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The Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) People
What is the Haudenosaunee Concept of Creation? History begins with
Creation. There are several versions of the Creation story. This
is one of them:
Our world began with the creation of the earth, which is seen as
the horizontal plane that separates the world above from the world
below. In the Sky-World lived a fellow named "The Sky Holder." Next
to his lodge was the Great Tree of Light, for which he was the caretaker.
The flowers of this tree gave off bright light. His wife, named
"Mature Flowers," fell through a hole created when he uprooted that
tree at her urging. She fell into the dark world below, a world
of endless water.
The water animals decided to save her because she had the power
to create life. The birds flew up and caught her in their inter-locked
wings. They decided to place her on the back of a giant snapping
turtle. The muskrat was the only animal that could dive deep enough
to retrieve some mud from the bottom of the sea. The mud was placed
on the back of the turtle and it began to grow. As she walked about
in an ever-expanding circle, the mud grew into an island. Each day
she walked counterclockwise and the island expanded.
The Iroquois still dance in that direction to honor the Creation.
Seeds fell from her clothing and began to sprout in the fresh earth.
She then gave birth to a daughter who later had many suitors from
the male beings who could transform themselves into human form.
She selected the being who wore scalloped leggings and a large robe,
said to be a turtle-being. He placed two arrows over her body at
night, and she became pregnant. She had twins, but died giving birth
to the second son, as he was born through her armpit.
The Sky Woman buried her daughter and from her body grew the Three
Sisters - Corn, Beans and Squash. From her heart grew the tobacco
plant which we still use as a way to carry our thought to the Sky
World. The deceased daughter became known as Earth-Mother. The good-minded
twin was named "He Grasps the Sky With Both Hands," and his evil-minded
brother was named "Flint - The Mischievous One." The good-minded
brother set about to create plants, animals and birds. In the sky
he placed our Grandmother the Moon, our Elder Brother the Sun (Day
Bringer), the Morning Star, and the Milky Way as the path to the
Sky World. He created the cycles of day and night, of the changing
seasons.
His evil-minded brother, in trying to imitate his brother's work,
created thistles, thorns, bats, monsters, and serpents, as well
as rapids in the rivers, winter in the seasons, and other things
that would make life on the new earth difficult for the people that
were about to be created. The evil-minded brother fought his good-minded
brother for dominance in the newly created world. They played lacrosse
to a draw. This is why lacrosse is still played today, as it is
a way to manifest the classic struggle of good over evil.
They held a wrestling match but were of equal strength. However,
the evil-minded one was finally defeated by being struck by a deer
antler and banished from the earth. The Universe was divided into
two spheres of power. The evil-minded one was sent underground,
where he would rule over the serpents and powers of the deep. He
would also have dominion over the night. The good-minded brother
would be responsible for life on earth and have dominion over the
day. Forever, the two brothers would be opposing powers of our universe
and the idea of duality is introduced.
The grandmother had favored Flint and tried to have him return to
the earth, but she lost her authority to the good-minded twin after
losing a dice game. That game is still played in the ceremonies
today, again as a way to relive the events from the time of creation
and teach us to take both success and failure in stride. The good-minded
one then went about creating many things in the new world. First
he took yellowish bark from a tree and created the Asian people.
He then took the foam from the great salt sea and created the Caucasian
people. He created African people from the rich, black soil.
The good- minded one created a man that he named "Sapling" and a
woman he named "Growing Flower," from the reddish clay. He breathed
life into them. But all the races began to fight over a shinny object
and had to be sent to four different quarters of the world, each
in their own land. The basic element of four is introduced into
our world view. The good-minded brother taught the people the use
of the plants and animals, ceremonies of thanksgiving and to live
in harmony and peace.
We have come to refer to him as Sonkwaiatison, "the Creator." Before
departing from the earth, he struck a deal with the people. We are
to protect his gifts of Creation and be respectful of all living
things, and were to simply be thankful for all that he has provided,
as he has given us all that we need to live a happy life. In return
for showing thanks, he would strive to keep the cycles of life continuing
for the benefit of the people.
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