Coyote Creates Willamette Falls

Coyote Creates Willamette Falls. Clackmas Chinook. Coyote came to that place around Oregon City and found the people there very hungry. The river was full of salmon, but they had no way to spear them in the deep water. Coyote decided he would build a big waterfall, so that the salmon would come to the surface for spearing. Then he would build a fish trap there too. , First, he tried at the mouth of Pudding River, but it was no good, and all he made was the gravel bar there. So he went on down the river to Rock Island, and it was better, but after making the rapids there he gave up again and went further down still. Where the Willamette Falls are now he found just the right place, and he made the Falls high and wide. All the Indians came and began to fish. , Now Coyote made his magic fish trap. He made it so it would speak, and say "Noseepsk" when it was full. Because he was pretty hungry, Coyote decided to try it first himself. He set the trap by the Falls, and then ran back up the shore to prepare to make a cooking-fire. But he had only begun when the trap called out, "Noseepsk!" He hurried back; indeed the trap was full of salmon. Running back with them, he started his fire again, but the fish trap cried "Noseepsk! Noseepsk!" It happened again and again; the fifth time Coyote became angry and said to the trap, "What, can't you wait with your fish-catching until I've built a fire?" The trap was very offended by Coyote's impatience, and stopped working right then. So after that the people had to spear their salmon as best they could. , From "Coyote Was There, Indian Literature in Oregon Country" compiled and edited by Jarold Ramsey. Story originally told by Louis LaBonte, son of the daughter of Chief Caboway of the Clatsops and recored by H.S. Lyman, 1900.