The Creation Story – Part Two - Turtle Island (Ojibway/Anishinaabe)

Up until now, I have been focusing on the absolute beginning of creation as taught by the Anishinaabe stories. I have been comparing in my mind, that which I have been taught about creation in seven days and what I have been learning about Ojibway. I have welcomed the Ojibway teachings as they have enhanced my beleif and understanding of God. I have seen creation in a fresh way.

I then turned my research toward Nanabozho. He seems to be a "type" of Christ. Its as though they understood the majesty and yet the humanity of "God with us". Nanabozho was born of The Creators Spirit united with Woman. In and through Him all things were recreated. I have read how he became the object of scorn or ridicule. I read soemwhere he was defeated by the evil one. Incredible.

I decided that even though I wasnt really finished with Nanabozho, I would push forward to the Flood Epic. This is like the Noahs Ark account. They had a turtle and we had an ark. Salvation and Seed for the world was found in and through Noah and the Ark. Salvation and seed for the world was found in and through Nanabozho and the turtle, or Salvation and seed for the world was found in and through Nokomis and the Turtle. This is what I have learned so far. I am still reading.....

Hey...I found this great site http://www.greywolfteachinglodge.ca/teachings.htm.

This is where I got the following Flood Epic Story. This is part two of the creation story.........

Long ago, after the Great Mystery, or Gichi-Manidoo, first peopled the earth, the Anishinaabe, or Original People, strayed from their harmonious ways and began to argue and fight with one another. Brother turned against brother and soon the Anishinaabe were killing one another over hunting grounds and others disagreements. Seeing that harmony, brotherhood, sisterhood, and respect for all living things no longer prevailed on Earth, Gichi-Manidoo decided to purify the Earth. He did this with water.

The water came in the form of a great flood, or gii-mooshka'an, upon the Earth destroying the Anishinaabe people and most of the animals as well. Only Nenabozhoo, the central figure in many of the Anishinaabe oral traditions, was able to survive the flood, along with a few animals and birds who managed to swim and fly. Nenabozhoo floated on a huge log searching for land, but none was to be found as the Earth was now covered by the great flood. Nenabozhoo allowed the remaining animals and birds to take turns resting on the log as well.

Finally, Nenabozhoo spoke.

"I am going to do something," he said. "I am going to swim to the bottom of this water and grab a handful of earth. With this small bit of Earth, I believe we can create a new land for us to live on with the help of the Four Winds and Gichi-Manidoo."

So Nenabozhoo dived into the water and was gone for a long time. Finally he surfaced, and short of breath told the animals that the water is too deep for him to swim to the bottom. All were silent. Finally, Maang, the Loon spoke up. "I can dive under the water for a long way, that is how I catch my food. I will try to make it to the bottom and return with some Earth in my beak." The Loon disappeared and was gone for a very long time. Surely, thought the others, the Loon must have drowned. Then they saw him float to the surface, weak and nearly unconscious. "I couldn't make it, there must be no bottom to this water," he gasped. Then Zhingibis, the helldiver came forward and said "I will try next, everyone knows I can dive great distances." So the helldiver went under. Again, a very long time passed and the others thought he was surely drowned. At last he too floated to the surface. He was unconscious, and not till he came to could he relate to the others that he too was unable to fetch the Earth from the bottom. Many more animals tried but failed, including Zhaangweshi, the mink, and even Mikinaak, the turtle. All failed and it seemed as though there was no way to get the much needed Earth from the bottom. Then a soft muffled voice was heard. "I can do it," it spoke softly. At first no one could see who it was that spoke up. Then, the little Wazhashk, muskrat stepped forward. "I'll try," he repeated. Some of the other, bigger, more powerful animals laughed at muskrat. Nenabozhoo spoke up. "Only Gichi-Manidoo can place judgment on others. If muskrat wants to try, he should be allowed to." So, muskrat dove into the water. He was gone much longer than any of the others who tried to reach the bottom. After a while Nenabozhoo and the other animals were certain that muskrat had given his life trying to reach the bottom. Far below the water's surface, Muskrat, had in fact reached the bottom. Very weak from lack of air, he grabbed some Earth in his paw and with all the energy he could muster began to swim for the surface. One of the animals spotted Muskrat as he floated to the surface. Nenabozhoo pulled him up onto the log. "Brothers and sisters," Nenabozhoo said, "Muskrat went too long without air, he is dead." A song of mourning and praise was heard across the water as Muskrat's spirit passed on to the spirit world. Suddenly Nenabozhoo exclaimed, "Look, there is something in his paw!" Nenabozhoo carefully opened the tiny paw. All the animals gathered close to see what was held so tightly there. Muskrat's paw opened and revealed a small ball of Earth. The animals all shouted with joy. Muskrat sacrificed his life so that life on Earth could begin anew.

Nenabozhoo took the piece of Earth from Muskrat's paw. Just then, the turtle swam forward and said, "Use my back to bear the weight of this piece of Earth. With the help of Gichi-Manidoo, we can make a new Earth." Nenabozhoo put the piece of Earth on the turtle's back. Suddenly, the wind blew from each of the Four Directions. The tiny piece of Earth on the turtle's back began to grow. It grew and grew and grew until it formed a mi-ni-si', or island in the water. The island grew larger and larger, but still the turtle bore the weight of the Earth on his back. Nenabozhoo and the animals all sang and danced in a widening circle on the growing island. After a while, the Four Winds ceased to blow and the waters became still. A huge island sat in the middle of the water, and today that island is known as North America.

Traditional Indian people, including the Ojibway, hold special reverence for the turtle who sacrificed his life and made life possible for the Earth's second people. To this day, the Muskrat has been given a good life. No matter that marshes have been drained and their homes destroyed in the name of progress, the Muskrat continues to survive and multiply. The Muskrats do their part today in remembering the great flood; they build their homes in the shape of the little ball of Earth and the island that was formed from it.

Is that great or what! What an awesome description. I have seen many variations of this story. Some variations have Nokomis instead of Nanabozho. I will post more.

I am thankful too learn history as it pertains to Turtle Island and I am thankful to take this journey through the eyes of the Anishinaabe people.

meegwich