49. Gau’o

50. Story of the G·ispawadwᴇ’da

Once upon a time a man went out hunting mountain goats. He met a Black Bear, who carried him to his den. There the Bear taught him how to catch salmon and how to build canoes. Two years later the man returned home. When he arrived, all the people were afraid of him, because he looked like a bear. One man, however, caught him and carried him to the house. He was unable to speak, and did not want to eat boiled meat. Then the people rubbed him with medicine, until finally he resumed his human form. After this, whenever he was in difficulty, he went up the mountain to his friend the Bear, who would help him. In winter, when nobody was able to obtain salmon, he would catch fresh salmon for him. Then the man built a house, and painted it with a picture of the Bear. His sister wore a dancing-apron with a representation of a bear. Therefore his sister’s descendants use the bear as their crest up to this day.?