of people from Siberia and later China migrated across the Bering land bridge into the Americas. Over time they populated the continent from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego and their few original cultures grew into thousands of distinct groups.
The native peoples of North America are, even today, as varied in culture, language and physical looks as those of Europe. In the past there were even more distinctions. Some of these differences have been melded under the outside influences of the European settlers.
There was the introduction of European diseases, sometimes accidental, sometimes deliberate, into populations which had no immunity to them at all. There were too many battles to count. There was forced resettlement by the federal government which placed tribes from different geographic locations and different cultures into close proximity. In the 19th century, there were Indian Schools whose aim was to deculturize Native children by putting them into residential schools to live with those from other tribes and all were expected to speak English, become Christian and forgo their “heathen ways”. In the last half of the 20th century, television became omnipresent and there is now no reservation too remote to be reached by English language broadcasts of Sesame Street and CNN.
Despite all this, a few tribes have managed to hold onto their language and their religion. Many more still retain some of their culture including portions of their mythology.
We have no way of telling how much the mythology has changed during four centuries. We can be sure that the 21st century version of these stories is not exactly the same as was told to children in the 16th century but it may be very close.
The Native American creation myths could be classified by linguistic families or geography but in gathering this material it became apparent that there were only four basic stories being told over and over with localized variations. While these groupings are artificial they serve to organize a huge amount of material into useful segments.
There are the Sky Born, Earth Born, Water Born and Underworld Born peoples. Some have a creator, some don't and a few seem to have grafted a creator onto an older story that had none, perhaps under the influence of Christianity. Some received help from various animals or spirits in their creation.
The Sky Born people were cast down, jumped, fell, or pushed from a Sky Vault or Great Tree of Life and landed on land, water, the back of a turtle or a floating island.
The Earth Born people were created, developed or spontaneously arose from the earth or mud. The story in Genesis clearly places Adam and Eve into the Earth Born group.
The Water Born were also created, developed or spontaneously appeared from the mud or waters of the oceans, lakes or rivers of the world.
The Underground Born people were in one or more worlds under this one and climbed out through a Navel of the World. They were sometimes guided by spirits or led out by animals.
There does not appear to be much correlation between the type of creation myth told and the geographic or linguistic group to which the tribe belongs. The Navajo and Apache tribes are both Athabascan, the last group to migrate to America, and moved into the Southwestern United States at about the same time yet the Navajos are Underground people and the Apaches Earth born.
Myths tell us much about a people. These creation myths tell us about the rich and varied lives and imagination of the first Americans.
—Barbara Blair
PREFACE
There are parts of life that are lost in busy every day needs. We the people believe that we are significant, made from the Creator, made to carry on, to hold life precious, to be the ones who do not forget. Yet, much is lost with television, magazines, movies, material needs, and domination. There are those who forgot and they suffered for it. Will this happen to us?
Creation is the basis for religion. Societies draw inferences about their origins from their civilization, coming from observations made from their spiritual concepts. Theologians classify religions different from the Judeo-Christian as “myths” in today's society. This term reflects a distorting stereotype of these societies which is not positive. In primal religions man is held in harmony with nature and people live in a sacred universe where there is not a separation between the physical and the spiritual world. There are universal similarities between native religions and traditions which emphasize common categories and religious expressions.
Religion is a total way of life, a practice held in every action, every thought, every vision. This is a vision of reality that provides harmony in the world, the community, the family, within the individual. The creation describes the balance of the cosmos since the beginning of time. Creation stories portray the cosmos related to the sacred, revealing the mystery, the balance, the purpose, the wisdom of being human. Most creation beliefs are not monogamous, but have a balance of spiritual beings who watch, protect, guide, punish, and bring forth life again and again.
The Beginning brought the Male, Female, and the Hermaphrodite. Creator is the Boss of the Spirit World. The desire for Power brought the conflict of Good and Evil. Wind brings confusion and chaos. Rain drowns Evil. Lightning burns the corrupt. Dark of night brings healing. Each holds purpose.
The Creator designed the fragile yet beautiful Earth, the Holder of Life. She was molded and sculpted with mountains, mesas, valleys, peaks, and plateaus. Water came from the Rain Spirit. Heat came from the Sun. Moon brought rest.
The Creator germinated life. Some beliefs have the arrival of plants, trees, grasses, fields of flowers, cactus, peyote, lilies, and poisons coming first. Creatures were made to fly and sing over the beauty. Water beings were born to breed in the fast moving rivers, quiet lakes, mountain springs, vast oceans and rippling streams. Water beings are sacred for not only do they bring life, but they also test the humans of their endurance and respect.
Next, animals arrived to move across the land. There were hideous monsters who died or were defeated by Monster Slayers. Animals survived to live above the ground to be hunted, others roam the land at night, sleeping underground during the day. Large, awkward, fast, small, slimy, slithering, furry, hairy animals were designed by the Creator to have purpose on Old Woman Earth. Each living thing holds power given to them by the Spirits.
Old Woman Earth cares for each one with a grandmother's love. Last to come, were the First People who were ignorant, selfish, and argumentative. These were killed by the Spirits' floods, fires or earthquakes. More First People were created and survived only after being taught through harsh consequential testings. Respect was a harsh lesson learned. Ceremony brought peace and balance. Medicine was learned only through great sacrifice. First Man lost his ability to speak the universal language when he became disrespectful of animals and plants. The Creator did not put evil in people, people allow Evil Spirits to enter into them when they are weak and ignorant. The battle continues.
The beliefs in this book are only a sampling of the many that still exist today. The people hold the stories. May they continue to tell and share with their families, communities, and the outsiders. We have much to learn from Creation, from each other, and from the holders of the stories.
We are here. Goodness will prevail if we listen and protect. Evil is still here for the ignorant and selfish.
Emptiness is illuminated with Wisdom. Judgments are formed as guides on how we lead our lives, using knowledge as the most profound element of life, we can share and believe with respect for all. Life is sacred.
—Teresa Pijoan
