Tillamook Passage

Tillamook Passage is a novel for young adults. The story is historical fiction about the maritime trade of sea otter pelts and the Northwest coastal Indians. In 1788, the sloop Lady Washington, commanded by Captain Robert Gray, discovers native villages on a large, pristine bay which Gray names after the Indians: Tillamook. Barter with the natives, initially friendly, gives way to a surprise attack. During the ensuing battle, two young sailors become separated from the ship, and must hide from the marauding Indians. When their sloop vanishes into a foggy sea, they are marooned in a remote and primitive land. Their struggle, playing out against endless forests, rugged mountains and bountiful waters, is an epic tale of clashing cultures, fate, trust, and love. Tillamook Passage is a thrilling testament to the iron wills, brave hearts and sharp wits of the gritty jack-tars who came before us. Two worlds...one destiny.

Inspired by actual events: Tillamook Passage is the first few pages of America’s history. It’s a story steeped in tradition and rich with reality. Before the fledging nation looked west, men went to sea, and sailors sought maritime adventures that would make them wealthy. So it was with the trading of sea-otter pelts. Ships were launched, and the discovery of lavish new lands inhabited by native peoples would change the course of America’s destiny. This is an epic tale of clashing cultures, fate, trust, love and conflict – a thrilling testament to the brave hearts and sharp wits of the jack-tars who came before us.

Joseph Blackwell, a lad without prospects, befriends a mysterious sea captain and secures a berth on his ship. The year is 1787, and two American ships laden with supplies set sail from Boston Harbor. Their venture: to round Cape Horn and sail to the Northwest coast of America, to trade with the Indians for sea otter pelts. Once their cargo is secured, they will sail to China via the Sandwich Islands and trade the valuable skins for tea, before returning to Boston via the Cape of Good Hope. During their stormy passage, the two ships lose contact with each other. As a result, the sloop Lady Washington, commanded by Captain Robert Gray, must proceed on her own. Reaching the uncharted Northwest coast, they discover native villages on a large, pristine bay which Gray names after the Indians: Tillamook. Barter, initially friendly, gives way to a surprise attack. During the battle, Joe Blackwell and an African cabin boy become separated from the ship, and must hide from the marauding natives. With musket and cannon, Gray holds off the attackers while setting sail. From the rocks above, the two young men watch in frightened disbelief as the sloop vanishes into a foggy sea. The two young men are now marooned, in a remote and primitive land. Their struggle, playing out against endless forests, rugged mountains and bountiful waters, is an epic tale of clashing cultures, fate, trust, love and conflict. The lads approach their futures quite differently, one pining for home and family, while the other aspires to Indian leadership. Tillamook Passage is a thrilling testament to the iron will, brave hearts and sharp wits of the gritty explorers who came before us. Two worlds... one destiny.

The rich storytelling traditions of Salish-speaking peoples in the Pacific Northwest of North America are showcased in this anthology of story, legend, song, and oratory. From the Bitterroot Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Salish-speaking communities such as the Bella Coola, Shuswap, Tillamook, Quinault, Colville-Okanagan, Coeur d'Alene, and Flathead have always been guided and inspired by the stories of previous generations. Many of the most influential and powerful of those tales appear in this volume.øSalish Myths and Legends features an array of Trickster stories centered on Coyote, Mink, and other memorable characters, as well as stories of the frightening Basket Ogress, accounts of otherworldly journeys, classic epic cycles such as South Wind?s Journeys and the Bluejay Cycle, tales of such legendary animals as Beaver and Lady Louse from the beginning of time, and stories that explain why things are the way they are. The anthology also includes humorous traditional tales, speeches, and fascinating stories of encounters with whites, including ?Circling Raven and the Jesuits.?øøTranslated by leading scholars working in close collaboration with Salish storytellers, these stories are certain to entertain and provoke, vividly testifying to the enduring power of storytelling in Native communities.