The Gardner School classrooms share the names Native Americans gave to the Area Mountains. The guide below gives a brief description of each name.
Mazama
Crater Lake
Preschool
|
The Klamath Indians of the Pacific Northwest tell a legend about a fight between two chiefs. "Llao"
was the chief of the Below World and stood at Mount Mazama in Oregon. "Skell" was the chief of the
Above World and stood at the summit of Mount Shasta in Northern California. The two chiefs fought,
throwing rocks and flames at each other. LLao was injured and fell into Mount Mazama creating a huge
hole. Over time that hole filled with water and is now Crater Lake.
|
Kalama
Eruptive Period of
Mount St. Helens
Kindergarten
|
Mount St. Helens is a young mountain. It is also one of the most active volcanoes in the Cascades. The
volcano has been extensively studied and its eruptive history is known with great clarity. Scientists
divide the history of Mount St. Helens into four periods. The Kalama eruptive period began in the winter
or early spring of 1479-1480. Many Native American legends describe vividly the volcanic activity of the
Kalama period.
|
Loowit
Mount St. Helens
Grade 1 and 2
|
Native cultures in the Pacific Northwest, such as the Salish and Klickitat Indians, called Mount St. Helens
"Loo-Wit-Lat-Kla" (fire mountain or smoking mountain). According to Native American legend, Loowit
(Mount St. Helens) was once a beautiful maiden. When two sons of the great spirit fell in love with her,
she could not choose between them. The two braves, "Wy'East" (Mt. Hood) and "Pahto" (Mt. Adams)
fought over her, throwing fiery rocks at each other and causing earthquakes. The Great Spirit was furious:
he smothered all three and erected a mighty mountain peak where each fell. Because Loowit was the a
beautiful maiden, her mountain (Mt. St. Helens) was a beautiful, symmetrical one of dazzling white.
|
Klickitat
Mt. Adams
Grades 3 - 5
|
Klickitat is the mountain that the Great Spirit erected when he felled Pahto. While Mount Hood stands tall
and proud, Klickitat wept to see the beautiful maiden Loowit wrapped in snow, so he bends his head as he
grazes on Mount St. Helens.
|
Tahoma
Mt. Rainier
Grades 6 - 8
|
Mt Rainier holds a multidimensional place in Native American tradition and belief. The Nisqually and
Puyallup tribes considered Mt. Rainier a woman. She is beautiful and loving, but she is also cranky and
quarrelsome, too. Different tribes called Rainier by different names, but one of the best known was
"Tahoma."
|
