The Iroquois Creation Story-Myth or Truth? Essay Example

Do you believe in Creationism or Evolutionism or do you believe in The Iroquois Creation Story? The Iroquois Creation story “depicts different people’s beliefs of how the world was created.” (Cusick, 2007). Their nations consist of The Mohawk, Seneca, Oneida, Onondaga, and Cayuga. It was later in time that the Tuscarora nation was added to the pact to form the sixth nation. “The beliefs are that the Mohawk, Seneca and Tuscarora had the hugest impact on the creation of the world as we know it today.” (Cusick, 2007).

Cusick was from the Oneida heritage born on a reservation in the late 1700’s and a great respected leader of his tribe. He was a doctor and well respected artist of his time. His myth is told through his cultural beliefs of good and evil and how monsters go out to search for someone to secure the safety of women during the darkness. This woman is brought to a small island to give birth to her child safe and sound away from the monsters of the evil world which is similar to the evil of today’s world. The woman eventually succumbs to the evils similar to that of Adam and Eve but a sea turtle comes and takes the woman home. It appears the monsters are mere creatures that have emerged from the dark waters of the sea. The story is a depiction of human fear of the unknown.

References

Cusick, David. “Iroquois Creation Story” The Norton Anthology of American Literature Nina Baym. 7th ed. Vol. A., New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc. 2007. 17-21