Metis Culture - Stories and Legends
Stories in the Traditional Manner
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The Story of Grizzly Bear and Beaver
Based on a Tsimshian legend and adapted by Tayreza Lightle,
used by permission
Close to Skeena River, there was a lake, where many beavers built their houses because it was deep water, a safe hiding place, and provided a good shelter for them in winter time. There were many old houses, and new ones as well. This was their home for generations, and they thought that their enemies couldn't reach them.
One day the beavers thought there was no danger near them. They left their houses and went out for fresh air and sun, resting on the melting ice. It was early spring and the Grizzly Bear had just woke from his sleep. When he came from his cave, he saw the many beaver covering the ice. He went there and killed many of them. Some of them escaped to their homes in the lake, but Grizzly Bear hunted them to their houses.
The beavers were very sad, but Grizzly Bear was happy, as he had much food. The Grizzly Bear hunted the beavers until one lonely she-beaver was left. This last beaver hid in the deep waters and thought about her enemy, the great Grizzly Bear. She decided to make false ground on one side of the lake. She worked at night, taking soft moss and putting it at the end of a fallen tree. She made it look like dry land around the old fallen tree.
At the end of summer the salmon were in the creeks. Now, the Grizzly Bear's beaver meat was all gone and the great bear was hungry. He went walking around the lake, searching for food. He caught many salmon in the brooks, which were to serve as his food for the winter. Grizzly Bear was proud and mighty, as he was the strongest of the animals. One day he saw the lone beaver sitting by a fallen tree. He said with a prideful voice, "Lone Beaver, what are you doing there, poor lowest of animals?"
The Beaver looked at him with sadness in her eyes, and said, "Grizzly Bear shall die."
The bear became angry at the boldness of the small creature. He growled, "What? You dare think I shall die?" Beaver didn't look at him, or reply, she just sat. He paced back and forth, until he lumbered over the dry land to the place where the beaver sat at the foot of the fallen tree.
The beaver said again, "The great Grizzly shall indeed die."
Grizzly Bear, walking on the log, said in his proud voice, "Die? Yes there will be death, but it will be beaver, so don't run away." As he continued to walk closer to the beaver, she said, "Great Grizzly Bear shall die!" She looked at the bear and eventually swam into the water. This enraged the bear. Suddenly he lept upon the beaver, who dived under the fallen tree, and under the false ground she had made to entrap the great beast.
Grizzly Bear was indeed trapped. He struggled in the slough the beaver had made. His voice was no longer prideful, but full of despair as he became more and more stuck in the mud. He drowned in the slough, because he had no pity for the weaker beasts and in his greed devoured all of them except one. In his selfishness he thought only of himself.
The Beaver sat upon the fallen tree, and said," Grizzly Bear is dead." The grizzly Bear had howled and moaned in his death struggles, yet no beaver had cried or moaned as he destroyed them. The beaver, while the weaker animal, was stronger in wisdom, than the bear in his pride. Therefore let not the strong oppress the poor or weak, for the weak will have the victory over the mighty.
"The Story of Grizzly Bear and Beaver," as adapted by Tayreza Lightle, is copyrighted by Tayreza Lightle, who retains all rights. It may be freely copied and/or printed for personal or educational use as long as it is duplicated in its entirety, with no additions or deletions, and includes this copyright on all copies. The article may not be copied or used in any other printed or electronic format or on any internet pages without written permission by the author. Links to this article are welcome.