In the beginning

This is an excerpt from an Iriquois creation myth.
These were the Do-ya-da-no, the twin brothers, Spirits of Good and Evil. Foreknowing their powers, each claimed dominion, and a struggle between them began. Hah-gweh-di-yu claiming the right to beautify the island, while Hah-gweh-da-et-gah determined to destroy. Each went his way, and where peace had reigned, discord and strife prevailed.
At the birth of Hah-gweh-di-yu his Sky Mother, Ata-en-sic, had died, and the island was still dim in the dawn of its new life when, grieving at his mother's death, he shaped the sky with the palm of his hand, and creating the Sun from her face, lifted it there, saying, "You shall rule here where your face will shine forever." But Hah-gweh-da-et-gah set Darkness in the west sky, to drive the Sun down behind it.
Hah-gweh-di-yu then drew forth from the breast of his Mother, the Moon and the Stars, and led them to the Sun as his sisters who would guard his night sky. He gave to the Earth her body, its Great Mother, from whom was to spring all life.
Hah-gweh-di-yu went across a great sea where he met a Being who told him he was his father. Said the Being, How high can you reach?" Hah-gweh-di-yu touched the sky. Again he asked, "How much can you lift?" and Hah-gweh-di-yu grasped a stone mountain and tossed it far into space. Then said the Being, "You are worthy to be my son"; and lashing upon his back two burdens, bade him return to the earth.
Hah-gweh-di-yu swam for many days, and the Sun did not leave the sky until he had neared the earth. The burdens had grown heavy but Hah-gweh-di-yu was strong, and when he reached the shore they fell apart and opened.
From one of the burdens flew an eagle guiding the birds which followed, filling the skies with their song to the Sun as they winged to the forest. From the other there came animals led by the deer, and they sped quickly to the mountains. But Hah-gweh-da-et-gah followed with wild beasts that devour, and grim flying creatures that steal life without sign, and creeping reptiles to poison the way.
When the earth was completed and Hah-gweh-di-yu had bestowed a protecting Spirit upon each of his creations, he besought Hah-gweh-da-et-gah to reconcile his vicious existence to the peacefulness of his own, but Hah-gweh-da-et-gah refused, and challenged Hah-gweh-di-yu to combat, the victor to become the ruler of the earth.
Hah-gweh-da-et-gah proposed weapons which he could control, poisonous roots strong as flint, monsters' teeth, and fangs of serpents. But these Hah-gweh-di-yu refused, selecting the thorns of the giant crab apple tree, which were arrow pointed and strong.
With the thorns they fought. The battle continued many days, ending in the overthrow of Hah-gweh-da-et-gah.
Hah-gweh-di-yu, having now become the ruler, banished his brother to a pit under the earth, whence he cannot return. But he still retains Servers, half human and half beasts, whom he sends to continue his destructive work. These Servers can assume any form Hah-gweh-da-et-gah may command, and they wander all over the earth.
Hah-gweh-di-yu, faithful to the prophesy of the Great Ruler of the floating island, that the earth should be peopled, is continually creating and protecting.

na. "The Iroquois Creation". June 6, 1999. March 16, 2008 <http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/NAANTH/IRCREAT.HTM>.




Reflection:
I chose this creation myth because I find it interesting to read about how early civilizations explained the world around them and it also helps explain the beliefs of this culture. In this myth the Native Americans' emphasize how important it is to respect the Earth. By having the Earth originate from the body of Ata-en-sic, the Native Americans recognize that life originates from women and they also taught their children that the Earth is a living being which they should revere and respect.
This story also shows the delicate balance between peace and chaos. It mentioned shape shifters which would cause destruction where they went, cause those who were taught this story to protect the earth by finding and destroying these Servers. In a way this story has a heaven and a hell through the cloud island and the pit were Hah-gweh-da-et-gah now resides and taught that you should try to defend the Earth from the Servers and others that would cause harm to the Earth.

Dear Diary,
It was after the face of Ata-en-sic was in the middle of the sky that my tribe came across some of the wicked ones. They were not spotted by the Servers and were able to get away in time to warn the tribe. We prepared for their arrival and watched them travel through the forest. These Servers were like none I've seen before. Surely Hah-gweh-da-et-gah has been trying very hard to destroy the world around us for these Servers cut through the forest destroying wherever they went. They killed a few deer and left some of it unused without thanking the deer for its meat and fur. When they came near the land of our tribe we attacked, catching them by surprise. We defended our land with honor and drove away these unwelcome Servers, sending them back to that wretched pit where Hah-gweh-da-et-gah resides.

Essential Question:
As the white man invaded the New World, he brought with him his form of the American dream which focused on religious freedom and a community with God. As they encountered the Native Americans the conflicting beliefs caused hostility to arise due to an intolerance of other’s beliefs. The Native Americans already had their culture in place and the Puritans came to America with a dream of peacefully living out their religion. The intolerance of one another’s cultures and beliefs led to a hostile relationship between the Puritans and the Native Americans. This created an obstacle for the Puritans to overcome, because not only were they now in a strange land but they also had the Native Americans attacking them. The Puritan’s American dream conflicted with the Native American’s and led to a rift between the two cultures and the Puritans managed to prevail over the Native Americans only because of their superior weapons and their yearning to accomplish their dream of living peacefully in America while worshiping their faith.