This week on the farm, we’ve been thinking and talking about the concept of a creation story. Every culture seems to have one, and they vary in their complexities, but they all share a common theme, one of the birth of humanity, and the way our world became what it is, which is important for us as philosophical people!
Where we live was once the land of the Cayuga Indians, a part of the six Haudenasaunee nations, spread throughout New York State. Like many Indian nations, the Haudenosaunee have their own creation story, however, like all stories, the Cayuga’s is unique and representative of the environment of our local area in the Finger Lakes. The story is about Sky Woman, the Mother Goddess, who descended to Earth by falling through a hole in the sky. Water birds carried her swiftly down to the ocean, and placed her on the back of a giant turtle, Turtle Island, which she inhabited. She was cast out of the sky because she violated a taboo, or because of her jealous husband’s corruption.
The name Sky Woman is her title and not her name, as she is of the Sky People; her Cayuga name is Awenhai, or “Mature Flower.” Beyond this point, her story varies by tribe, but these versions are interesting because of the diverse perspectives of the tribes. Some stories present Sky Woman as a lesser character, dying in childbirth after her descent to Earth, while in the other versions she gains a greater role as the story continues. Some accounts tell of Sky Woman being the mother of twins, called Sky-Holder and Flint, also known as Good Spirit and Bad Spirit, depending on the sources.
But more accounts proclaim that Sky Woman had a daughter, Tekawerahkwa, whose name means “breath of the wind,” and she in turn gave birth to the twins. Some tell of Sky-Holder as being all good things, while Flint represents all the bad. But these perceptions were met with alternative opinions, saying that neither twin was necessarily bad; each twin represented their set of polar opposites for a balanced world, such as “light” and “creation” for Sky-Holder, and “darkness” and “death” for Flint. Both of these balancing forces are needed to live a stable existence.
Some versions proclaim that Sky Woman favored Flint, because she had been deceived into thinking that Sky-Holder had killed Tekawerahkwa, or that Sky Woman disapproved of Sky-Holder. Other accounts tell that she loved both of her grandchildren equally, saying there must be life as well as death in this world.
Sky Woman is often associated with the moon, and some believe she turned into the moon; others tell of Sky-Holder turning her body into the sun, moon and stars upon her death, or that she was the creator of the stars. No matter the actual truth, there is a common theme here (think nighttime!), which means that Sky Woman probably was revered as a figure of feminine power, similar to the concept of “Yin” in the Yin-and-Yang of Eastern spirituality, which represents a similar message and character to Sky Woman!
We loved reading this story, because it embodies things that we, as a family, can cherish and relate to despite its different cultural background, and that is meaning and purpose! Through lots of discussion and contemplation (as well as smiles and head-nods), we realized that every family is not only capable of having a story, but it is practically created with it, because one person’s humble tales and humorous recalling are blended with the equally unique occurrences and stories of the others! And in our opinion, it doesn’t end there—if every family were to create their own story, it could go hand-in-hand with a keen sense of environmental appreciation shared by the family, as the Cayuga Indians used the power of their stories to connect and live in coexistence with nature!
So, from our family to yours, we offer a cool suggestion—could you write your own family creation story? It could include some neat ideas based on your own favorite Native American excerpts, or for creativity, it could include elements of your own values mixed with things you encounter every day, from your front yard plants to your pets! It is all up to your collective ingenuity, and make sure your creation story reflects your passion for your environment, your home, and your family! Are you ready? We certainly are—we will create ours as soon as possible! Have fun!
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