Place and Literary Function in a Coeur d'Alene Coyote Tale

• He is challenging the rules and traditions the Coeur d'Alene have established in regards to who can marry into their group.

  Obviously, according to the chief, marriages between animals and humans are taboo and in this, the chief is unwavering. Marriage between humans has rules and traditions that must be adhered to and maintained-thus, we hear about a young man who is observing the courtship rituals, but his success is not guaranteed even if he performs the right tasks to earn the chief's daughter. The listener learns that marriage traditions were established for the good of the people a long time ago and must be obeyed…for the well being of the tribe. Coyote also is positioned as a loner, one who roams around outside of the tribe's practices and community. When the young man leaves the village with him. He is never seen again. The young man followed coyote, the loner, and as a result, he was no longer with the group.

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• Keeping in mind that the landscape is interwoven into oral narratives, the coyote guides the listener on a journey to three other tribal groups—the Kalispell, the Spokane and the Colville.

  All of these tribes live in the area surrounding the Coeur d'Alenes and, in this tale, the listener learns that the relationship between these four groups is cooperative and supportive and it has been so for a long time. The listener can assume that these tribes are to be trusted. The tasks the women are doing when coyote comes upon them are directly related to the Spokane River—fishing, preparing fish, and washing clothes. The listener again is reminded of the people's relationship to the river in their daily lives. And when coyote takes his revenge it is this relationship with the river and the salmon he destroys.

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• Coyote is framed as selfish, a creature driven by his appetites

  His dialogue is focused on 'wanting' and 'getting' the girl for himself. He offers nothing in return to the tribe or the family; he is only interested in his immediate needs. He doesn't use his wiles to seduce the girl in this tale and the listener could infer that he is not thinking, or planning, but acting in haste and greed. He attempts to enlist the help of others, but does nothing to prove himself worthy of this young woman. And, finally, he makes trouble; big trouble for the people, but the tale does not end on a cautionary or conciliatory note. The listener is not told to make compromises with coyote, to bend their traditions to appease this deceiver; the listener is reminded of the need to adhere to traditions even if the consequences—loss of the salmon—are very serious.