Of Cedar And Salmon

It's our final episode of the season!Thank you to everyone who has joined us this year in making our podcast premiere truly incredible.We will be back with Season Two in February 2026.Now, let's dive in to our final legend of the year...Long ago, when people and animals lived together in harmony, Beaver was known for his skill and pride.But when cruelty and jealousy enter the story, the balance between humans and nature is shattered — and the world changes forever.Today on Of Cedar And Salmon, we explore the legend of “Why Beaver’s Tail Is Flat,” a powerful First Nations story from the Pacific Northwest Coast.Through its imagery of respect, pride, and transformation, it reveals timeless lessons about human nature, balance with the environment, and the consequences of cruelty.Join us as we discuss:● What the story teaches about living in harmony with nature● The symbolism of Beaver and the story pole● How traditional legends reflect values still vital todayPerfect for listeners who love: Indigenous stories, folklore, mythology, and cultural storytelling podcasts.--Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coastKeywords: Pacific Northwest legend, Indigenous stories, First Nations mythology, Beaver legend, Coast Salish stories, Native folklore, storytelling podcast, cultural stories, traditional tales, myths and legends podcast, nature spirituality, folklore, Indigenous Stories, Pacific Northwest, Nature & Culture, Mythology, Traditional Knowledge, Storytelling, History & Heritage

Today on Of Cedar and Salmon, we return to the great beginning. An age when the world was new. When people and animals lived side by side in delicate harmony.Near a thriving coastal village, a mysterious and creative creature appears for the first time.When the villagers capture this shy newcomer - Beaver - they discover the wonder of his handiwork.But admiration soon gives way to hunger, envy, and desire. Despite Beaver’s pleas for mercy, the people’s greed and pride drive them toward a devastating choice.What happens when harmony is broken?Can people learn to live in balance with the natural world?And will Beaver ever find the peace he longs for?Sometimes it takes tragedy to teach what our hearts refuse to learn.This is the story of “Beaver Tail.”--Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coastFor fans of: Pacific Northwest Legends, Coast Salish Stories, First Nations Storytelling, Mythology of the Pacific Northwest, Animal Stories, Balance and Respect, Cultural Heritage, Ancestral Wisdom, Storytelling Podcast, Indigenous Myths, Native American Stories.

Join our journey to Tillicum Village on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTq0g7AxpWQ&t=756sIn this special field-recorded episode, the Of Cedar and Salmon Podcast travels to the now-closed Tillicum Village on Blake Island; a place once alive with First Nation's art, architecture, and cultural experiences, but now locked away from the public.Invited by Washington State Parks, we joined Long Claw as he reclaimed artwork he originally created for the village in the early 1990s, giving us a rare opportunity to document pieces of indigenous craftsmanship that may soon disappear from the landscape forever.Equipped with microphones, a recorder, and some smartphones, we captured an on-the-ground conversation surrounded by the art, stories, and structures that shaped this historic site.In this episode, you’ll hear reflections from Long Claw and our guests at Washington State Parks, and the deeper significance of preserving these cultural works. Plus discussion on the future possibilities for this unique place.It's a special look inside Tillicum Village, perhaps before the doors close for good?--Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

In this episode, we dive into the legend of Gooma’quay, the powerful Chief of the Undersea Creatures from the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.When the world is “upside down and backwards” and the people face hunger, a group of fishermen travel to the mysterious Bird Island, where their song draws forth Pag’wis, a merman and messenger from the deep.Through this story, we explore ancient realms, spiritual balance, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.Long Claw helps unpack the symbolism of the four realms, the meaning behind the fishermen’s sacred song, and the deeper teachings carried through potlatch traditions and oral storytelling.Join us as we uncover how this legend connects to the salmon runs, cultural reciprocity, and the enduring Indigenous teachings that continue to guide life along the Pacific Northwest coast.Keywords: Pacific Northwest legends, First Nations stories, Indigenous mythology, coastal oral traditions, Gooma’quay, Pag’wis, merman mythology, potlatch traditions, salmon stories, undersea creatures, Pacific Northwest history, cultural storytelling.--Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

Humans have explored less than 5% of the world's oceans.The rest remains a mystery.What lives in the deep waters is something we don't fully understand, and maybe were never meant to.For thousands of years, the Coastal People spoke of mist-covered places on the water. Regions so dangerous and sacred that no one dared to go there.But when the salmon run fails and the survival of the community hangs in the balance, the fishermen have no choice.They venture further into the realm where the ancient spirits hold dominion.Their nets sink deep into the cold, dark ocean. And what they pull up is unlike anything they could have imagined.Something that would change the Coastal People's understanding of the ocean realm for all time.Their encounter with Pagwees, The Merman, forces them into an impossible choice: strike a risky bargain with this mysterious being... or face the fury of Lord Gooma'quay, Chief of the Undersea Creatures.What follows is a defining legend of the Pacific Northwest, echoing through First Nation's stories, coastal mythology, and ocean lore for generations.Join us as we dive into the Legend of Gooma'quay.Keywords: Indigenous Legends, Mythology, Pacific Northwest Folklore, Story-Driven Podcast.---Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

In the coastal villages of the Pacific Northwest, stories live as long as the sea itself.Among them is the legend of Puffin Rock, a tale of love, loss, and transformation that speaks to the deep spiritual beliefs of Indigenous coastal communities.Today, we dive into:The origins of Puffin Rock and how it came to be passed down over generationsThe symbolic role of the canoe as both a tool of survival and a vessel of spiritual connectionGrandfather’s role as a silent guide and the moral questions raised by his choicesThe transformation of the children into puffins, and what puffins represent in coastal worldviewsThemes of reincarnation, nature’s agency, and the belief that “there is no death, only change”Through these questions, we uncover what this story teaches about responsibility, respect for nature, and our relationship with the unseen world. And why its message is just as powerful today.Tune in to “Exploring: Puffin Rock” for a conversation that blends storytelling, cultural history, and a timeless reminder that the natural world is full of wisdom, if we’re willing to listen.For fans of: coastal folklore, Indigenous storytelling, Pacific Northwest myths, puffin symbolism, oral tradition, ancestral wisdom, myth interpretation, cultural heritage.---Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

Along the ancient coast, connections run deeper than the waters of the Pacific.Connections between the people and the land...Between the land and the sea...And between the generations.In a coastal village shaped by tides and tradition, a mysterious and ancient elder, Grandfather, gifts a very special canoe to the children.A canoe that connects land, sea, and spirit.And while the children are grateful, they are also excited to explore more of their great wide world.When their curiosity leads them to a forbidden rock in the ocean, their journey turns into a lesson written in storm and song.Witnessing the storm, the people begin to worry and cry for their missing children.Then, Grandfather shares the deep connection between the people, the canoe, and the sea.And his words become a lesson passed down through the generations: "There is no death for our people. Only change."This is that story. This is "Puffin Rock."A story of curiosity, loss, and renewal. And the powerful coastal beliefs that still shape how we see life, death, and the spirit of the sea.For fans of: Indigenous legends, Pacific Northwest mythology, First Nations stories, puffins, coastal folklore, oral storytelling, transformation myths, nature and spirit, ocean stories, cultural preservation.---Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

According to the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, there are forces in this world that humans were never meant to know, mysteries better left undisturbed.The Owl Chief is one such legend. Those who seek its ancient power may discover too late that some paths can’t be retraced.In this episode, we explore the legend of The Owl Chief. We'll discuss the sacred role of the Chief within coastal Indigenous communities, and how leadership is passed down through generations. We’ll also uncover why owls are seen as powerful omens of death in First Nations stories; symbols of warning, and the thin line between worlds.Finally, we reflect on the story’s timeless lessons about resisting peer pressure, controlling emotions and pride, and staying grounded amid today’s polarizing politics and social media frenzy.Have you ever gone too far and realized it only when you couldn’t turn back?Listen now to uncover what the legends can still teach us today.---Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTMLike our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast