Native American Creation Stories
Paula Petrik, Professor of History and Art History, George Mason University
Introduction
You're going to read about one Native American interpretation of the beginning of human existence. Think about the European reliance on the biblical creation story and how this Native American story both compares and contrasts with the biblical version. Speculate about how Europeans reacted to hearing these stories and how the stories influenced their views of Indian culture. Religion was one of the most obvious and initial areas of culture clash between Europeans and Native Americans.
Assignment
Read the following creation stories:
- New Netherlands Creation Story (ca. 1620's)
- Origins of Ottawa Society: A Creation Story (ca. 1720's)
- Sioux Creation Story (ca. 1910)
Then answer the following questions related to the stories:
- According to the New Netherlands story, what existed before the earth was created? What were the first three creatures created? How are the personalities of these three creatures reflected by people in society? Explain the significance of the main figure in this American Indian creation story and what it tells us about their culture.
- According to the Ottawa, how was humankind created? Give an example of how the Ottawa learned to survive by adapting to their environment. Explain how the Ottawa viewed the role of women in their society.
- Why does the Sioux creation story include the crow, loon, otter, beaver, and turtle? Compare the Sioux story with the other creation stories.
- What evidence do you find in the oral tradition that European culture influenced Native American beliefs about creation?
- From your analysis of the documents, what would say are the strengths and weaknesses of the oral tradition as historical source material? What can be learned about pre-Columbain life and thought among indigenous peoples from a close reading of the materials?
Resources
World Mythology: Native American Mythology - The Minneapolis Institute of the Arts maintains a rich, varied, and one of the most useful sites for educators of which this part is an excellent example.