Creation Stories in Indigenous Culture.

Creation stories fulfill in Indigenous culture what Greek myths do in Greek culture and biblical stories do in Christianity. All these stories have one significant thing in common, they explain how the world came to be. In each of these stories, there is one or more beings who helped to create the world. In Indigenous culture, the Creator is the being who makes the world. There are three noticeable similarities and patterns I have noticed within reading these creation stories. First, how each one has its own lesson or meaning at the end of the story. Secondly, how they all express the values of Indigenous culture and how each one envisions the world. Lastly, how they all preserve Indigenous history and culture through the passing on of these stories.   

 
When reading stories such as "The Story of Nuliajuk" and "Haudenosaunee's Legendary Founding", you can understand the lessons behind them. In "The Story of Nuliajuk", the moral of the story is to appreciate the land and resources you take from it; otherwise Nuliajuk the sea goddess will be angry with you and make sure you don't get any resources at all. In "Haudenosaunee's Legendary Founding" the meaning behind it is to end all hostility between the five nations and establish great peace. These meanings or morals help shape the values of Indigenous culture, and it is similar for other cultures and religions.  In Indigenous culture and stories, they envision a peaceful world. They are grateful for the Creator, culture, and their resources of the land. Indigenous culture shows this in these creation stories, in "The Story of Nuliajuk", how important it is to show respect and gratitude for the animal they have killed. Inuit peoples do this by placing an ice cube on its lips. Lessons like this are a reoccurring pattern for many Indigenous cultures and are especially present in creation stories.   

 

In Indigenous culture, creation stories are told by the elders. They are to be passed down from generation to generation in order to preserve Indigenous history. They are told orally and presented at ceremonies. They can be used as teaching methods for Indigenous children. This helps them learn and understand their culture as well as teaches them the values they need to learn to become good people who respect the Earth and the resources it gives them such as animals for food and fur. These stories are also a way to teach Indigenous children history and explain to them how the world around them, as well as everything within in, came to be. They are important for keeping Indigenous culture alive and providing advice to the future generations of Indigenous peoples.