Generalized, after the Great Flood story as told by the Cowlitz people, they began another story about the major peaks surrounding them.
They tell of a great chief that once ruled the lands of the Salish Nation named Takhoma who had two wives named Lawelatla and Patu.
This story does not explain why the Creator was angry with them, but another story hints that one of Takhoma's wives, Lawelatla, tends to have a violent temper which might have caused the punishment.
Nevertheless, the Creator turns them all into mountains at the end of the story.
***
--M. Terry Thompson & Steven M. Egesdal (Told By Roy Wilson ~ Cowlitz Tribal Chairman)
Pg. 134
Once in the long-ago time there was a great chief. His name was Takhoma, and he had two wives, Lawelatla and Patu.
They were doing some things that the Creator did not like, and they would not heed his warnings. He had to punish them, but he did not want to destroy them because they were such great people.
They should remain as a lesson to everyone, forever. So, he changed them into great mountains.
Today we know Takhoma as Mount Rainier, Lawelatla as Mount St. Helens, and Patu as Mount Adams.
***
Lawelatla's Temper—CowlitzTribe
In this tell, the Cowlitz people explain a terrible feud between Mount Rainier and Mount St. Helens.
This story offers the name to the river that flows from Mount St. Helens called the Seqiku River which is now known as the Toutle River, and about Coyote the Trickster who witnesses the argument and retold the tale.
M. Terry Thompson & Steven M. Egesdal (Told By Roy Wilson ~ Cowlitz Tribal Chairman)
--Pg. 134
Once in the long-ago time Coyote was going up the Seqiku, the Toutle River, and he heard a great rumbling. He heard a great rumbling. He perked up his ear and realized that it was Lawelatla.
She was very angry.
Soon he heard another great rumbling coming from another direction, and he realized that it was Takhoma, who was also very angry. They were having a husband and wife argument, and he was in between them.
Soon he saw Lawelatla blow her top and knock off the head of Takhoma.
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Legends & Tales Of Mount St. Helens
Fiksi SejarahA collection of legends and tales around Mount St. Helens. Collection contains oral accounts from survivors who witnessed the unknown, Native American legends, urban legends, newspaper articles, and first-hand eyewitness accounts from the mountain.
