While researching families for inclusion in “The Book,” many interesting items are located that demonstrate how wise and knowledgeable the Karuk people were. This is one such example.
“Kate Jackson of Ishi-Pish taught her daughters, Jennie (Jackson) Donahue and Phoebe (Jackson) Maddux, about living around the Klamath River. Kate advised against swimming in the rivers or lakes during August because all the snakes returned from the mountaintop lakes. She said the snakes make you drown. They opened their mouth, and the wind just pulled you in.” While that may sound like a myth to scare children, Kate, a medicine woman, was wise to caution her daughters. Even today, swimming during fall ceremonies at Kátim’iin is discouraged.
A RECENT NEWS ARTICLE TELLS THE SAME CAUTION
“A Georgia resident has died from a rare brain-eating amoeba after they were likely infected while swimming in a freshwater lake or pond, officials said.” Then another one, “An Arkansas toddler died of a rare brain-eating amoeba infection, which was likely contracted at a splash pad at a country club.“ WHAT? These news articles just jumped out at me. Something in the water can make you die!
The Jackson family story about Kate had just been written. This all sounded familiar. These recent deaths were not drownings, yet the common thread was swimming during the summer and death. Could this be why Kate cautioned about swimming in August? Seems to me to be so. I thought you would like to know.
The Karuk people passed knowledge through stories and myths told generation after generation. Told in terms and examples that fit the times.
Several news outlets further explained, “The amoeba Naegleria fowleri causes a deadly infection. The amoeba is mostly found in water bodies like lakes, hot springs, and rivers. It travels through the nose to the brain, causing severe brain damage. Most people catch the amoeba by swimming in lakes in late summer; however swimming pools can be infected without adequate chlorination. The best way to reduce the infection risk is to avoid getting water up the nose. Avoid jumping in the water and “ideally keep your head above the water.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/condition/Naegleria-fowleri/ September 23, 2023