Like many cultures, the American Indians passed down their own beliefs which describe the creations of Earth and people. Depending on the tribe, location, history, lifestyle and external influences each story contained its own unique variation. The following will compare and contrast the Cherokee and Navajo belief in creation as well as delve into the viewpoints of each tribe and their relationship with the earth, animals and other people. It is hard for a person to understand why particular cultures act and believe the way they do without understanding their belief and history. The Cherokee Indians told creation stories for the Milky Way , Earth , as well as man and woman .…
Origin Stories A creation story is any story that tells of a creation, these stories can be as specific as the creation of a new invention or they can be as broad as the creation of everything (Creation Story Definition). Many creation stories have points that are very similar and point out that it is very possible that many of these events are true since they are in common. There are also many differences in these stories as well. This paper however is going to detail the similarities and differences between the Native American creation story of the Navajo “Haijiinei” to the creation story of the Bible which is detailed in the book of Genesis.…
The O’odham tribe are a group of Native Americans who are linked to the Sonoran Desert of east Arizona and northwestern Mexico. Today, their reservation lies within less than a mile away from present day Tucson and Phoenix. The O’odham are commonly referred to as the ‘Desert People’ as this climate has historically been the tribe’s home for thousands of years. By researching their origins, culture, history of contact, and current status we can then grasp a better understanding of the Tohono O’odham tribe of the Southwest and their contributions to contemporary Native American cultures.…
Genesis 1:26 states that “man was created to be dominant over everything that creepeth upon the earth”. Human beings were created to be superior over the animals, not considered to be equal, and while they are here to make sure that animals are not mistreated, they also know that animals are needed for the survival of humans. This is similar because both worldviews feel a person has to prove themselves so a life in the future is deserved. They are also different due to how they feel about animals. 3.…
The Hindu creation story is more about the Gods creating the universe by sacrificing Purusha an ancient being that holds within him the cosmos, while Hawaiian creation folklore tells more of an event which created the universe, not really a person. These myths are supposed to explain that which is unknown as in the ancient world one did not have much time to think about the creation of the universe when the whole tribe is starving. These myths serve a different purpose as well, as we can see through history the Gods or God are used to justify actions taken by the followers. For example, the infamous Ku Klux Klan or KKK believed that their work was representative of that of God himself. Moreover, groups such as Hamas and the infamous ISIL and ISIS in the middle east justify their atrocities using divine destiny to convince other of their cause.…
With many religions and beliefs, comes a variety of creation stories. Through stories mankind has learned all kinds of lessons as well as where they came from, and these two creation stories are no exception. The similarities and differences between the Iroquois and Judeo-Christian creation stories are uncanny. Genesis 1-4 describes how God made the Earth in technically six days, since he took the seventh day off and made it holy; as well as several unfortunate events that took place involving Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel. The creation story perfectly demonstrates their belief in the concept of sin.…
It helps the reader to comprehend that their ancestors went through so that that they can learn how to live with each other peacefully. For instance, in the Iroquois Creation Story the foundation of the Great Island was not that simple. Some of the characters had to sacrifice their lives for…
Creation Through the Natives’ Eyes Native Americans lived in many different groups and tribes, and each tribe seemed to have their own view on how the world came to be. There were a vast amount of native tribes, almost too many to count. Almost every tribe developed their own myths with some of them being very similar and some being radically different. These stories helped shape the way the natives lived and interacted with one another. Some tribes and very short and brief stories while others had very long and detailed stories.…
The roles of women are different in the three creation myths. In the Christian myth, the expectations of women are to multiply, dominate the animal kingdom, and replenish and subdue the earth, just as the man would. However, in the Iroquois myth, the Sky Women are not supposed reproduce, and give birth. In the Navajo myth, women, such as the First Woman, were the ones who usually prepared, and cooked the food, while the men hunted with tools.…
Two Worlds Become One How does the Iroquois Creation story show similarities and differences from the Christian Creation story? In “The Iroquois Creation Story” by David Cusick, connections can be made with the Christian Creation story.…
In my Mexican culture they used animals in their daily life. Animals like donkeys and horses are used to carry maize, wood, water and even people to different locations within their city. Without them many of these people would need to take several trips on foot to gather the materials needed and travel on uneven dirt paths or mountains that are dangerous. In many aspects of the world there are different cultures that progressed over time. In the Creation stories from around the world the myths are from religious views and cultural background.…
This is essey about two diffrent cultures and religions the Native American and Judeo-Christian creation story. These two stories can help us see how diffrent and similar are these two stories. In the beginning we can see how they are diffrent. In the Native American story we have no clue who created the skyworld and people on it,while in Judeo-Christian story we know that God created a world in 7 days.…
The Navajo’s creation story is no different. It is known as the Diné Bahaneʼ. The story takes place in the area around the Navajo’s homeland, referred to as Dinétah. The story begins by describing how in the beginning,…
Creation myths teach the beliefs of origin, values, and common knowledge of a group of people, however, they vary from tribe to tribe. In both the Iroquois myth, “The World on the Turtle’s Back”, and the Yoruba myth, “The Golden Chain”, men have good in their nature. The beliefs in the Iroquois myth teaches that all life has balance. The Yoruba myth teaches that men are more often good than bad. The Iroquois gods do not display guilt, while the Yoruba people express remorse and abstain from making the same mistake.…
Creation narratives were used by ancient societies to help explain the world and to create a definitive beginning. These stories show that humankind had a deep-seated need to explain its origins and provide a self-identity to the people living in those societies. The cultural beliefs helped shaped the narratives and included a view of the social structure, and natural world thus shaping the landscape for ongoing generations. “The Sacrifice or Purusha” from the Rig Veda portrays Purusha as the “sacrificial victim.” He was described as “Thousand headed…having pervaded the earth on all sides”.…