Traditional Heiltsuk Narrative
Raven (chief/himaskas’u) lived at Nulu with his wife and his son. Himaskas’u’s friends, Racoon, Loon and his wife Red Cod Woman, lived at Gildith. Herring do not run at Nulu but there are a lot at Gildith. Himaskas’u wanted herring to run at Nulu so he and his son went to visit with Xáwinuxva and his wife, in their territory at Gildith, when the herring were running. Himaskas’u ate lots of herring and they gave him more to take home. He killed Red Cod Woman, “You will be a red cod now and live in the ocean”. He swung Loon over his head as he said, “You will be a bird and tell the people that spring has come”. Then he and his son went home. Himaskas’u told his son, when you hear me sing tip over the canoe. Himaskas’u sang a Shaman Song and his son tipped over the canoe. All the herring came alive. There became lots of herring at Nulu. All the people were happy. They fished for herring and had lots of food. This traditional Heiltsuk story speaks to Raven transplanting herring and is one of the first examples of stewardship.
Source: Recorded in Bella Bella Tales by Franz Boas 1932