In this episode, we dive into the legend of Gooma’quay, the powerful Chief of the Undersea Creatures from the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest.

When the world is “upside down and backwards” and the people face hunger, a group of fishermen travel to the mysterious Bird Island, where their song draws forth Pag’wis, a merman and messenger from the deep.

Through this story, we explore ancient realms, spiritual balance, and the relationship between humans and the natural world.

Long Claw helps unpack the symbolism of the four realms, the meaning behind the fishermen’s sacred song, and the deeper teachings carried through potlatch traditions and oral storytelling.

Join us as we uncover how this legend connects to the salmon runs, cultural reciprocity, and the enduring Indigenous teachings that continue to guide life along the Pacific Northwest coast.

Keywords: Pacific Northwest legends, First Nations stories, Indigenous mythology, coastal oral traditions, Gooma’quay, Pag’wis, merman mythology, potlatch traditions, salmon stories, undersea creatures, Pacific Northwest history, cultural storytelling.

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Want more immersive storytelling? Check out our audiobook Echoes of Our Elders: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM

Like our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast

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