Legends of Vancouver · Chapter
The Lost Salmon-Run explained
The narrator encounters an elderly Indigenous woman (klootchman) who has been absent from the salmon fishing season because she became a grandmother to a girl-child.
What happens
The narrator encounters an elderly Indigenous woman (klootchman) who has been absent from the salmon fishing season because she became a grandmother to a girl-child. She explains her preference for a girl by telling the legend of 'The Lost Salmon-Run,' in which the Great Tyee's wife was expecting a child. The Great Tyee wanted a girl, but the tribe demanded a boy. The medicine men decreed that the tribe could not have both a boy-child and a great salmon-run; they chose the boy. As a result, no salmon came that year, bringing starvation. Since then, the tribe has valued girl-children, who will become mothers and ensure future abundance.
Themes in this chapter
Motherhood and Feminine Power
The central theme: the tribe's choice to value a boy-child over a girl-child leads to disaster, and the klootchman celebrates her granddaughter as a future mother.
Morality and Ethical Conduct
The legend teaches a moral lesson about respecting motherhood and the consequences of selfish choices.
The Cycle of Life and Nature
The salmon run is tied to the birth of children, illustrating the natural cycle of life and abundance.
Characters to notice
- Klootchman
The elderly Indigenous woman who tells the legend; she is proud of her new granddaughter and explains the cultural significance of girl-children.
- The Great Tyee
The chief who wanted a girl-child, valuing motherhood over tribal demands for a male heir; he warns the people of the consequences of their choice.
- Maarda
The klootchman's granddaughter, who arrives at the end of the chapter to join the canoe.
- Unknown Narrator
The listener who records the legend and interacts with the klootchman, reflecting on the story's meaning.
Key passages
“The wife of the Great Tyee was but a wisp of a girl, but all the world was young in those days; even the Fraser River was young and small, not the mighty water it is now; but the pink salmon crowded its throat just as they do now”
In the ancient time when the world was young, the Fraser River was smaller, yet salmon still filled it as they do today.
Sets the legendary, timeless setting for the story.
“You are a slave to the woman, and now you desire to make yourself a slave to a woman-baby.”
The tribe accuses the Great Tyee of being controlled by his wife and wanting to be ruled by a female child.
Highlights the tribe's opposition to valuing girls.
“The people of the tribe cannot be allowed to have all things. They want a boy-child and they want a great salmon-run also. They cannot have both.”
The medicine men declare that the tribe must choose between having a male heir and a plentiful salmon harvest.
The pivotal moral choice of the legend.
“Evil will fall upon you. You have despised a mother-woman. You will suffer evil and starvation and hunger and poverty, oh! foolish tribespeople.”
The Great Tyee warns that rejecting the value of motherhood will bring disaster and famine.
The consequence of the tribe's decision.
“Since then our tribe has always welcomed girl-children—we want no more lost runs.”
The klootchman explains that her people now honor girl-children to avoid repeating the tragedy.
Connects the legend to the present-day preference for a granddaughter.