Police concluded from Richard’s writ that he was worried about death, but Brebber differs. He said his brother was an avid writer, especially during his time at the Kuper Island residential school.
In the following story, Richard shares the origin of the Halalt tribe, as his father told him. The composition was published in a collection of legends written and preserved by indigenous children. It shows Richard’s deep commitment to his people even when he attended a residential school, a system designed to alienate students from his culture.
The Halalt tribe
Once, many moons ago, there was a very kind man.
He lived in Saanich for a long time alone.
He had not seen anyone else since his father had died of some kind of illness.
His mother had died a few hours after he was born.
From the age of ten he knew how to hunt, cut, make weapons, kill animals and how to take refuge while hunting.
He knew what each animal looked like and smelled.
But she never knew what a woman was like.
One day, while hunting, he saw a strange creature walking with two legs and two arms.
He looked like himself, so he decided to capture him. He made the alienated trap.
It was round on one side and square on the other.
It was big enough for one person to fit in. He saw the creature pass through the same part of the forest once every two days, when the sun was directly above it.
He put the invisible trap on the track just in time, because he heard it coming.
He got inside a brush and waited.
When he heard the creature scream he knew he had caught it.
Now she could see him better and realized she had the same characteristics as him.
He wondered if he could talk.
He spoke to her in his own language through a small round hole in the trap.
To his surprise, he replied. She realized this must be a woman.
After a while he asked her about her life.
He learned that his parents had also died a few years ago.
The man decided to call his wife Halalt, after a beautiful fish that he had once seen his father catch, because he thought she was beautiful too.
He decided to call him Michgin.
When they were very old they had many grandchildren.
These young men wanted to be called the Michgins, but he said before he died. “This is the Halalt tribe.”
There is still a tribe called Halalt. I know, because I’m one of them.
Written by Richard Thomas, narrated by his father. Published in Tales from the Longhouse: by Indian Children of British Columbia, 1973.