Native American And Legends Of Creation
Every culture has its own legend of creation. These legends are told by the older generation to the younger one, and can make a fascinating story on a cold winter's day when the family is sitting around a fire and sipping hot chocolate. Many of these legends have been lost, as they were not written. Strangely, Native American tribes have several legends of creation and these too were passed down orally from one generation to another. However, these legends have some how survived the rigors of time and are still surviving. |
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It is quite possible that many of these Native American legends of creation are still available, as historians and other experts have made an effort to preserve these important pieces of literature and culture. For Native Americans, these legends are the basis of their very existence. Each tribe has its own legend and that is what makes them so interesting and fascinating.
All Native American tribes have similar beliefs -- they believe that all living and non-living things have life and a definite state of being. All these together form the ecosystem of life and when world was crated, everything had life; and the sounds and movements of inanimate objects are duplicated by human beings. The Native Americans believe that everything around them, including they themselves, existed in harmony with one another and no one owned anything or anyone.
One legend of creation states that in the beginning of time, the universe just had Tepeu and Gucumatz. They both sat and thought together and when this happened whatever they used to think about used to come into being. So, when they thought about the Earth, it appeared, and likewise the mountains, rivers, valleys, trees, animals and sky. However, none of these things had the ability to praise Tepeu and Gucumatz, so the two began forming a higher and more intelligent life form made from clay. Unfortunately, the clay models broke after getting wet. So, they went on to make beings from out. These wooden beings did harm to the earth, so the gods sent a deluge to earth to wipe them out. Then, the two gods took help of the mountain lion, parrot, coyote and crow to make four new life forms. These new life forms actually were good and became the ancestors of the Quiche tribe.
Another Native American legend of creation says how there was just darkness in the beginning and then all of a sudden a small man with a beard appeared. He was known as One Who Lives Above. He came rubbing his eyes as though he had just got up from sleep. Then he rubbed his hands together and this gave rise to a little girl called Girl Without Parents. When the man rubbed his face, the Sun god appeared; and when he rubbed his brow, a small boy appeared. This gave rise to four gods. However, the old man then created the tarantula, lightening maker, big dipper and lightening rumbler. Thereafter, the four gods took turns to kick a ball, which grew bigger with each kick. This ball became the earth and thereafter the old man, or the creator, began creating all life on earth.
Similarly, there are many beautiful legends of creation if you just sit down and take a look at Native American history, culture and beliefs. Each is more beautiful and more fascinating that the previous one.
More Articles :
Yale University: The Native American Myths: Creation to Death
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1998/2/98.02.02.x.html#e
Crystal Links: Native American Myths of Creation
http://www.crystalinks.com/nativeamcreation.html
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Dancing can always transcend languages, cultures, religions and beliefs. So, why should Native American tribal dancing be any different? A person can always sit down and enjoy the numerous types of dances that the different Native American tribes have. Native American tribal dancing is used in different situations -- to express grief or joy, as a form of entertainment, as a type of prayer and as a way to get closer to nature. 