The Story of Asdiwal (Tsimshian)
Asdiwal is one of the most important Tsimshian hero narratives, recorded in multiple versions by Franz Boas. The story begins with a mother and daughter dying of starvation during a winter famine in the Skeena River region. A supernatural being named Hatsenas (a bird of good omen) appears, provides food, and fathers Asdiwal with the younger woman. Hatsenas gives his son magical objects including a never-missing bow, invisible-making hat, and inexhaustible food basket. Asdiwal's adventures include hunting a magical bear up to the sky, where the bear transforms into Evening-Star, daughter of the