Tongue Creek is situated between Sheep Creek and High River, about nine
miles south of Sheep Creek. In the distant past, Napioa was travelling
in the vicinity of Tongue Creek, when he espied a band of elk sporting
themselves on its banks. They came to a place where the bank was steep,
and they all leaped down, seeking a sandy resting-place in the bed of
the stream. Napioa reached the creek, and lighting a piece of wood, he
threw the firebrand over the bank. The elk heard him, and asked him what
he wanted. “Oh,” said he, “I was laughing when you spoke to me, and I
could not answer: but that is a very nice spot down there, and I want to
go down, for there is an abundance of beautiful clean sand.” When the
elk saw the firebrand they became frightened, and rushing headlong over
each other, broke their necks. A single young elk escaped; but Napioa
said, “Never mind, there are many more elk in the country; that one can
go.” Napioa pitched his lodge and erected a pole with a flag upon it. He
skinned the elk, filled his lodge with the meat, and made preparations
to camp there and have a feast. While thus engaged, a coyote entered his
lodge and asked him for something to eat, but he would not give any. He
noticed that the coyote had on a necklace of shells, and said, “If you
will give me that necklace, I will give you something to eat.” The
coyote replied, “I can’t do that, for this is my medicine [amulet], and
it is very strong.” “Well, I will run a race with you, and if you beat
me I will give you some of the meat.” But the coyote refused, and as he
did so he held out a bandaged foot, and the two went on together, the
coyote protesting that his foot was sore, and he could not run. He
managed to get Napioa a long distance from the lodge, and then quickly
unloosing the bandage from his foot, he ran back to the lodge. Napioa
followed a long distance behind, shouting, “Save me some of the meat!”
When the coyote reached the lodge he called aloud for his
fellow-coyotes, who speedily came and devoured all the meat. Napioa had
placed the tongues on the top of the pole, but a mouse ran up the pole
and ate them all. When Napioa found that all the meat was gone, he said,
“Then I shall have the tongues, for the coyote could not get them.” But
as he took down the remaining portions he threw them away, saying, “They
are bad food.” The Indians call this creek “Matsinawûstam” (Tongue
Flag), but the white people call it “Tongue Creek.”