In every country or region, there are certain stories that circulate about the origins of different things, such as fruits, animals, or even heavenly bodies. These stories are handed down from one generation to the next and told in full detail, as this narration enables the younger set to appreciate their ancestry. It also keeps the culture alive, lest the younger generation would be lost in the whirlwind of modernity.
Legends, depending on the culture of the people, could be colored by many things, such as that of supernatural sources like magic, sorcery, or other powers or by the common feelings that have haunted man since time immemorial, such as love, hatred, or revenge.
Among the Native Indians of America, they have their own versions of colorful stories, and these are known as Quileute Legends. Although Quileute is only one tribe, many American Indian legendary stories are attributed to them.
The main gist of Quileute Folklore is that Native Americans are descendants of wolves. The main characters are Q’wati, Raven, Dask’iya, and Thunderbird. Q’wati is associated with being creator of the Quileute tribe, as well as defender and protector. He is also known by three other names, namely the “Transformer,” “Changer,” and the “Trickster.” Needless to say, he is the hero of the tribe. On the other hand, there is always a villain to every story, and in Indian folklore, that would be Dask’iya. She is pictured to be a cannibal ogress who kidnaps children, places them in a basket, and brings them home as food. Eventually, she became the image that was used by parents to scare their children if they exhibit unruly behavior.
There are many stories that make up Quileute Folklore, such as the myth of the Quileute Creation, legends of the Thunderbird, tales about the Raven, and the story of how a girl killed Dask’iya. These stories are told with such passion and imagery that a listener would certainly sympathize and be awed and enchanted by the characters, scenes, situations, and emotions. Even non-Indians would certainly enjoy a storytelling session with an Indian elder who has known these stories by heart.
Although Quileute Myths are very popular among Indians and probably around the entire American continent, it is only recently that the rest of the world became aware of Quileute Legends. This is because of the movie Twilight where the writer, Stephenie Meyer, based her story loosely on the Quileute Legends. However, instead of just utilizing the existing characters and transforming the original stories, she made a twist and instead effectively made up a story about “The Cold Ones”, which are literally referring to the existence of vampires among humanity. The saga started with bestselling books and now has hit the big screen to become blockbuster movies.
The Quileute Legends have found a way into mainstream consciousness and have therefore made people appreciate the richness of the culture, origins, and tribes of the American Indians. After Twilight, more stories, books, and movies will probably come out with plots revolving around Quileute Folklore.
But what about Apotamkin?
apot what?