Sahale stick

[David D. Robertson]

This topic has come up previously on CHINOOK.  (You can search for "ladder"
in our archives, at listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/chinook.html.)

A pretty useful book on the subject that I've just noticed in our local
museum's gift shop is Philip Hanley's "History of the Catholic Ladder",
published by Ye Galleon Press of Fairfield, WA.  I don't have a note of the
date of publication--easy enough to find that, though.

There is substantial discussion of "Sahale Sticks" here, with photos and
drawings of several.  Of interest, etymologically, is that the original
Sahale Sticks appear to have literally been poles carved of wood; later
versions with even more elaborate illustrations were done on paper.  One is
mildly tempted to interpret the phrase "Sahale Stick" as a pun of "heaven
stick" versus "ladder".  A notable syncretism in some early wooden Sahale
Sticks is the appearance of distinctly native emblems, for example the
Thunderbird at the top of one ladder!

The Spokane (WA) Public Library's Northwest Room now has on display an
excellent collection of old printed Catholic ladders, one of which lists
some of the missionaries to Pacific Northwest native peoples, including
Demers.  Many of these missionaries gave instruction via Chinuk-Wawa,
making use of the Sahale Stick.