The Haudenosaunee Creation Story
Sky Woman
Long, long ago, the earth was deep beneath the water. There was a great darkness because no sun or moon or stars shone. The only creatures living in this dark world were water animals such as the beaver, muskrat, duck and loon.Far above the water-covered earth was the Land of the Happy Spirits, where the Great Spirit dwelled. In the center of this upper realm was a giant apple tree with roots that sank deep into the ground.
One day the Great Spirit pulled the tree up from its roots creating a pit in the ground. The Great Spirit called to his daughter, who lived in the Upper World. He commanded her to look into the pit. The woman did as she was told and peered through the hole. In the distance, she saw the Lower World covered by water and clouds.
The Great Spirit spoke to his daughter, telling her to go into the world of darkness. He then tenderly picked her up and dropped her into the hole. The woman, who would be called Sky Woman by those creatures watching her fall, began to slowly float downward.
As Sky Woman continued her descent, the water animals looked up. Far above them they saw a great light that was Sky Woman. The animals were initially afraid because of the light emanating from her. In their fear, they dove deep beneath the water.
The animals eventually conquered their fear and came back up to the surface. Now they were concerned about the woman, and what would happen to her when she reached the water.
The beaver told the others that they must find a dry place for her to rest upon. The beaver plunged deep beneath the water in search of earth. He was unsuccessful. After a time, his dead body surfaced to the top of the water.
The loon was the next creature to try to find some earth. He, too, was unsuccessful. Many others tried, but each animal failed. At last, the muskrat said he would try. When his dead body floated to the top, his little claws were clenched tight. The others opened his claws and found a little bit of earth.
The water animals summoned a great turtle and patted the earth upon its back. At once the turtle grew and grew, as did the amount of earth. This earth became North America, a great island.
During all this time, Sky Woman continued her gentle fall. The leader of the swans grew concerned as Sky Woman's approach grew imminent. He gathered a flock of swans that flew upward and allowed Sky Woman to rest upon their back. With great care, they placed her upon the newly formed earth.
Told by Keller George, Wolf Clan, Oneida NationPainting by Ernie Smith, (1907-1975), Tonawanda Seneca artist of the Heron Clan
The Indian Arts ProjectSix Nations of Iroquoia - Haudenonsaunee
The term Iroquois applies to one specific group of Iroquoian speakers, belonging to the League of the Five Nations. These people called themselves the Haudenonsaunee - People of the Longhouse. The original homeland of the Haudenonsaunee was in upstate New York between the Adirondack Mountains along the Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls.
To stop tribal conflict and killing, the Haudenonsaunee formed The League of Peace and Power (Iroquois Confederacy). This politico-economic-cultural alliance, before contact with Europeans, healed the conflict that was tearing the people apart.
Members of the League include the
Seneca - the great hill people
Cayuga - people at the mucky land
Onondaga - the people of the hills, also called the firekeepers or the wampum keepers
Oneida - the people of the standing stone
Mohawk - the possessors of flint
Tuscarora - hemp gatherers or shirt wearing people, who moved from North Carolina in 1713, making it the Six Nations
