First Death: Coyote is crying for the loss of his son

After much howling and insisting, Creator decided those who die, would stay dead. They could no longer be restored as they once had been. Coyote’s son fell from a great pine in Grass Valley and died. He howled and cried insisting Creator restore his son’s life. But, dead is dead and Coyote sings his “Cry” song.

My great-uncle is singing a “Cry” song; you can hear his great despair. Laws were passed in the 1860’s that outlawed this ritual custom and the Nisenan have not mourned in this way in more than 160 years.

audio: Dan Rose

art: Shelly Covert