CREATION MYTHS

CULTURE

Acc. to Andrew Wiget, Culture is a system of beliefs and values through which a group of people structure their experience of the world. the impact of ideology upon literature pluralize our notion of the world & understand that other peoples can

organize their experience in different ways and dramatize their experience of the world

through different symbolic forms

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CULTURE

If culture is a system of beliefs and values by which people organize their experience of the world,

then it follows that forms of expressive culture (literature) should embody the basic beliefs and values of the people who create them.

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CULTURE

These beliefs and values can be roughly organized in three areas: (1) beliefs @ the nature of the physical

world (2) beliefs @ social order &

appropriate behavior (3) beliefs @ human nature & the

problem of good and evil

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CREATION MYTHS

Stories about the Creation of the World “tell people who they are by telling

where they came from” (21) influence how they think about the world

& treat it their worldview symbolic story about how the world was

created & how humans came to be

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CREATION MYTHS

common traits: advance a general cultural outlook perspectives on life ways to understand life also birth theme: start of life cycle higher power: a creator, catalyst innocence, sinlessness animals & humans together

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CREATION MYTHS

Natives: spoken, narrated, sung, chanted (oral

tradition) mid- to late-1800s that Euro-Americans

gained the linguistic skills & cultural understanding to translate them decently

& Natives collaborated in the recording of their myths & legends Frank Hamilton Cushing, Zuni, 1879 Washington Matthews (army doc), Navajo, 1880s JW Fewkes, & JW Lloyd, Pima, 20th C. David Cusick, a Tuscarora member of the

Iroquois 6 Nations), 1825 – 1st Native

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IROQUOIS

5 Nations: Mohawks Seneca Oneida Onondaga Cayuga

6th nation = Tuscarora of North Carolina, early 1700s

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IROQUOIS

“People of the Longhouse” Haudenosaunee referred to self longhouse –

20 ft. wide 40-200 ft. wide several families in 1 shared cooking fires

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IROQUOIS

Iroquois: French English & Dutch: Mohawk, Seneca,

Maqua area:

northeast North America Erie & Ontario lakes St. Lawrence & Ottawa rivers Hudson River

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH 25 versions (oral tradition) 1623: Gabriel Sagard, French 1828, David Cusick – Sketches of the

Ancient History of the Six Nations

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH 2 worlds –

Lower World of darkness the possession of the Great Monster

Upper World of sky inhabited by “mankind”

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH SKY WOMAN:

conceives TWINS sinks, pushed, falls from Upper World to

Lower World Lower World creatures see her

falling, prepare her landing get a patch of earth turtle volunteers to catch her in the

water

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH TURTLE

grows to the size of an island w/bushes & trees

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH TWINS

fight in the womb evil one wants to burst out his mother’s

side good one prevents it

birth she dies shortly after

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH ENIGORIO –

good son creator

sun from mother’s head moon from mother’s body stars creeks & rivers animals “Adam & Eve” = “The Real People” (Ea-Gwe-

Howe) rain, vegetation, game animals

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH ENIGONHAHETGEA –

evil son creates only bad things, tries to corrupt

brother’s creations mountains, valleys (rivers in only 1 direction) reptiles – poisonous to humans tries to create humans – but APES tries again, brother stops, gives them life &

souls “the most knowledge of Good & Evil” (25)

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH Evil Son tries to contain all animals, to keep

from humans – Good Son frees them Final Battle

Evil Son challenges brother for governance of entire universe confess their weaknesses

Good’s = beaten w/corn stalks, rushes, reeds (a lie?) Bad’s = beaten w/deer antlers

2-day battle Bad = beaten w/antlers, crushed into the earth Bad’s last words –

he’ll become Evil Spirit (“Devil/Hades”) hold equal power over human souls after death

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IROQUOIS CREATION MYTH COMPARISON to BIBLE:

virgin birth good vs. evil struggles Creation Adam & Eve ultimate battle, Good vs. Evil,

Armageddon Devil, Hades

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NAVAJO

Athabascan language shared by Canadian & Alaskan tribes shared by Apaches

Navajo Nation Din-e “The People” Navajo = Spanish, Apaches who

cultivate fields (Apachu de Nabajo)

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NAVAJO

migrated south west skills

farming & weaving - from Pueblos silver-working – from Mexicans livestock – from Spanish

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Washington Matthews, late 1800s complex 5 Worlds #1 theme =

HARMONY & BALANCE gods & humans & creatures man & wife

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

“like an island floating in a sea of mist” (26)

red no sun, stars, people only light = the sky

1st WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

wind creatures (Nilchi Dine’e) the Holy People (Hashch’eeh Dine’e)

predecessors of Humans (we got their beauty & form)

4 colors of the day white = eastern sky, dawn (rise & shine) blue = southern sky, day (work) yellow = western sky, evening (retire) black = northern sky, night (sleep)

1st WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

north = death Great Fountain

center of the world (axis mundi) confluence of 3 rivers

12 TRIBES 4 in 3 directions ants, dragonflies, beetles, bats, locusts

not insects/animals but spiritual beings

1st WORLD

#4•4 or 2 pairs•important pattern # to Navajo•signifies completion, wholeness

• Judeo-Christian #7

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

4 GUARDIANS in the water surrounding the 1st World Water Monster, east Blue Heron, south Frog, west White Mountain Thunder, north

1st WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

“FALL” adultery

resulted in deceit, jealousy, turmoil * destroys the HARMONY between husband & wife

warned 3x, 4th = banishment but they were “lost in their wickedness & did

not heed” 4 Guardians sent Great Flood escape east, through small opening into a blue

world “strange blue head” in the sky

1st WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

blue barren & flat scouts (like Noah & raven & dove) Swallow People (blue beings)

(supernaturals who were precursors of today’s birds)

2nd WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

don’t learn their lesson: take liberties with head Swallow’s wife (adultery #2)

kicked out #2 White Head appears, go south – crooked

opening

2nd WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

white Grasshopper People

(supernaturals who were precursors of today’s insects)

adultery #3 kicked out #3 Red Head, go west – winding entrance

3rd WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

black & white the Pueblos (the Kiis’annii) –

lived in pit houses, houses in the ground Pueblos teach them @ agriculture

(corn, squash, pumpkin, beans)

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

*Nilch’i Dine’e behave (no adultery, no kick out)

4th WORLD

LESSON:•behave b/c learned a trade •industry•idle hands…

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Holy People appear 3x just a voice – 4th x = appear

White Body (Talking God) Blue Body (Water Sprinkler) Yellow Body (Calling God) Black Body (Fire God)

4 days, 4x a day – tried to speak w/gestures & signs – not understood

want to make more people, but in better forms

ND = formed like Holy People: teeth, 4 legs, claws like insects…

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

“smell bad” purify wash dry with sacred cornmeal –

white for men, yellow for women Holy People return in 12 days

4th WORLD

LESSON:•how to clean•purifying ritual

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Creation of 1st HUMANS 2 buckskins 2 ears of corn (white, yellow) buckskin, ears, buckskin Sacred Wind came between buckskins Mirage people appeared & walked around

the buckskins 4th turn of the MP man & woman replaced

the ears

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Creation of 1st HUMANS “ADAM & EVE”

First Man, First Woman Altse Hastiin, Altse Asdzaan

make a shelter husband & wife rock crystal

to man symbol of clear thought to burn for fire

turquoise to woman symbol of power of speech to burn

4th WORLD

LESSON:•1st humans

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

4 days TWINS Nadleeh have both male & female spirit --???

hermaphrodites? men who did women’s work w/o stigma?

every 4th day 4 more sets of twins (no more Naleeh)

4th WORLD

LESSON:•populate the land

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Instructions: A&E taken to east mountains for 4 days children taken later, for 4 days how to live a good life how to conduct themselves (in a manner

befitting their divine origins) Knowledge of Good & Evil

b/c Holy People were capable of G&E taught them witchcraft, too

4th WORLD

LESSON:•Good & Evil in the world

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

religious rituals: A&E wore masks prayed – long life, ample rain, abundant

harvests ceremonies: prayers, songs, rituals…have

NOT changed

4th WORLD

LESSON:•rituals ***

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

marriage: children of A&E + Pueblos + Mirage People 4 days children

inventions earthen dam

guardians = Nadleeh Nadleeh made pottery, baskets while there

“Millennium” period of peace 8 years (long time, 4x2)

4th WORLD

LESSON:•important cultural ritual

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Trouble: Earth & Sky join COYOTE & BADGER bad & good omens

1st argument

4th WORLD

LESSON:•imbalance •disharmony•battle of sexes

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

1st argument: 1st Woman’s “ungrateful remark” regarding

his hunting & providing other versions make it seem a “bawdy”

joke the vagina (the joosh) = responsible for the

successful hunting & food provision 1st Man moves away, separation =

loss of self-control (overreaction, pride)

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

1st argument: 1st Man gathers all men take all their weapons & tools & move across river (with Nadleeh) Let’s see how they “get along w/o us after

all!”

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

1st argument: 1st winter:

women = OK b/c they harvest men’s crops

women taunt men too late in season for men to plant, ate mush

spring: men w/ bigger harvest (than before, than women)

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

1st argument: 4th year:

men had so much they left most to rot in field waste = taboo women = starving women miss men

dildos of cacti & stones creation of monsters loss of self-control

reunion for sake of species (no more children)

feast to commemorate, celebrate = “community”

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

LESSONS from 1st argument: imbalance, loss of self-control x2 taboo: waste food feasts = community pray to Holy People

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

3 women = missing mother, 2 daughters captured by Water Monster as they were rowing

across the river pray to Holy People Coyote helps in search of water – 4 chambers of

WM’s dwelling found, retrieved, BUT Coyote steals WM’s child

FLOOD feast

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Flood b/c of Coyote’s trick planted trees to climb to safety juniper, pinon, pine, spruce Old Man, Young Man – w/sacred soil Great

Reed from 7 sacred mts. 32 reeds fused into 1 giant reed hole in east side of reed, climb in for safety, sealed escape through Sky Turkey = last out, white tail feathers = reminder of

escape

4th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

glittering Holy People, Pueblos, A&E, Nadleeh,

offspring return Water Monster’s baby plant, build houses, scouts, multiply

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

divination HP do test to determine their future “magic shell” tossed into water: float =

immortality, sunk = mortality Coyote tosses 2nd stone in water when 1st floated sinks “If we do not die, we shall soon

overrun the world. There will be no room for us all.” people see wisdom, reluctantly agree Coyote = responsible for human mortality = across

Native Am. stories

5th WORLD

LESSON:•why we die - mortality•how to bury

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

1st death & burial Nadleah Holy People instruct – prepare body, place in rocky

crevice Argument #2:

over seed corm brought from 4th World vs. the Kiis’aannii

separation #2 borders, marked by 4 mountains, w/3 interior mts.,

by A&E Naming Ceremony (by A&E) east, south, west, north

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

4 color changes of the sky (as before – see 1st World)

need more light Sun & Moon = created Old Man w/sacred soil, reward = Sun God,

immortality, bears sun across sky Young Man = Moon God, immortality,

bears moon across the sky

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

MONSTERS: result of women’s unnatural acts in 4th World

(stones, cacti) horned monster, kicked people off cliffs, killed

w/eyes, flying monster only 4 people remain 1st Man still prays each morning faith in

hardship (JOB) 4th morning – White Body told 1st man to go to

mountain

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

CHANGING WOMAN: “the most beloved of all the

deities” as a baby, 1st Man takes her home 4 days = full growth, maturity – moves out birth to TWINS

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

TWINS: sons of Sun & Waterfall Born-for-Water, Monster Slayer

twins defeat the monsters (helped by Spider Woman, others)

MS slew, B4W stayed home protection spells Sun gives special weapons to kill Giant, one of

his sons/monsters b/c killing humans weapons made of lighting, magic to walk on

rainbow

5th WORLD

Clash of the Titans

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

TWINS: last 4 monsters = PANDORA’S BOX-

Old Age, Poverty, Hunger, Cold spared by the Twins so Humans would not get

complacent Twins go dwell w/Holy People

become protectors of Humans (still)

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Sun & Changing Woman get married after he agreed that she wouldn’t be long

away from her people made more people (replenish earth after

the Monsters) 4 Original Clans

5th WORLD

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NAVAJO CREATION MYTH

Happy Ending: Changing Woman makes more people Twins become protectors of Humans (live w/Holy

People) Holy People leave but in touch through PRAYER &

SONGS Sacred Rainbow =

placed around Navajo homeland (Dine’bikeyah) protection blessing

reminder of sacredness of that land so long as Dine remain w/in this boundary, they

have protection of Holy People connection to the land (Jerusalem as “Holy Land”)

5th WORLD

Political aspect of story:•Andrew Jackson = becomes president•promise to remove Indians from land•foresees “Trail of Tears”

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LESSONS

#4 industry cleansing/purification ritual how 1st Man & 1st Woman came to be prayer ceremonies & rituals why there’s good & evil marriage be fruitful & multiply harmony & balance loss of self-control & results waste = taboo (esp. waste of food)

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LESSONS

feasts to commemorate good times: symbol of community, celebration

flood why turkeys have white tail feathers why we die – mortality how to bury naming ceremony faith in woe, still pray sun & moon twins why there’s Old Age, Poverty, Hunger, Cold prayer & song holy connection to the land

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COMPARISON to BIBLE

axis mundi (Garden of Eden) 12 Tribes of Israel Sodom & Gomorrah Fall & banishment Great Flood scouts = dove & raven from Noah’s ark Adam & Eve

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COMPARISON to BIBLE

marriage industry, work be fruitful & multiply millennium fall, Serpent-trickster Job & monsters (faith in woe/crisis) Holy Land

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