Native+American+Myth+Differences

Created By: Kevin Schickel

 CREATION STORIES & GODS

[|Cherokee]

The Cherokee believed that earth was a great island. The island was suspended by a cord to the sky. They believed that when earth was old and worn out, people would die, the cords would break and the earth would sink into the ocean.

The Cherokee’s believed that the earth was created by a water beetle that dove to the bottom of the ocean and came up with soft mud. This mud grew and spread and eventually became the island of earth. Animals and trees were created and were required to stay awake for 7 days. Many of the animals and trees were unable to stay awake for the full 7 days. The animals that were able to stay awake like the owl were given night vision and the trees that were able to stay awake like a pine tree would not lose their hair.

The human population started with a brother and sister. The sister was able to multiply every 7 days. Soon the earth was becoming overpopulated. After this the sister was able to give birth only once a year.

Asgaya Gigagei – The red man or woman evoked spells to cure the ill. Asgaya Gigagei is either male or female depending on the sex of the patient.

Kanati – The “lucky hunter” sometimes called 1st man. He lives with his wife Selu (corn) in the east where the sun rises, and their sons, the twin thunder boys live in the west.

Ocasta – “Stonecoat” equally good and evil. Ocasta was one of the Creators helpers. Ocasta created witches and caused turmoil. Some women caught him and the men cremated him. Some of the men were given the power to heal from the smoke of Ocasta.

Selu- Sometimes known as 1st Woman. Created corn in secret by rubbing her belly or be defecating. Her sons killed her because they decided she was a witch.

Sun – A goddess – when Sun’s daughter was bitten by a snake and taken to Ghost Country. Sun hid herself in grief. The world was dark and her tears caused great floods. The Cherokee sent young men and women to heal the sun with singing and dancing.

Twin Thunder Boys – When thunder sounded the boys are playing ball.

The Native American Tribe of the Sioux believed that before creation the gods lived in an undifferentiated celestial domain and humans lived in an indescribably sub terrain devoid of culture. The chief god was Takushkanshkan (something that moves). The sun was married to the moon and they had a daughter named Wohpe (falling star). The sun’s wife had an affair soTakushkanshkan punished her. The moon is sent away to a new domain and this is how time was created.
 * Sioux**

The Gods become bored and start looking for people. Inktomi, the god, changes into a wolf and finds a village of humans. The wolf convinces Tokahe (f irst human) to come to the surface. Tokahe convinces 28 others to join him. They have many hardships but learn needed skills to live. This is how humans became inhabitants of earth.

The Sioux had great respect of animals. In fact their gods/spirits involved animals. The Black Bear was the guardian symbol of long life, strength, and courage. The [|Coyote] was a trickster clown lurking around and playing pranks. Coyote created the horse. People must die forever not like plants that die in winter and are green again in summer.

[|Blackfeet]
 The Blackfeet had an interesting view of creation. An Old Man (Napi) came from the south and made mountains, prairies, forests, birds and animals. The Old Man was very busy and found just the right paces for the plants and animals to live and grow. The Blackfeet tribe believed that Napi is powerful but other times helpless and asks for aid from the animals. He is a combination of strength, weakness, wisdom, folly, childishness and malice. They also believe that Napi will someday return. The weather was also very important to the Blackfeet. The sun is a man the Supreme Chief of the World. The sun is a beneficent person of great wisdom and kindness. He is good to those who do right. The moon is the night light and married to the Sun. Thunder was worshipped because he brings rain. They also believed that animals were very spritial and powerful. Animals with great powers are the Buffalo, Bear, Raven, Wolf, Beaver and Geese


 * Apache**

The Apache believed that in the beginning all was dark. The Creator (one who lives above) created a disk (the moon & sun) one side was white and the other yellow. In the east, the yellow streaks down and in the west there are many vibrant colors. This is how light was created.

A girl came from the clouds and the Creator was surprised that she had not parents. He decided to create a small boy. The girl with-out-parents helped the Creator make the earth. A tarantula made cords to help pull the earth to enlarge it. The Creator made poles to stabilize the earth. The Creator chanted 4 times and the earth was made still. The Creator then made two girls and one boy. The boy would become Sky Boy – chief to sky people. One girl became Earth Daughter and she looked over all the earth and crops. The other girl became Pollen Girl and was responsible for Health Care. The Girl with-out-parents was in charge overall. The Creator made animals, birds, trees and hills. A flood came and from the flood waters mountains, valleys and rivers were made. This is how the world was made.

The Apache did not have many gods. The Gahe was a supernatural beings who dwelled inside mountains. He could be heard dancing and beating drums. Gahe can heal and drive away disease. Another Gahe appears as a clown and he is usually called The Grey One.


 * Iroquois**

The Iroquois believed the country above the sky was inhabited by superior beings. They were ruled by the Great Spirit. A sea turtle created earth from the mud at the bottom of the ocean. The Great Spirit banished his pregnant daughter to earth. The daughter bore a daughter while she was on earth. This daughter had illegitimate twins and she died in childbirth. The twin who killed his mother by birthing the wrong way became the evil twin. The evil twin was better liked by his grandmother and was given special treatment. He was very greedy and mean to all the animals. The good twin was given a message from the Sea Turtle (his father) that he needed to continue being good and listens to him. He gave him corn to plant. The good twin produced corn and had many children. The evil twin also had children and they were also evil. Finally, a fight occurred between the brothers and the good twin won.

Deohako was the Spirit of Maize, beans, gourds who live together in a single hill. Searching for dew the maize spirit Onatha was captured by the evil spirit Hahgwehdaetgah who took her to the underworld. Sun rescued her and she looked after the corn. Hino was the thunder God. Hino was also the God of the Sky, the rainbow is his consort with fire arrows he destroys evil beings. The land was very important to the Iroquois.


 * Pueblo**

The Pueblo lived underground in a holy place called Sipapu. They climbed out of a hole to the light this is how they started to inhabit earth. The people suffered many natural disasters. God taught them how to farm, grow corn and build houses. God gave the Pueblo twin sons to watch over them. The twins helped them in wars.

Supreme God created the earth. This gods name was Awonawilona the one who contains everything. The Supreme God was the Creator of all. Before creation there was only Awonawilona; all else was darkness and emptiness. Awonalwilona was both male and female. Awonawilona created everything from himself and taking form became the maker of light.


 * REGIONS**

The Native American tribe, the Cherokee, lived in the southeastern United States. Many of them inhabited the Great Smokey Mountains
 * Cherokee**

The Native American Tribe, the Sioux, was located in a vast area of North America. They inhabited as far south as Arkansas to the east Lake Michigan over to the Rocky Mountains.
 * Sioux**

The Native American tribe, of Blackfeet, lived in Montana and southern Alberta, Canada.  The Native American tribe, of Apache, lived primarily in New Mexico and Arizona. They were also found in Mexico.
 * Blackfeet**
 * Apache**

The Native American tribe, of Iroquois, inhabited the land in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and the eastern shores of Lake Erie.
 * Iroquois**

The Native American tribe of the Pueblo lived in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Western Texas.
 * Pueblo**


 * Key Differences/Similarities**

The Cherokee and the Iroquois believed that animals, a water beetle and a sea turtle, created the earth from the mud of the ocean. Both the Cherokee and the Iroquois were from the eastern United States. They both had gods that looked over the sun and corn. Corn was very important to both the Cherokee and the Iroquois for their survival.

The Apache and Pueblo tribes were both from the southwestern United States. They both believed that the world was very dark before God showed them the light. They both believed that one God created the earth and that there were others sent by God. They believed that spirits looked over them and taught them how to survive the harshness of earth. The Apache had a spirit that watched the sky, the earth and crops, and health care. The Pueblo’s God gave them twin boys to watch over them.

The Sioux and Blackfeet tribes were from the Plains of the United States and Canada. They both believed that animals had special powers and helped guide them through life. However, their views of creation were very different. The Blackfeet believed that The Old Man (Napi) created all of life on earth. The Sioux believed that Gods lived in a celestial domain and humans lived in a sub terrain.


 * Bibliography**

//Native American Gods//. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.[]. //Blackfeet Religion//. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. []. // Pueblo creation myth //. Web. 11 Jan. 2010. []. // Iroquois Creation Myth //. Web. 12 Jan. 2010. []. // Apache Creation Story //. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. []. // Native American Indian //. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. []. //Lakota Sioux Creation Myth //. Web. 10 Jan. 2010. [].