Creation of the Earth - Legend of Sky Woman

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The Iroquois creation story, particularly the tale of Sky Woman , is a central myth in Iroquois culture and explains the origin of the Earth. According to the legend, in the very beginning, there was only water and the Sky World, where Sky Woman lived with her husband, the Sky Chief. One day, Sky Woman fell from the Sky World after a disturbance, and as she plummeted, she was caught by a group of animals in the waters below.

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The animals, seeing that Sky Woman needed a place to land, dove into the waters to find dry ground. After several attempts, a giant turtle succeeded in bringing up a piece of earth from the bottom of the water. The turtle’s back grew larger and larger until it became what we now know as Turtle Island, or North America.

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Sky Woman landed on the turtle’s back, and from there, she began to create life. She planted seeds of various plants, including corn, beans, and squash—the Three Sisters—whose growth symbolized the balance of nature. Eventually, she gave birth to twin sons: Sapling (or Good Mind) and Flint (or Bad Mind), who played key roles in shaping the world. Sapling created the beauty of the world, while Flint, in contrast, created the harsh elements like mountains and storms.

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The Iroquois creation story is rich in symbolism, representing themes of balance, harmony, and the interconnectedness of all life. It emphasizes the sacred connection between the earth and the people who live on it, showing how the world came into being through cooperation, respect for nature, and the spiritual guidance of the Sky Woman.