Traditional Kwakiutl Narrative
The Chief of the steelhead salmon and the chief of the herring were talking together at the place where the charcoal drifts on the ocean. “Who among us will be the first one to go Am I not the one? I am skilled in making flesh for those who live landward from us.” – “Go on,” said the steelhead salmon, “go on.” – “I’ll go and see those for whom flesh is made by us landward from us.” Then the herring started. They arrived at the place where they made flesh. They spawned. The tribes put hemlock branches into the water. Then they made herring spawn which was born of the herrings. The tribes dried the herring spawn, the means of making flesh of the herrings. The herring went back and met with the steelhead salmon. The herring spoke, “You will go early, but flesh has been made for the round-faced ones by me.” – “Maybe you will really make fat those for whom flesh was made with what you quirt out. I am going to go and set right the body of those for whom you made flesh with what you squirted out.” – “Go on, round face,” said the herring. They were teasing each other. Then they parted. That is the end.
Source: Boas, Franz. (1935) Kwakiutl tales, new Series by Franz Boas (1858-1942). New York, Columbia University Press.