Sunset rays strike El Capitan, Yosemite Valley, beautifully reflected in the Merced River. This photograph appears in the Native American Historical Fiction: Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya. This ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ acclaimed novel is set in Yosemite National Park and the Mono Basin.
El Capitan was called Totoockanula (Tot-oo-ck’an-ula,) meaning “The Great Rock Chief” or “Great Rock Father”, by the original inhabitants of Yosemite Valley – the Ahwahneechees. Moreover, scroll below to read the Legend of Totoockanula.
https://www.britannica.com/place/El-Capitan
Legend of Totoockanula (El Capitan, Yosemite National Park)
An Indian legend tells the story of two cub bears who lived in Ahwahnee (Yosemite). One day they slipped away from their mother to take a swim in the river. Tired after their swim, they lay down on a huge, flat rock by the riverside. Soon they fell into a deep sleep. While they were asleep, the rock slowly rose into the sky until it towered way above the river and trees, rising and rising into white, fluffy clouds. At length, the clouds covered the bears like a woolly, cozy blanket.
On discovering that her cubs were missing, the frantic mother searched for them throughout the valley, asking all the animals she met for help. Nobody had any clue of their whereabouts. Then a sharp-eyed crane, called Totahkan (To-tah-kan), spotted them, still fast asleep, on the top of a huge, granite rock.
What to do? Their mother was terrified that they would wake and, finding themselves in the sky, would panic and fall over the edge of the cliff and perish. All the other animals in the valley tried to help. They attempted to climb the rock but found it too slippery and tall. A mouse climbed up two feet but was then too frightened to continue. A rat managed three feet before slipping back down. Later, a fox made it a little higher but no further. Larger animals also tried in vain, trying so hard that the marks and gouges from their attempts can still be seen at the base of the rock today.
Measuring worm to the rescue
When all had failed, a measuring worm offered to climb up and bring the cubs down to safety. The other animals sneered and made fun of the worm for its crazy suggestion. But it took no notice and started to climb the cliff face. As it slowly climbed it chanted “Tootack”, “Tootack”, “Totoockanula”. It climbed higher and higher until, eventually, it reached the top. There it woke the cubs and, by some miracle, guided the exhausted cubs down to safety and their grief-stricken mother. In awe, all the animals began to applaud and praise the measuring worm.
In honor of the measuring worm’s heroic achievement, the animals named the great rock, Totoockanula.
Hi, I am Paul, photographer, and author of the historical novel “Great Spirit of Yosemite: The Story of Chief Tenaya”. This ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ illustrated book is available in eBook and paperback formats through all major online booksellers from $2.99 (e.g. Amazon, Bookshop.org, IndieBound, Apple Books, etc) - details can be found in "Purchasing Options" in the "About the Book" drop-down.