Humanity's Relatives

Animals play an important role in Native American mythology because they are believed to have a close connection with humans. The myth says that in ancient times, before the change that left them with their present identity occurred, people did not differ from animals and had the ability to transform themselves at their will. Some peoples on the northwest coast claim that their ancestors were animal beings who arrived on the beaches, removed their appearance and became humans, thus establishing the various clans. Many myths about human-animal marriages tell how the two species separated.

The belief is that the bear, which sometimes walks on two legs and has a skeleton similar to that of humans, but larger in size, is the closest animal to man. In several myths, bears are represented as a human-shaped race that publicly exhibits its own skin. According to a northwestern myth, the daughter of a chief named Rhpisunt was collecting berries one day when she encountered two young men who took her to a house where the bear-people lived. Inside was a large-sized man, known as the chief bear, and everywhere were skins of these animals hanging. Rhpisunt married the chief's son and had two sisters.

After a while, Rhpisunt's brothers discovered that the young woman was living in a harbor with her new family. With their children, they returned to their father's village. By removing their skins, the oseznos turned out to be two attractive young people who developed and became great hunters. When Rhpisunt grew old and died, his descendants returned with the bears, and since then, the descendents of Rhpisund have had success in hunting when they remembered the Rhpisun family bears.

According to some rituals and myths, animals are killed and hunted. If the hunters have not complied with the corresponding ritual, there may be a beast master or a shepherd in the tribe who has authority to retain the captured prey. Beasts are considered an important source of spiritual power, and shamans often rely on animal helpers who convey their powers during visionary encounters.