Creation Story
Of the Cherokee
Chizuru Aso, Monica Demaray, Valerie Brodkorb
Long ago, before there were any people, the earth
was a great island floating in a sea of water, suspended
by four cords hanging down from the sky vault, which
was made of solid rock.
It was dark and the animals could not see, so they got
the sun and set it in a track to go across the island
every day from east to west, just overhead.
The Creator told the animals and plants to stay awake
for seven nights. But only a few of the animals were
able to, including owls and panthers, and they were
rewarded with the power to go about in the dark.
Among the plants, only the cedars, pines, spruces,
and laurels stayed awake, so they were allowed to
remain green year-round and to provide the best
medicines.
The Creator chided the other trees: "Because you have
not endured to the end, you shall lose your hair every
winter."
People appeared last, after the animals, the sun, and
the plants, but they multiplied so quickly that they
threatened to overrun the world.
So it was decided that each woman would have only one
child a year, and it has been that way ever since.
http://www.lehigh.edu/~amy2/folklore.html
http://www.state.sd.us/gfp/sdparks/newton/newton.htm
http://www.state.sd.us/sdparks/index.htm
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http://www.lafcat.com/fotw/cwartist.htm