Landscape Traveled by Coyote and Crane, University of Washington Press, 2001:112; originally told by Dorothy Nicodemus in 1927, Lawrence's grandmother.)
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Freezeout - Listen as Felix Aripa tells of the preparations made prior to the winter season. The mountains were the "super markets" for the Schitsu’umsh. Freezeout Ridge is located in the southern Schitsu’umsh region, near Grandmother and Grandfather Mountains. (recorded and edited by John Hartman on August 24, 2000 as part of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal GIS Names-Place Project) |
In addition to the "gifts" of camas, venison and elk meat, huckleberries and healing roots, and of the mi'yep teachings, it is in the mountains that one of the most important "gifts" offered by the Animal Peoples can be obtained. Young men and women have, under the guidance of their elders, gone to the mountains to fast from water and food, and seek a vision. In the "prayer circle," a rock formation located at the mountain site, the young person would pray and humble him or herself for the duration of the fast. The fast may last as many as three or four days. If the "sacrifice" is judged worthy, an Animal Spirit, Eagle, Elk, or Wolf, might appear and bestow a suumesh song upon him or her.
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Hn'l'loq'wma - Grassy Mountain - Listen as Felix Aripa explains the significance of Grassy Mountain. (recorded and edited by John Hartman on June 28, 2000 as part of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal GIS Names-Place Project) |
A person's Animal Spirit and associated suumesh song will offer guidance and spiritual protection for his or her entire life. The songs are forms of prayer and help direct its spiritual power to specific ends. There are a variety of purposes for which a song might be intended. In all instances, the suumesh song is to be respected and cared for, never used casually or for purposes not intended. A suumesh song is one of the most important "gifts" that can be acquired from the Animal Peoples, solidifying the kinship relationship between human and Animal peoples. For additional discussion on vision questing and suumesh songs, see Songs: From the Animal People
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Tch'mutpkwe' - St. Joe Baldy - Listen as Felix Aripa explains the significance of St. Joe Baldy. (recorded and edited by John Hartman on July 5, 2000 as part of the Coeur d'Alene Tribal GIS Names-Place Project) |
© Coeur d'Alene Tribe 2002
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