Located on fog enshrouded coastlines and in misty inland waterways of Southern Southeast Alaskan and Northern British Colombia are three Native tribes that call the Alexander Archipelago home.  These indigenous tribes are proudly known as the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian.  They once were an oral society in that all of their history, language and stories were not actually written down but were passed on through oral tradition.  For thousands of years these tribes traded, fought and shared their culture and local resources. 

Through the long dark Alaskan winters, rich mythological stories were passed down from the elders to the younger generations in the village.  There were stories about creation and many stories about the animals all around them.  Many of their stories had morals in them that taught husbands to respect their wives, for children to respect their wise elders and to respect the animals around them, even the little frogs. 

Raven plays an important role in these stories.  Raven's character is almost always depicted as being cleaver, cunning and a trickster; though he has his human flaws. Observation of the Corvus Corvidae in the wild, will help most to understand why Raven is always given the spotlight in Northwest Coast native legends.  Next time you see or hear raven, give a "Kaw".   

Fog Woman Story

In this remote world of islands, water, rain, cedar and fog evolved a story about how salmon came to be. 

The story was of a mysterious woman who appeared in the fog, and who named herself Fog Woman.  She was a compassionate and generous woman who had mystical powers.

Through her act of kindness she brought salmon to ravens people.

Though the story goes on into much more detail and there are countless versions of the story; it would not be right to retell the entire story without paying tribute and acknowledging that the ancient Tlingit, Haida and Tsimpshian people are the original storytellers and authors of The Fog Woman Story.  

If you ever travel through Southern Southeast Alaska and happen to visit the community of Ketchikan Alaska, Fog Woman, raven and the salmon are depicted on cedar wooden totems around the small island town.  Her story proudly lives on.