(OKANANAGON)

One time the Great Spirit called all the Animal people together.  They came
from all over the earth to one camp and set up their lodges.  Spirit Chief
said there was going to be a change; there was to be a new kind of people.
He told all the Animal people they would now each have a name.

"Some of you have names already; some have no names.  Tomorrow, however,
everyone will have a name.  This name will be yours forever, for all your
descendants.  In the morning you must come to my lodge and choose a name for
yourself.  The first one to come may choose any name he wants.  The next
person will take any other name.  That is how it will go.  And to each
person I will give a responsibility."

All the Animal people wanted to have powerful names and to be well-known.
They wanted t be first at Old Man's lodge in the morning.  Coyote walked
around saying he would be the first.  He did not like his name ... he was
called Trickster and Imitator.  Everybody said those names fitted him, but
he wanted to be called something else.

I will take one of the three powerful names," said Coyote.  "The Mountain
Person, Grizzly Bear who rules all the four-leggeds, or Eagle who rules the
birds, or Good Swimmer, the Salmon, the chief of the Fish people.  These are
the best names; I will take one of these."

Fox, who was Coyote's brother, said, "Maybe you will have to keep the name
you have - Sinkalip.  People don't like that name; no-one wants it!"

"I am tired of that name - Sinkalip!" said Coyote.  "Let some old person who
cannot do anything take it.  I am a warrior!  Tomorrow, when I am called
Grizzly Bear or Eagle or Salmon, you will not talk like this!  You will beg
to have my new name, brother."

"You had better go home and get some sleep, Sinkalip," said Fox, "or you
will not wake up in time to get any name!"

But Coyote didn't go home.  He went around asking the Animal people
questions.  When he heard the answers he would say, "Oh I knew that before;
I did not have to ask!"  This is the way he was.  He lost his shirt in a
game of hoop and stick, then he went home and talked with his wife.  She
would be called Mole, the Mound Digger after the naming day.

"Bring in plenty of wood now.  I must stay awake all night.  Tomorrow I must
get my new name.  I will be Grizzly Bear, and I will be a great warrior and
a chief!"

Coyote sat watching the fire.  Mole went to bed with the children.  Half the
night passed, and Coyote found himself getting sleepy - his eyes grew heavy
and started to close, so he took two small sticks and wedged them between
his eyelids to keep his eyes open.  "Now I can stay awake," he thought - but
before long he was asleep, with his eyes wide open.

The sun was high in the sky when Coyote woke up.  Mole made a noise that
woke Coyote.  She did not wake him up befroe this because she was afraid if
he got a great name he would go away and leave her, so she said nothing.

As soon as Coyote awoke he hurried to the lodge of Old Man.  Seeing no-one
around he thought he was the first, and he went right in, saying very
loudly, "I am going to be Grizzly Bear; that shall be my name!"

"The name Grizzly Bear was taken at dawn," said the Great Spirit.

"Then my name shall be Eagle!"

"Eagle flew away at sunrise," said Great Spirit.

"Well then I shall be called Salmon!" said Coyote.

"The name Salmon has also be taken," said the Great Spirit.  "All the names
have been taken except yours; no-one wanted to steal your name."

Coyote looked very sad.  He sat down by the fire and was very quiet.  The
Great Spirit was touched

"Imitator," he said, "you must keep your name.  It is a good name for you.
I wanted you to have that name, so I made you sleep late; I wanted you to be
the last one here.  I have very important work for you to do.  The New
People are coming and you will be their chief.

"There are many bad creatures on the earth.  You will have to kill them,
otherwise they will eat the New People.  When you do this, the New People
will honor you.  They will say you are a great chief.  Even the ones who
come after them will remember what you have done, and they will honor you
for killing the monsters and for teaching the New People the ways of things
and of living.

"The New People will know nothing when they come ... they will not know how
to dress, to sing, to shoot an arrow.  It will be for you to teach them all
these things.  And you will put the buffalo out for them, and teach them to
catch salmon.

"But you will do foolish things too, and the New People will laugh at you.
You cannot help this; it will be your way.

"To make your work easier, I will give you a very special power:  you will
be able to change yourself into anything; you will be able to talk to
anything and hear anything talk except the water.

"If you die, you will come back to life.  This will be your way, Changing
Person; do your work well!"

Coyote was glad.  He went right out and began his work ... he worked to make
things right.  This is the way it was with him, and thus it is to this day.