Panel 2 - The Four Chiefs | A Story of Sacrifice, Sustenance, and Respect

The Four Chiefs

Following Panel #1, Water is Life, another foundational story emerges from the land we now call Manson. Long before roads, orchards, or towns, the Four Chiefs gathered in council to answer an important question: How would future generations survive?

In the cultural traditions of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and other Interior Salish peoples of the Plateau region, the "Four Chiefs" do not refer to historical human tribal leaders, but rather to the Four Food Chiefs. This traditional teaching, passed down through generations by tribal elders, explains how the animals and natural

elements sacrificed themselves to sustain human life before the arrival of the "People".

The creation account outlines a central council where the Four Food Chiefs met to determine how humans would survive. These chiefs are Chief Black Bear (Skəlxʷist), Chief Spring Salmon (Ntitíyax̌), Chief Bitterroot (Sp̓íƛ̓əm), and Chief Saskatoon Berry (Siyáʔ). Each chief volunteered to represent a critical aspect of sustenance and culture:

Chief Black Bear (Skəlxʷist)

Chief Black Bear’s domain was-and continues to be-the Animals and the Earth. He was the oldest and wisest of the chiefs. Chief Black Bear gave his body, meat, and fur to provide people with food, warmth, and shelter. Because of his sacrifice, he holds the highest position of respect among the animal kingdom.

Chief Spring Salmon (Ntitíyax̌)

Chief Spring Salmon’s domain was-and continues to be-the Water and Rivers. This chief represented the critical water resources of the Columbia River basin, Chief Salmon contributed himself as the primary food source from the rivers. His sacrifice established the annual salmon runs that became the physical and spiritual lifeblood of the Plateau tribes.

Chief Bitterroot (Sp̓íƛ̓əm)

Chief Bitterroot’s domain was-and continues to be-The Things Below the Ground. This chief spoke for all the root families that grow underneath the soil. She sacrificed her roots to provide humans with essential nutrients, medicine, and food that could be harvested during the spring and dried for winter survival.

Chief Saskatoon Berry (Siyáʔ)

Chief Saskatoon Berry’s domain was-and continues to be-The Things Above the Ground. He spoke for all the plants, fruits, and shrubs that grow above the earth. He offered his sweet berries to be gathered by the people, serving as a vital food source, a natural sweetener, and an integral part of tribal feasts.

The significance of this teaching reaches far beyond storytelling. For the twelve Confederated Bands of the Colville Reservation, it serves as a living guide for community responsibility, survival, gratitude, and environmental stewardship.

There are a couple of important topics that guide us today. These are:

• The Law of Reciprocity: Because the Four Food Chiefs freely sacrificed their

  lives for humans, the people are bound by a sacred law to protect, respect, and never waste these natural resources.

  
  

• The First Foods Ceremonies: Even today, the Colville Tribes host annual First Foods ceremonies to honor the return of the Salmon, the sprouting of the Bitterroot, and the ripening of the Berries, honoring the teachings and sacrifices

  of the Four Food Chiefs.

The human chiefs who took their lead from the first Four Chiefs have been very well

documented and information is abundant. From books and magazines to blogs and

articles on the internet, the records and stories of the descendants of this land we call home are educational and simply fascinating. Our documentation only touches the tip of the iceberg (and that’s another historical story!). The collaboration of “writers” of the Heritage Storytelling Panel project are honored to be working with the Traditional Territories Advisor of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. His department oversees outreach, cultural connections, and treaty rights preservation across the 39 million acres of ancestral, off-reservation lands spanning Washington state.

As you take in this beautiful work of art, consider the gifts represented by the Four Chiefs and the responsibilities that accompany them. Their teachings remind us that every meal, every harvest, every river, and every living thing exists within a relationship of respect and reciprocity. These lessons continue to guide Indigenous communities today and offer wisdom that all of us can carry forward into the future.