The World on a Turtle's Back Creation Myth

1. In Harmony with NatureIn Harmony with Nature
Native American TraditionsNative American Traditions

2. Native AmericansNative Americans
200 distinct groups – 500 distinct200 distinct groups – 500 distinct
languageslanguages
Created the first American LiteratureCreated the first American Literature
Oral Tradition - Spoken words handedOral Tradition - Spoken words handed
down from generation to generation indown from generation to generation in
storytelling and performancesstorytelling and performances

3. Native American LiteratureNative American Literature
Emphasizes the importance of living inEmphasizes the importance of living in
harmony with the natural worldharmony with the natural world
Human beings have a kinship withHuman beings have a kinship with
animals, plants, the land, heavenly bodies,animals, plants, the land, heavenly bodies,
and the elementsand the elements
The human and the nonhuman are seenThe human and the nonhuman are seen
as parts of a sacred wholeas parts of a sacred whole
Human beings must maintain a rightHuman beings must maintain a right
relationship with the world around themrelationship with the world around them

4. Native American LiteratureNative American Literature
Creation myths explain how the universe,Creation myths explain how the universe,
earth, and life beganearth, and life began
Hero and trickster tales show how theHero and trickster tales show how the
world transformed to its present stateworld transformed to its present state
Ritual songs and chants are used as partRitual songs and chants are used as part
of Native American ceremoniesof Native American ceremonies

5. IroquoisIroquois
 Refers to six separate Native American groups –Refers to six separate Native American groups –
Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onodaga, Mohawk,Seneca, Cayuga, Oneida, Onodaga, Mohawk,
and Tuscaroraand Tuscarora
 All but the Tuscarora once resided in what isAll but the Tuscarora once resided in what is
now New York Statenow New York State
 War with other tribes led to the formation of theWar with other tribes led to the formation of the
“Iroquois League” in 1570“Iroquois League” in 1570
 For 200 years, Iroquois dominated other NativeFor 200 years, Iroquois dominated other Native
American groups and remained free from BritishAmerican groups and remained free from British
and French ruleand French rule

6. The World on the Turtle’s BackThe World on the Turtle’s Back
Iroquois Creation MythIroquois Creation Myth
Myth – Traditional story, passed downMyth – Traditional story, passed down
through generations, that explains why thethrough generations, that explains why the
world is the way that it is.world is the way that it is.
Creation Myth – A myth that explains howCreation Myth – A myth that explains how
the universe, earth and life beganthe universe, earth and life began

7. Creation MythsCreation Myths
Explain the beginnings of the universe,Explain the beginnings of the universe,
life, and the earthlife, and the earth
To some extent, are imaginative stories ofTo some extent, are imaginative stories of
cause and effectcause and effect
Cause and Effect Relationship - One thingCause and Effect Relationship - One thing
(the cause) directly brings about the other(the cause) directly brings about the other
(the effect)(the effect)

8. Sky Woman
(1936)
By Ernest Smith

9. The World on the Turtle’s BackThe World on the Turtle’s Back
Contains the idea that there is a sky worldContains the idea that there is a sky world
above our world where supernaturalabove our world where supernatural
beings existbeings exist
A story ofA story of cause and effectcause and effect
The actions of supernatural beingsThe actions of supernatural beings causecause thethe
present features of the world to existpresent features of the world to exist
ExplainsExplains howhow the land and other physicalthe land and other physical
features were formedfeatures were formed

10. Sky Woman
(1936)
By Ernest Smith

11. The World on the Turtle’s BackThe World on the Turtle’s Back
Expresses a Native American ideal ofExpresses a Native American ideal of
people living in harmony with naturepeople living in harmony with nature
ThemeTheme

12. VocabularyVocabulary
Void (noun) – An empty spaceVoid (noun) – An empty space
There was aThere was a voidvoid in my life until I met you.in my life until I met you.
AA voidvoid in the galaxy puzzled the scientists.in the galaxy puzzled the scientists.
TheThe voidvoid between the towns was lonely andbetween the towns was lonely and
desolate.desolate.

13. VocabularyVocabulary
Ritual (noun) – A ceremonial act or aRitual (noun) – A ceremonial act or a
series of actsseries of acts
MyMy ritualritual on Saturday mornings is to wake,on Saturday mornings is to wake,
shower, eat breakfast, and watch cartoons.shower, eat breakfast, and watch cartoons.
The priest performed theThe priest performed the ritualritual, thus ensuring, thus ensuring
the man’s salvation.the man’s salvation.

14. VocabularyVocabulary
Devious (noun) – shifty; not straightforwardDevious (noun) – shifty; not straightforward
I feltI felt deviousdevious when I tricked the child into givingwhen I tricked the child into giving
me his candy.me his candy.
TheThe deviousdevious man would not tell us where heman would not tell us where he
came from.came from.

15. VocabularyVocabulary
Contend (verb) – To compete; vieContend (verb) – To compete; vie
The football teamThe football team contendedcontended for the trophy.for the trophy.
No one willNo one will contendcontend with me; they are toowith me; they are too
scared.scared.

16. VocabularyVocabulary
Succumb (verb) – to give up or give in; yieldSuccumb (verb) – to give up or give in; yield
I tried to keep my hopes up, but eventually II tried to keep my hopes up, but eventually I
succumbedsuccumbed to the loneliness.to the loneliness.
I predict that Frank willI predict that Frank will succumbsuccumb to the otherto the other
man’s superior skills in the boxing match.man’s superior skills in the boxing match.

17. Creation MythCreation Myth
Review: explains how the universe, earth,Review: explains how the universe, earth,
and life beganand life began
Creation myths, like all myths, areCreation myths, like all myths, are
essentially religious, presenting theessentially religious, presenting the
cosmic views of the groups that createcosmic views of the groups that create
themthem
Joseph Cambell - American mythologyJoseph Cambell - American mythology
professor, writer, and orator best knownprofessor, writer, and orator best known
for his work in the fields of comparativefor his work in the fields of comparative
mythology and comparative religionmythology and comparative religion

18. Cambell’s Four Functions of the MythCambell’s Four Functions of the Myth
To instill a sense of awe toward theTo instill a sense of awe toward the
mystery of the universemystery of the universe
To explain the workings of the naturalTo explain the workings of the natural
worldworld
To support and validate social customsTo support and validate social customs
To guide people through the trials of livingTo guide people through the trials of living