DSC_0038-2
She Who Watches.
This is a photo of the reproduced version displayed at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson Warshington.
When I was a boy my dad took me to see the real version at Horsethief Lake. We used to go out as a family on field trips to the gorge as often as we could. My dad was born in The Dalles and was a great guide to the area. When I was a boy gathering arrowheads and beads in the gravel along the Columbia River was a family outing, today it's a crime. Today wind surfers are unknowingly walking over, and possibly damaging these relics on the beaches that we used to go.
There are many more picto and petroglyphs in this area. It's a very sacred place. Today, because of assholes that have vandalized the rock art the area is closed to visitors. Visitation to the area is allowed twice a week, Friday and Saturday mornings and you are guided by a park ranger.
I was profoundly affected by the power of the rock art there, especially Tsagagalal. I remember one of my great aunts telling me a story about her. She explained that the eyes follow those with some sort of guilt. Of course, the eyes seem to follow everyone.
THE LEGEND OF TSAGAGLALAL
THERE are several versions of the legend, but the one that was told to us by the Wishram people is as follows:
A woman had a house where the village of Nixluidix was later built. She was chief of all who lived in the region. That was a long time before Coyote came up the river and changed things and people were not yet real people. After a time Coyote in his travels came to this place and asked the inhabitants if they were living well or ill. They sent him to their chief who lived up on the rocks, where she could look down on the village and know what was going on.
Coyote climbed up to the house on the rocks and asked "What kind of living do you give these people? Do you treat them well or are you one of those evil women?" "I am teaching them to live well and build good houses," she said.
"Soon the world will change," said Coyote, "and women will no longer be chiefs." Then he changed her into a rock with the command, "You shall stay here and watch over the people who live here."
All the people know that Tsagaglalae sees all things, for whenever they are looking at her those large eyes are watching them.
"Stone Age on the Columbia River" by Emory Strong, 1959
Explore Sep 18, 2009 #435
DSC_0038-2
She Who Watches.
This is a photo of the reproduced version displayed at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center in Stevenson Warshington.
When I was a boy my dad took me to see the real version at Horsethief Lake. We used to go out as a family on field trips to the gorge as often as we could. My dad was born in The Dalles and was a great guide to the area. When I was a boy gathering arrowheads and beads in the gravel along the Columbia River was a family outing, today it's a crime. Today wind surfers are unknowingly walking over, and possibly damaging these relics on the beaches that we used to go.
There are many more picto and petroglyphs in this area. It's a very sacred place. Today, because of assholes that have vandalized the rock art the area is closed to visitors. Visitation to the area is allowed twice a week, Friday and Saturday mornings and you are guided by a park ranger.
I was profoundly affected by the power of the rock art there, especially Tsagagalal. I remember one of my great aunts telling me a story about her. She explained that the eyes follow those with some sort of guilt. Of course, the eyes seem to follow everyone.
THE LEGEND OF TSAGAGLALAL
THERE are several versions of the legend, but the one that was told to us by the Wishram people is as follows:
A woman had a house where the village of Nixluidix was later built. She was chief of all who lived in the region. That was a long time before Coyote came up the river and changed things and people were not yet real people. After a time Coyote in his travels came to this place and asked the inhabitants if they were living well or ill. They sent him to their chief who lived up on the rocks, where she could look down on the village and know what was going on.
Coyote climbed up to the house on the rocks and asked "What kind of living do you give these people? Do you treat them well or are you one of those evil women?" "I am teaching them to live well and build good houses," she said.
"Soon the world will change," said Coyote, "and women will no longer be chiefs." Then he changed her into a rock with the command, "You shall stay here and watch over the people who live here."
All the people know that Tsagaglalae sees all things, for whenever they are looking at her those large eyes are watching them.
"Stone Age on the Columbia River" by Emory Strong, 1959
Explore Sep 18, 2009 #435