Near Manzanita in Tillamook County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The First People
...and the Spirits of the Mountain
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 22, 2017
1. The First People Marker
Captions: These quotes are the transcribed memories of Clara Pearson, a Nehalem Tillamook woman who worked with the ethnographer Elizabeth Jacobs in the 1930s. You can find these stories in Jacobs; books, Nehalem Tillamook Tales and The Nehalem Tillamook: An Ethnography. ; (bottom, far left) "Fog is a curtain spread by people in the spirit world to prevent earth people from looking over.". ; (bottom, near left) Lightning is Thunder's glances. That's Thunder's own self. When he looks, that makes lightning." ; (upper center, left) Ice and South Wind appear in many stories about Neahkahnie Mountain. The mischievous Ice killed South Wind's father, and when South Wind grew to be a man, he killed Ice by looking at him. Ice just melted away." ; (upper center, right) "Stars are persons, When you do not see them they have gone visiting their girls. Shooting stars are on their way visiting." ; (far right) South Wind created the boiling breakers beneath Neahkahnie Mountain. He built a big fire, heated large round rocks, and threw them down into the water. You can see those rocks up on the Mountain. They are all red where they were burned."
In oft-repeated tales, the spirits were individuals with personalities and relationships with each other and with the People - who taught their children to remember the stories word for word.
Erected by Oregon Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Native Americans.
Location. 45° 44.605′ N, 123° 57.488′ W. Marker is near Manzanita, Oregon, in Tillamook County. Marker is on Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) near Meadow Loop, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Manzanita OR 97130, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Uncanny Neahkahnie (here, next to this marker); From Footpath to Highway (a few steps from this marker); Safety and Beauty (within shouting distance of this marker); Oswald West (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Neahkahnie Mountain (about 800 feet away); a different
this page online
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 22, 2017
2. The First People Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 184 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 4, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
