Mitos y Leyendas: Autumn and the Parrot, a Story from the Selk’nam Tribe

• Genny de Bernardo shares with you the legend of the parrot and the autumn, originating from the Selk’nam.
• This story was compiled in the book Selk’nam – Tierra de Fuego by Graciela Repún.
• A young Indian man becomes somewhat unbearable for the people in this story because he never shuts up.

In the distant land of Tierra del Fuego, in the Selk’nam tribe, lived a young Indian named Kamshout, whose passion for words was so deep that he always found something to say.

Even in moments when there was nothing to add, he repeated the last words he heard from others, as if silence was unbearable to him.

When a friend mentioned that his stomach hurt, Kamshout immediately replied: «Of course, the stomach.» If a friend suggested contemplating the starry sky in silence, he nodded enthusiastically and then commented:

«And it’s much nicer like this, when you look at it with your mouth closed, right?».

Kamshout annoys the chief

This habit of repeating the last thing said led him to share words from everyone else, even when it wasn’t necessary.

The chief, a grumpy man, often complained about Kamshout’s chatter and proclaimed: «In this tribe there are Indians who talk too much!». Kamshout, without fail, added: «One more word; too much!…».

However, one day, like every young man, Kamshout had to leave to fulfill the rites of initiation. The tribe noticed his absence, and some commented on his departure.

Some noticed the difference in the atmosphere, with the absence of his repetitive words.

The silence in the tribe

Days and weeks of silence and solitude passed in the tribe, and Kamshout finally returned. However, his return was different; the birds migrated at the sight of him because there was no one left to listen to them.

Kamshout had changed, and his talk revolved around his trip to the North, where the trees changed their leaves and nature experienced seasonal changes.

Despite his stories of springs and autumns, green leaves turning golden and crispy, and landscapes of vibrant colors, the tribe couldn’t believe what they heard.

Trees without eternal green leaves? Autumn? Trees losing their foliage and then regaining it? It was too much to assimilate.

A fat parrot in the trees

The general skepticism infuriated Kamshout, who tried to convince his tribe of the truth of his words.

However, his insistence led to a constant repetition of his stories until his words blended into a strange sound.

The tribe tried to avoid him, to ignore him, but they didn’t notice his transformation until they heard a voice coming from the trees: «kerrhprrh, kerrhprrh…». Kamshout had turned into a fat parrot, and it was no longer possible to ignore him.

Then, a leaf fell from a tree. The tribe members picked it up, touched it, and finally stepped on it. The leaf, tinged with gold, yellow, and red, crunched under their feet, confirming Kamshout’s stories.

The Legend of the Parrot and Autumn

But Kamshout was already gone, flying away with his friend and lover. The tribe was plunged into a deep silence, more intense than ever.

It was only in the spring, when the leaves returned to cover the trees, that Kamshout returned, accompanied by his mate and their children.

Or at least, that’s what some say. Others claim they only heard the incessant «kerrhprrh» of the parrots from the treetops.

Mitos y Leyendas bids you farewell and hopes you enjoyed this story of autumn and the parrot. See you in the next tale!