March of the Mountain People - A Central Oregon Story

  
March of the Mountain People, 16 x 40, from the Raven Stories Series

from left to right, front to back in a zig-zag: The Three Sisters,  Black Butte (shown as a sweat lodge), Mount Washington, Three Finger Jack, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Hood in the far distance.

 Working in a series has been very exciting for me.  The inspiration from the Native American stories leads me to painting styles outside of my normal approach.  The March of the Mountain People was inspired by a story from the Warm Springs Indians of Central Oregon, as recounted in the book by Ella E. Clark, titled Indian Legends of the Pacific Northwest. This painting is another entry into the Raven Stories series, which you can read about here and here.  

This story offers one explanation for the Cascade Mountains. The distinctive peaks that dominate our skyline are all dormant volcanoes (only a very few are actually extinct), so it's easy for me to imagine how the rumblings and earthquakes that have occurred over time became the "proof" of the "impending fight" that forms the core of this story.  Mount Saint Helens, which erupted on May 18, 1980, is believed to be the "girl" in this story over which the two boys - Mount Adams and Mount Hood - were fighting. 

As the story goes, Coyote was concerned over the growing argument between Mount Hood and Mount Adams over some girl.  The Mountain People from the Klamath Marsh country down South agreed to help and started marching north to a big council meeting on the Columbia River.  They planned to cross a great land bridge (Cielo Falls) to the north side of the river.  But before they could arrive, Coyote had to destroy the land bridge to keep Mount Adams from crossing over to fight with Mount Hood. 

The Three Sisters had been marching with the Mountain People, as well as Black Butte and her husband, (who became Green Ridge). When the Mountain People learned that Coyote had destroyed the land bridge, they stopped marching.  "They stopped just where they were, and later were given new mountain names.  They stopped where they are today - Mount Jefferson, the Three Sisters, Mount Washington, and all the others."

I really love this story.  Now when I watch the sun set I don't see the Cascade Mountains.  I see the Mountain People, watch their cook fires die down to glowing embers, and hear their laughter faintly on the wind. 

 

Comments

[Nola Taylor]

Here in Australia there is a similar Aboriginal dreamtime story about the Glasshouse mountains north of Brisbane.
big with child Beerwah the mother, Crookneck the older son
with his head knocked sideways for disobedience for not attending to saving his pregnant mother from the rising seas.