Reading Notes California and the Old Southwest- Part A

Southwestern and California Legends unit. Story source: Myths and Legends of California and the Old Southwest by Katharine Berry Judson (1912).

Coyote Creation Stories

I really enjoyed reading through these short Native American stories. I selected the California and Southwestern legends in particular since that region is where I call home. These creation stories focused on how Coyote and Eagle created the world. 

In the first story Coyote and Eagle went back and forth on what the world would need. Coyote created the world too flat, Eagle claimed he needed a place to perch. When eagle soared the sky his feathers dropped down creating trees. They then discussed on the fate of humans. Coyote and Eagle created man together but disagreed on the lifespan of humans, forever or an end. Coyote ended up winning stating man would never come back. 

In the second tale Coyote found out man was cold and needed warmth. He ventured eastward and returned with Fire Stone. In the beginning, Sun had nine brothers, all flaming hot like himself. But Coyote killed the nine brothers and so saved the world from burning up. But Moon also had nine brothers all made of ice, like himself, and the Night People almost froze to death. Coyote went away out on the eastern edge of the world with his knife. He heated stones to keep his hands warm, and as the Moons arose, he killed one after another with his knife, until he had killed nine of them. Thus the people were saved from freezing at night.

What I took away from these tales is that everyone is different and may think differently, but in the end we need one another to live. In order for the world we know to thrive and prosper we need ideas from others that are much different than ourselves. For example we would not have peaks if it were not for Eagle, and at the same time we would not have fire without coyote. 

Photo provided by the New Yorker 

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/12/22/coyote-2