Abnakis

Algonquian tradition tells how the eponymous founding father, from whom
this North American tribe derived its name, came “from the rising sun,” the
direction of the Abnakis (“our white ancestors”), after he was forewarned in a
dream that the gods would sink their land beneath the sea. In haste, he built “a
great reed raft” on which he sailed away with his family. Aboard were a number of
animals that, in those days, could speak. The beasts grew impatient with the
long voyage, ridiculed the Father of the Tribes, and were about to mutiny, when
land was finally sighted. Everyone disembarked safely, but the formerly rebellious
animals, as punishment for their onboard behavior, were deprived by the gods
of their ability to converse with humans.
(See Noah)