Extra Reading Diary: Pacific Northwest

Extra Reading Diary: Pacific Northwest

How Silver Fox Created the World:  I love creation stories! It’s interesting that a silver fox and a coyote are the ones to create things. Silver-Fox is such a sly guy.  

Dang.  Silver-Fox is assertive! But the ending wasn’t a very good one.  It left things way too up in the air.

How Kemush Created the World: Another creation story! Nice! maybe they made another one because they didn’t like how Silver-Fox created it either.  This was a pretty good one in comparison to the others.

How Old Man Above Created the World: The title alone makes me think of the christianity creation story.  I’m loving all these creation stories, though! Apparently I picked the right section to read.  I like how this one deals with creating a hole as well. I think it’s funny that the earth started out as flat when that’s what it was believed to be for so long. The ending was weird, but so far I like this creation story the best.

How Dog Stole Fire:  It took forever for the story to actually involve a dog.  I was almost worried. I don’t understand how the dog could have hidden fire in his ear, but I suppose it’s not too far off from his ability to talk, so I can’t judge.  Also, dogs can’t sweat.  Plot hole.  

The First Totem Pole:  I would be unhappy too if I didn’t get a dance.  Poor guy.  All the animals joining in kind of reminds me of cinderella.  How sweet of them! I like how the totem pole is known as the pole that holds up the sky.  Super cool.

(Kwakiutl dance)

Reading Diary B: Eskimo Folk Tales

Reading Diary B: Eskimo Folk Tales

Papik, Who Killed His Wife’s Brother:  Gotta love the eskimo gossip.  Dang! Called out by his mom! That’s intense.  I don’t think I could lie to my momma.

Ohhh, the monster attacked him.  Justice is served.

Oof, the description of what the monster did to him is morbid.

I like the meaning of the story, though.  Any man who kills his fellow without good cause will be attacked by a monster.

Maybe I can write a story of how Papik killed his wife’s brother.

The Wife Who Lied: Why would you visit your own people if they ate people?? That sounds kind of sketchy to me.

Why does she want to make war against her husband’s tribe??

Damn.  They killed her dead, that’s for sure.  If you ever want your kids to be afraid of lying, tell them this story!

Atdlarneq, The Great Glutton: I don’t think it’s fair to call him a glutton when he was forced to eat with a threat of death if he didn’t.   

How has he not died from ingesting this much food?  Also, this sounds like the most intense eating contest ever.  Also also, they must be really well off to be able to feed this guy so much food, considering food wasn’t the most prevalent for eskimos.

This story has a weird ending, too. what.

Tungujuluk and Saunikoq: They were wizards?? That’s awesome! I don’t know which I’d rather be, a bear or a walrus. Hmmm.

Why didn’t he just kill him instead of holding back?

These stories are so different.  

Mostly, I LOVE the artwork. The stories are okay.

(Inuit man in kayak)

Reading Diary A: Eskimo Folk Tales

Reading Diary A: Eskimo Folk Tales

The Coming of Men: I kind of hate that it’s titled, “The Coming of Men” and not “The Coming of Mankind”

But I love origin stories!

I love that it said, “they did not know how to store their thoughts into little black marks”  That’s a fantastic way to explain that they were oral storytellers.

“Old age does not lie.”  So much respect for their elders.  I love that.

“Let us have both light and death.” Dang.

I like that when people die they become stars.  This was definitely an interesting origin theory story.

The Woman Who Had a Bear Foster Son: Well, if this isn’t an example of accepting diversity, then I don’t know what is.

This story seems pointless.  I guess it could be about how bears aren’t meant to live in human society and shouldn’t try to do so.  Or something.  Maybe I’m not deep enough to understand.

The Insects That Wooed a Wifeless Man: I can’t believe the man still chose to be with one of the girls who had made fun of him so much before he became successful.  How are you supposed to have a happy and successful marriage when it’s based off of greed? That’s terrible.  Of course she ran away!  And why would he tell her? They always end up blabbing!

The ending was so...weird.  

The Giant Dog: The owner cut holes into the dog’s jaws? What the heck! I think that’s so unnecessary

If I was the dog I would be strong and fierce as well! Especially if someone cut freaking holes in my jaw!

I like that this story ends up being about why inland dwellers hate all dogs.  This was interesting! I could possibly write a story about the dog attacking an inland dweller and bringing a leg back to his owner, or something.

(Greenland Man)