Madras students revive Kiksht legend through theater
Published 1:03 pm Friday, May 23, 2025
The Madras High School Native Language class held its final exam in the form of a theatrical play, retelling the myth of Coyote and Itc!E’xyan, a water spirit that was swallowing up the people and their canoes. Coyote gets swallowed as well, and by stabbing the spirit’s heart, he saves the people.
The students presented the story in Kiksht, an upper Chinook Native language of the Wasco peoples that is taught in the class, with translations read by the students as well. The play was held at the MHS library, and community members as well as other students were invited to attend.
Language teacher Rain Circle introduced the students and the production, and after it was concluded honored the classes seniors for their work in learning language during high school.
Circle said he believes this legend has not been told in this way since at least 1855. It is based on the legend written in the Wishram text, originally published in the 1930s in both Kiksht and English.
“I joined as a freshman, wanting to learn more about my culture and be part of something that brings the language back to life that was going extinct,” said MHS sophomore Cadence Tippett, who narrated the legend. “Now we have a small group of speakers again. I love doing the language class and the projects with it, and getting to showcase all our hard work and how our language skills are coming along.”
