Every week we dive into these incredible stories featuring ancient legends, creation stories, and hero tales passed down through generations of oral tradition. Episodes blend traditional storytelling with historical and cultural context, featuring discussions on the characters, traditions, and lessons that have rung true for thousands of years. All masterfully told by Kwak'wala storyteller, Ronn "Long Claw" Wilson.
New episodes are released every Tuesday. Produced and hosted by Chris Young of Busted Lens Productions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Every week we dive into these incredible stories featuring ancient legends, creation stories, and hero tales passed down through generations of oral tradition. Episodes blend traditional storytelling with historical and cultural context, featuring discussions on the characters, traditions, and lessons that have rung true for thousands of years. All masterfully told by Kwak'wala storyteller, Ronn "Long Claw" Wilson.
New episodes are released every Tuesday. Produced and hosted by Chris Young of Busted Lens Productions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's our final episode of the season!
Thank you to everyone who has joined us this year in making our podcast premiere truly incredible.
We will be back with Season Two in February 2026.
Now, let's dive in to our final legend of the year...
Long ago, when people and animals lived together in harmony, Beaver was known for his skill and pride.
But when cruelty and jealousy enter the story, the balance between humans and nature is shattered — and the world changes forever.
Today on Of Cedar And Salmon, we explore the legend of “Why Beaver’s Tail Is Flat,” a powerful First Nations story from the Pacific Northwest Coast.
Through its imagery of respect, pride, and transformation, it reveals timeless lessons about human nature, balance with the environment, and the consequences of cruelty.
Join us as we discuss:
● What the story teaches about living in harmony with nature
● The symbolism of Beaver and the story pole
● How traditional legends reflect values still vital today
Perfect for listeners who love: Indigenous stories, folklore, mythology, and cultural storytelling podcasts.
--
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
Keywords: Pacific Northwest legend, Indigenous stories, First Nations mythology, Beaver legend, Coast Salish stories, Native folklore, storytelling podcast, cultural stories, traditional tales, myths and legends podcast, nature spirituality, folklore, Indigenous Stories, Pacific Northwest, Nature & Culture, Mythology, Traditional Knowledge, Storytelling, History & Heritage
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today on Of Cedar and Salmon, we return to the great beginning. An age when the world was new. When people and animals lived side by side in delicate harmony.
Near a thriving coastal village, a mysterious and creative creature appears for the first time.
When the villagers capture this shy newcomer - Beaver - they discover the wonder of his handiwork.
But admiration soon gives way to hunger, envy, and desire. Despite Beaver’s pleas for mercy, the people’s greed and pride drive them toward a devastating choice.
What happens when harmony is broken?
Can people learn to live in balance with the natural world?
And will Beaver ever find the peace he longs for?
Sometimes it takes tragedy to teach what our hearts refuse to learn.
This is the story of “Beaver Tail.”
--
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
For fans of: Pacific Northwest Legends, Coast Salish Stories, First Nations Storytelling, Mythology of the Pacific Northwest, Animal Stories, Balance and Respect, Cultural Heritage, Ancestral Wisdom, Storytelling Podcast, Indigenous Myths, Native American Stories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join our journey to Tillicum Village on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTq0g7AxpWQ&t=756s
In this special field-recorded episode, the Of Cedar and Salmon Podcast travels to the now-closed Tillicum Village on Blake Island; a place once alive with First Nation's art, architecture, and cultural experiences, but now locked away from the public.
Invited by Washington State Parks, we joined Long Claw as he reclaimed artwork he originally created for the village in the early 1990s, giving us a rare opportunity to document pieces of indigenous craftsmanship that may soon disappear from the landscape forever.
Equipped with microphones, a recorder, and some smartphones, we captured an on-the-ground conversation surrounded by the art, stories, and structures that shaped this historic site.
In this episode, you’ll hear reflections from Long Claw and our guests at Washington State Parks, and the deeper significance of preserving these cultural works. Plus discussion on the future possibilities for this unique place.
It's a special look inside Tillicum Village, perhaps before the doors close for good?
--
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
--
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Humans have explored less than 5% of the world's oceans.
The rest remains a mystery.
What lives in the deep waters is something we don't fully understand, and maybe were never meant to.
For thousands of years, the Coastal People spoke of mist-covered places on the water. Regions so dangerous and sacred that no one dared to go there.
But when the salmon run fails and the survival of the community hangs in the balance, the fishermen have no choice.
They venture further into the realm where the ancient spirits hold dominion.
Their nets sink deep into the cold, dark ocean. And what they pull up is unlike anything they could have imagined.
Something that would change the Coastal People's understanding of the ocean realm for all time.
Their encounter with Pagwees, The Merman, forces them into an impossible choice: strike a risky bargain with this mysterious being... or face the fury of Lord Gooma'quay, Chief of the Undersea Creatures.
What follows is a defining legend of the Pacific Northwest, echoing through First Nation's stories, coastal mythology, and ocean lore for generations.
Join us as we dive into the Legend of Gooma'quay.
Keywords: Indigenous Legends, Mythology, Pacific Northwest Folklore, Story-Driven Podcast.
---
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the coastal villages of the Pacific Northwest, stories live as long as the sea itself.
Among them is the legend of Puffin Rock, a tale of love, loss, and transformation that speaks to the deep spiritual beliefs of Indigenous coastal communities.
Today, we dive into:
Through these questions, we uncover what this story teaches about responsibility, respect for nature, and our relationship with the unseen world. And why its message is just as powerful today.
Tune in to “Exploring: Puffin Rock” for a conversation that blends storytelling, cultural history, and a timeless reminder that the natural world is full of wisdom, if we’re willing to listen.
For fans of: coastal folklore, Indigenous storytelling, Pacific Northwest myths, puffin symbolism, oral tradition, ancestral wisdom, myth interpretation, cultural heritage.
---
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Along the ancient coast, connections run deeper than the waters of the Pacific.
Connections between the people and the land...
Between the land and the sea...
And between the generations.
In a coastal village shaped by tides and tradition, a mysterious and ancient elder, Grandfather, gifts a very special canoe to the children.
A canoe that connects land, sea, and spirit.
And while the children are grateful, they are also excited to explore more of their great wide world.
When their curiosity leads them to a forbidden rock in the ocean, their journey turns into a lesson written in storm and song.
Witnessing the storm, the people begin to worry and cry for their missing children.
Then, Grandfather shares the deep connection between the people, the canoe, and the sea.
And his words become a lesson passed down through the generations: "There is no death for our people. Only change."
This is that story. This is "Puffin Rock."
A story of curiosity, loss, and renewal. And the powerful coastal beliefs that still shape how we see life, death, and the spirit of the sea.
For fans of: Indigenous legends, Pacific Northwest mythology, First Nations stories, puffins, coastal folklore, oral storytelling, transformation myths, nature and spirit, ocean stories, cultural preservation.
---
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
According to the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, there are forces in this world that humans were never meant to know, mysteries better left undisturbed.
The Owl Chief is one such legend. Those who seek its ancient power may discover too late that some paths can’t be retraced.
In this episode, we explore the legend of The Owl Chief. We'll discuss the sacred role of the Chief within coastal Indigenous communities, and how leadership is passed down through generations. We’ll also uncover why owls are seen as powerful omens of death in First Nations stories; symbols of warning, and the thin line between worlds.
Finally, we reflect on the story’s timeless lessons about resisting peer pressure, controlling emotions and pride, and staying grounded amid today’s polarizing politics and social media frenzy.
Have you ever gone too far and realized it only when you couldn’t turn back?
Listen now to uncover what the legends can still teach us today.
---
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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Happy Halloween! This week, we’re venturing deep (perhaps too deep?) into the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest to share another spine-tingling Native legend — a tale whispered through generations and steeped in mystery.
In the shadowed woods, where the cedar trees stand like ancient sentinels, there are things humanity was never meant to see… and powers best left undisturbed.
But when a group of prideful young villagers goes searching for secrets, they awaken something far older - and far more dangerous - than they could ever imagine.
Join us as we explore the haunting legend of “The Owl Chief,” a chilling story of pride, foolishness, and the unseen forces that dwell beyond our understanding.
Perfect for Halloween, this episode from Of Cedar and Salmon dives into First Nations mythology, Pacific Northwest folklore, and the timeless lesson that some mysteries are better left alone.
---
👉 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
🎶 Love our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
For more than four decades, the Of Cedar and Salmon program has transformed ordinary classrooms into living museums of Pacific Northwest First Nations culture.
The smell of cedar, the rhythm of drumbeats, the shimmer of beadwork and pelts, all coming together to awaken young imaginations across Western Washington.
This week, we welcome Mrs. Nikko Linn, a 4th-grade teacher at Silver Firs Elementary School in Snohomish, WA, who has witnessed that magic firsthand.
She shares how Long Claw’s program connects students to the legends, art, and traditions of Native American heritage - sparking awe, empathy, and lifelong curiosity.
It’s a conversation about culture, connection, and the power of storytelling to bridge generations. Whether you’re a teacher, a parent, or just someone who believes in the value of learning through experience, this episode will remind you what it means to truly bring history to life.
---
👉 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
🎶 Love our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Keywords: Native American culture, First Nations, Pacific Northwest, Indigenous education, cultural storytelling, Of Cedar and Salmon, Long Claw, Washington schools, experiential learning, classroom inspiration, heritage education
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, we’re opening the doors to a brand-new series: From the Museum Box, where we explore the fascinating artifacts, heirlooms, and handcrafted items that hold the spirit and stories of Long Claw’s cultural collection.
Our journey begins with the Sun Rattle — a stunning example of First Nations artistry and symbolism.
Guided by our resident expert and storyteller, we uncover the deep meanings behind rattles in Indigenous culture: from their role as tools of ceremony and power to their use as guides in traditional dance and ritual.
We also dive into the creative process behind these sacred objects: how they’re made, what materials and colors are chosen, and how each design carries its own spiritual, artistic, and historical significance.
It’s a close look at the intersection of art, tradition, and storytelling - and a reminder that every rattle, every sound, tells a story worth hearing.
---
👉 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
🎶 Love our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
🎧 Keywords: First Nations art, Indigenous culture, Native American artifacts, traditional crafts, ceremonial rattles, storytelling podcast, cultural history, handcrafted art, museum collection, sacred objects, creative process, Indigenous design.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
💎 "What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger."
🔥 "The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire."
🌊 "Smooth seas never made a skilled sailor."
Every culture has wisdom about how struggle shapes strength, and in this episode we bring that timeless truth to life through the powerful legend of “The Loon Chief and The Boy.”
We’ll explore how challenges are often less about defeating an outside force and more about confronting our own ego, resilience, and capacity for forgiveness.
Is forgiveness something we give others? Or a way to heal ourselves?
In today’s divided world, these lessons are more relevant than ever.
This episode blends storytelling, myth, and life lessons into an exploration of how struggle transforms us, and why forgiveness might be the ultimate act of strength.
✨ Tune in to hear:
🎧 Perfect for listeners who enjoy mythology, life lessons, personal growth, resilience, forgiveness, storytelling, and spiritual wisdom.
👉 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
🎶 Love our music? Listen here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We all imagine how life should unfold; shaping our days, our habits, even our identities around a single vision.
But what happens when life doesn't play along?
When mistakes, misfortunes, or unexpected twists turn everything upside down?
In those moments, guidance often arrives from the least expected places.
Our choices, even those we barely notice at the time, ripple outward.
And sometimes those ripples return to us in surprising and powerful ways.
Today’s legend, The Loon Chief and the Boy, reminds us that even the smallest actions can carry profound consequences—and that the choices we make may return to shape our lives when we least expect it.
---
Explore the enhanced, immersive stories on our Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM
Like our show music? Find it here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
So, as we've just learned, the amount of sunlight you see each day was decided during an argument between an ant and a bear.
But how come they got to make this decision?!
Did they even bother to read ANY books about negotiations, weather/climate, or circadian rhythms???
Ridiculous, I tell ya.
Long Claw clues us in on why these two unlikely characters were tasked with this little, not-very-significant decision.
And the takeaways go a little deeper than you might expect.
I suppose comedy really is a good delivery mechanism for big topics and decisions.
If only they could have weighed in on daylight savings time.
We get to the bottom of this historic debate, and reflect on how it might help us understand the nature of disagreement and compromise.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see a raccoon and penguin about my taxes.
---
Explore the enhanced, immersive stories on our Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM
Like our show music? Find it here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the beginning of time, daylight and dark happened randomly!
There was no set length for how long daylight and dark should cover the earth.
It could last as long as a season, or pass in the blink of an eye.
Something needed to be done.
The Changer (pronounced "Hwan") challenged Ant and Bear to decide how long each should last.
But the discussion quickly fell to fighting and arguing.
Bear wanted daylight and dark once each year.
Ant demanded daylight and dark once each day.
Both refused to compromise, and the debate dragged on and on and on.
Today we know daylight and dark each day, as well as the change of the seasons throughout the year.
But what of Ant and Bear? Are they still fighting?
---
Explore the immersive stories on our Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM
Like our show music? Find it here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Like many famous monsters, Slapoo represents much more than just a scary figure.
We dive into the genuine dangers that made this legend, and its warning, so valuable to the Coastal People.
Long Claw illustrates the harsh realities of living on the edge of the world, and the hard decisions that so often went hand-in-hand with survival.
And we also explore the roles of character and compassion when it comes to shaping lives.
Would Frankenstein's monster have been cruel if he had known kindness and acceptance?
Slapoo forces us to take an honest look at how "monsters are not born; they are made".
What energy are you putting out into the world? How is that coming back to you?
Plus, is there really a bird nest made of human hair in a coastal museum?
---
Explore the immersive stories on our Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM
Like our show music? Find it here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On the coast of Washington State, near the town of Port Angeles, the land reaches far out into the Straight of Juan de Fuca.
This is the Dungeness Spit. Famed for bountiful harvests of crab and shellfish.
But it is also a deadly tidal zone.
Rushing tide waters are known to claim the lives of even the strongest swimmers.
While sinking sands can leave people trapped without warning, desperately trying to free themselves.
There is also something else that stalks these shores...
Something ancient, large, deformed, and horrifying.
Something hungry for the flesh of children. Something angry.
It is a malice of the people's making. And it can still be found today.
In legends told in whispers around campfires. In museums.
And in the water itself.
This is a story not for the feint of heart.
This is Slapoo.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we dive into some numerology!
Specifically the number 4 - a sacred number for the Kwak'wala-speaking people.
4 seasons, 4 directions, 4 repeated phrases... it's a number that appears many times in the natural world and the culture.
And not only in the legends. In the art, dance and even architecture, once you know to look for it, you can find 4 in many places.
Hint: you can also find it in our show's cover photo ;)
We also discuss how numerology plays both sacred and casual roles in other cultures.
And how having these consistent patterns builds cultural identity.
Also, how varying "Traditions of 4" led to confusion and clashes between the First Nations and Europeans.
Where can you find the number 4 in your own life?
Are there other numbers that hold a special role or meaning for you?
Let us know!
---
Explore the immersive stories on our Audiobook: https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Ronn_Long_Claw_Wilson_Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM
Like our show music? Find it here: https://ofcedarandsalmon.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-the-coast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Introducing the Immersive Audiobook: "Echoes of Our Elders".
Listen Now:
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Echoes_of_Our_Elders?id=AQAAAEAq8XaxTM&hl=en_SG
Hey it's a BIG day for us at the show!
Before we began recording a podcast, we had a vision for an audiobook.
Featuring the ancient legends - masterfully told by Long Claw - and enhanced sound design, to bring them to life like never before.
Today we are thrilled to share our first audiobook is now LIVE!
"Echoes of Our Elders" features several of the legends you've heard here on the podcast:
All fully enhanced with sound FX that bring them alive like never before.
This has been a true passion project for us, and we are delighted to share a short sample of what you will find on the audiobook.
(We definitely recommend listening with headphones)
Digital copies can be found on most audiobook libraries, with the exception of Audible.
For those interested in physical copies, you can find CD's at any of Long Claw's school or community events around Western Washington.
As always, thank you to everyone who has listened to the podcast.
We hope you will continue to enjoy these ancient legends and the magic they share :-)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today we dive into another adventure featuring the legendary trickster, Raven.
Up for debate: even if he saves the day, can a trickster really be considered a "hero"?
Or, maybe it would be more accurate to think of Raven as one of history's first "anti-heroes".
Plus, in a game of wits, we discuss whether or not it's actually a good idea to make the first move.
Long Claw guides us through the risks of unintended consequences... and the importance of not acting impulsively.
After all, pride and ego can often lead to disastrous results. Something those in leadership roles would do well to remember.
And lastly, we take a look at the spiritual concepts of energy and the continuation of life.
How life responds to both positive and negative energy, and how that energy manifests into the world around us.
Can you think of any other tricksters or anti-heroes in stories you've heard?
Who's your favorite?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.