The Salmon Famine | Ep. 277

Think about a time you shared with someone.

Maybe you shared a toy or some food. Maybe you shared some time.

Sharing with others can make everyone feel good. But in today’s story, we’ll meet three giants who refuse to share, until a clever coyote does his share to teach them a giant lesson!

Our story is called “The Salmon Famine.” It comes from Indigenous tribes of the present-day Canadian and American Pacific Northwest.

This episode was the second of two recorded live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Joining host Rebecca Sheir on stage was a star-studded cast of actors: Josh Gondelman, Hari Kondabolu, Faith Salie and Bethany Van Delft.

Providing musical accompaniment, under the direction of composer Eric Shimelonis, was a world-class sextet from the Boston Symphony Orchestra: Cathy Basrak on viola, Christopher Elchico on clarinet, Clint Foreman on flute, Ben Levy on double bass, Suzanne Nelsen on bassoon, and Austin Ruff on horn.

This episode was adapted for Circle Round by Rebecca Sheir. It was edited by Dean Russell. Original music and sound design is by Eric Shimelonis. Our artist is Sabina Hahn.

GROWN-UPS! PRINT THIS so everyone can color while listening. We’re also keeping an album so please share your picture on Facebook and Instagram, and tag it with #CircleRoundPodcast. To access all the coloring pages for past episodes click HERE. Our resident artist is Sabina Hahn and you can learn more about her HERE.

Now It’s Your Turn

Think about some of the great things you’ve achieved. Cut out some strips of paper, and on each one write the words “I can…” Then finish that sentence with something you’ve proven you can accomplish.

Put your “I can” strips in a jar, box, or basket. And each time you rise to a new challenge or learn a new skill, fill out another strip, drop it in, then watch your achievements grow!

Script:

NARRATOR: Long, long ago, when the world was ruled by animals, the craftiest and cleverest of all creatures… was Coyote.

The wild and wily dog was always playing tricks. Sometimes he used his cunning to get something he wanted. Sometimes he used it to teach a lesson.

This story is about a time he did both.

Coyote made his home along a wide, winding river. And like the other animals who lived by the riverside, each year Coyote eagerly awaited the running of the salmon.

The running of the salmon happened every summer, when the big, sleek fish known as salmon left the saltwater of the ocean, and swam upstream to the freshwater of the river, where they had first been born.

COYOTE: …And what a feast those salmon make! The minute we animals spot those plump, delicious fish muscling against the current, we reach into the river, snatch ‘em out of the water, and enjoy a mouth-watering meal! Mm mm mmmm!

NARRATOR: However, this particular summer, something unexpected happened. The salmon didn't show up! And though Coyote and the other animals waited…

COYOTE: (trying to coax them to come) Here, fishy fishies!

NARRATOR: …and waited…

COYOTE: Nice fishy-fishies!

NARRATOR: …the salmon never appeared!

COYOTE: What is going on? The salmon should have started running by now! (beat) If the salmon don’t come, a long, hungry famine WILL. I must get to the bottom of this mystery!

NARRATOR: Coyote bolted toward the water and dove in.

COYOTE: (as he dives) Weeeeee!

NARRATOR: He floated downstream for hours, keeping his eyes peeled for salmon. At last, as he drifted past a thick, tangled forest, what should he spy in the river, stretching all the way from one side to the other, but…?

COYOTE: …A DAM! A big wall of logs and stones! The dam is catching the salmon as they swim upstream – and look! It’s trapping them, so they can’t move! (beat) Who would do such a thing? Who would build a giant dam and hoard the fish for themselves?

NARRATOR: The moment Coyote asked that question, he heard the sound of thundering footsteps… followed by the sound of thundering voices! Coyote leaped from the river and sprang behind a bush just as three giants – sisters, actually – burst out of the forest. One was especially tall.

SISTER 1: It’s time to eat, sisters!

NARRATOR: One was especially wide.

SISTER 2: Look at these yummy salmon we’ve caught!

NARRATOR: And one was especially hairy.

SISTER 3: They’re going to be absolutely delish!

NARRATOR: All three giants were carrying big wooden clubs. And before Coyote’s very wide eyes, each of the sisters seized a flip-flopping fish by the gills…

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: /SISTER 3: (ad-lib seizing a fish)

NARRATOR: …hauled it from the water…

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: /SISTER 3: (ad-lib hauling fish from water)

NARRATOR: …then stunned it, with a club-blow to the head.

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: /SISTER 3: (ad-lib stunning fish with club blow)

NARRATOR: With their dazed dinners in their jumbo hands, the sisters lumbered back into the forest. Coyote waited ‘til they were out of sight before emerging from his hiding place.

COYOTE: I can’t believe it! Those giant sisters are hogging all the salmon! By trapping them in their dam! (beat) I must find a way to free those fish… by using my cunning… my wiles… and my MAGIC!

NARRATOR: Something we didn't mention before about Coyote: he was a shapeshifter! He could magically transform into any creature he wanted. And as he plotted a way to free the salmon from the giant sisters, he suddenly got an idea. He twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and in no time flat…

COYOTE: (ad-lib baby talk)

NARRATOR: … he transformed into a baby!

COYOTE: (ad-lib baby talk)

NARRATOR: …A baby giant, as it happens – sort of a mini version of the three sisters, only nowhere near as tall, wide… or hairy. In fact, he was downright adorable. He plopped down on his little behind, then he opened his cute little mouth and let out a big whopping…

COYOTE: (crying like a baby) Wahhhh!

NARRATOR: … CRY!

COYOTE: (ad-lib more crying like a baby)

NARRATOR: Within moments, who should come trundling from the forest, their surfboard-sized arms waving in alarm, but the three giant sisters!

SISTER 1: Is that… a baby???

SISTER 2: Why is he all alone by the river?

SISTER 3: I don’t know! …But I DO know this. He’s totally adorable!

NARRATOR: Delighted that the sisters were falling for his trick, Coyote smiled his cutest smile and cooed his sweetest coo.

COYOTE: (ad-lib sweet baby coo) Coo!

SISTER 1: I say we take him home and raise him!

SISTER 2: Once he gets big enough, he can help us collect salmon!

SISTER 3: Or… he can collect it FOR us! And COOK it, too! Maybe he’ll even tidy up our house. We’ll never have to lift a finger again!

NARRATOR: The sisters scooped up their future servant and carried him to their deep, dark cave in the forest.

After Coyote’s long trip down the river, he was faint with exhaustion – and hunger. So when the sisters offered him a bite of fresh-cooked salmon, he eagerly gulped it down. Then he snuggled up beneath a blanket and dropped off to sleep.

COYOTE: (ad-lib cute, funny giant-baby sleeping sounds)

NARRATOR: The next morning, he was awoken by his sibling’s booming voices.

SISTER 1: Get up, little one!

SISTER 2: The three of us are going out to gather roots and vegetables, to make a scrumptious salmon stew!

SISTER 3: Don’t even think about leaving while we’re gone.

SISTER 1: We wouldn't want to lose our future fisherman!

SISTER 2: AND cook!

SISTER 3: AND housekeeper!

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: / SISTER 3: (ad-lib self-satisfied laughter)

NARRATOR: The sisters grabbed their baskets and fishing clubs, then shambled away. Once they were gone, Coyote slipped out from the blanket, twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and transformed into…

COYOTE: (relieved) That’s more like it!

NARRATOR: …himself!

COYOTE: Those three sisters are a real handful! Not only are they taking all the salmon, they’re raising me to be their servant! (beat) Little do they know but I’m about to SERVE them a lesson! (dramatic) One they will never forget!

[live score music out]

[live theme music in]

NARRATOR: What do you think Coyote is plotting? What would YOU do if YOU were the wily trickster?

We’ll find out what happens, after a quick break.

[BREAK]

NARRATOR:  I’m Rebecca Sheir. Welcome back to Circle Round Live at Symphony Hall in Boston, Massachusetts. Today our story is called “The Salmon Famine.” 

Before the break, clever Coyote discovered that three giant sisters had built a dam across the river – so they could keep all the salmon for themselves.

Coyote used his magic to shapeshift into a baby. The sisters found him so irresistible – and so promising as a future fisherman, cook and all-around servant – that they brought him to their cave in the woods.

The next morning, after the giants left to pick roots and vegetables and gather more fish, Coyote cooked up a plan. He transformed back into himself, then headed straight for the dam.

COYOTE: My goodness! There must be thousands of pink and silver salmon trapped in this dam, desperate to get past! (beat) These salmon need to swim upstream… and the animals need these salmon! So I’m going to fix this problem… by breaking it apart!

NARRATOR: Coyote wrenched a log from the dam.

COYOTE: (ad-lib efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: Then he tore out a stone.

COYOTE: (ad-lib efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: Then another log.

COYOTE: (ad-lib efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: Then another stone.

COYOTE: (ad-lib efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: The dam was so large that even after hours of work, Coyote could hardly see a difference.

COYOTE: (tired) Boy oh boy! This job is bigger than I thought! But I should call it a day. The sisters will be here any minute to collect fish for their stew. If they discover my secret, I’ll be up the river without a paddle!

NARRATOR: Coyote took to his heels and scampered to the cave. Then he twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and transformed into a baby.

COYOTE: (as a baby) Goo.

NARRATOR: He had just crawled beneath the blanket when the sisters returned with their vegetables, roots, and fish.

SISTER 1: It’s time to cook up some stew!

SISTER 2: Let’s make sure our new baby brother has plenty to eat!

SISTER 3: Yeah! He’s gotta be big and strong if he’s gonna do all the work around this place!

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: / SISTER 3: (laughter)

NARRATOR: Everyone ate very well that night. And the following morning, the sisters had a hankering for salmon with huckleberry sauce. Once they left the cave with their berry baskets and fishing clubs, Coyote twitched his ears, wiggled his nose, and transformed into…

COYOTE: (ad-lib wolverine growl)

NARRATOR: …a wolverine!

COYOTE: (making his voice more wolverine-like) I’m pretty strong as a coyote. But I need to be even stronger if I’m going to tear this dam apart. Hopefully this get-up will do the trick!

NARRATOR: Coyote bounded to the dam and got down to business. His new brawny body made him much more efficient. But by the time he had to head back to the cave, he still hadn’t broken the dam.

So, the next morning, after the giants left to gather food, Coyote shape-shifted into…

COYOTE: (ad-lib wolf howl)

NARRATOR: … a wolf!

The next day he became a moose.

COYOTE: (ad-lib moose grunts, etc.)

NARRATOR: And the next day… a bear!

COYOTE: (ad-lib black bear growls)

NARRATOR: He kept this routine up for a week. He shapeshifted into bigger and bigger animals… he worked on the dam for a few hours… then he hurried to the lair and became a baby again.

Coyote was busting his tail to bust the dam apart. But progress was slower than he would have liked.

COYOTE: Okay that settles it. I need a new plan. And if it means being discovered by those salmon-stealing sisters, then so be it!

NARRATOR: The following morning, after the giants bid their baby brother farewell and headed to the woods with their baskets and clubs, Coyote transformed back into himself…

COYOTE: (sigh!) That always feels good!

NARRATOR: …and jumped into action. Each of the sisters had a sturdy wooden spoon they used for snarfing down soup and stew. Of course, the giants were so gargantuan that in Coyote’s eyes, their spoons looked a lot more like bowls.

Coyote gathered up the big wooden spoons… then he set to work stacking them on his head, one on top of the other.

COYOTE: (as he stacks) One… two… three!

NARRATOR: Once all three spoons were in place, Coyote hightailed it to the dam and got to work heaving and hauling stones and logs.

COYOTE: (ad-lib efforting sounds)

NARRATOR: Coyote worked hard. SO hard that after a few hours, he had actually managed to create a gap!

COYOTE: This gap’s not quite big enough for a salmon to swim through. But I’ll keep at it. And any minute now, those fish could be free!

NARRATOR: Coyote was so immersed in his task that he didn’t hear thundering footsteps plodding from the forest. But he DID hear thundering VOICES!

SISTER 1: (GASP!) Is that… Coyote??? 

SISTER 2: That shaggy rascal is tearing our dam apart!

SISTER 3: So I say we tear HIM apart!

NARRATOR: The sisters gnashed their teeth and charged toward Coyote.

SISTER 1: / SISTER 2: / SISTER 3: (ad-lib roar, etc. they charge toward Coyote)

NARRATOR: Next thing he knew, the first sister lifted her club… and smashed him over the head!

SISTER 1: (ad-lib efforting sound, like:) Hi-yahhh!

NARRATOR: But remember: Coyote was wearing three huge wooden spoons… like three sturdy helmets! So when the club came plummeting down, all it did was crash into his top helmet, and splinter it apart!

COYOTE: Nice try! But you’ll have to try harder than that!

NARRATOR: Now the second sister raised her club and brought it down on Coyote’s noggin.

SISTER 2: (ad-lib efforting sound, like:) Errrrrgggh!

NARRATOR: But, like her sister before her, all she did was break Coyote’s middle helmet to pieces!

COYOTE: Not bad! Not too good, either.

NARRATOR: Now it was the third sister’s turn. She hoisted her club high and gave Coyote’s head a wallop.

SISTER 3: (ad-lib efforting sound, like:) Gahhhhh!

NARRATOR: But… as you can probably guess… all she succeeded in doing was breaking Coyote’s bottom helmet… just as he yanked one more stone from the dam… and the gap opened wide!

COYOTE: Sorry to burst your bubble, ladies – OR your DAM!!

NARRATOR: The sisters watched in horror as their precious salmon pushed through the hole and surged up the river.

SISTER 1: Our fish!

SISTER 2: They’re swimming away!

SISTER 3: How dare you STEAL them from us, Coyote?

COYOTE: “Steal them”???

NARRATOR: Coyote sprang out of the water and onto the opposite bank.

COYOTE: I’m not stealing ANYTHING. I’m giving these fish BACK! To the other animals along the river who need the salmon to survive! The three of you have been hoarding the fish for yourselves. So now you must learn to share. (beat) Gosh. And here I was thinking it’s the big sisters who should teach their baby brother a lesson. Not the other way around!

SISTER 1: (realizing) “Big sisters”...!???

SISTER 2: (realizing) “Baby brother”...??!?

SISTER 3: (realizing) Are you saying that all this time YOU were actually – (stops short)

NARRATOR: But that’s all Coyote heard. Because now that he had taught the sisters their lesson, he broke into a sprint and bolted up the riverbank. Mile after mile, the clever canine raced alongside the salmon as he and the fish made their long-awaited way back home.