Verified Document

Creation Story: Native American Version Essay

Continents and oceans were created this way. It is interesting to note that the Christian God spoke but the Sioux Creating Power sang. The Native Peoples had creative ideas. Sioux Creation Story / Christian Creation Story: At first, the animals and people drowned in the Sioux story. Then the Creating Power pulled four animals from his pipe bag: a loon, an otter, a beaver and turtle. Soon there also came "the shapes of men and women." In the Christian story, God created heaven and then He also created: grass, fruit trees, seasons, stars, "great whales" and "every living creature" that moves, including birds. On the sixth day "God created man in his own image…male and female created he them." Then He "breathed" the breath of life into the man and humanity was born.

The similarities are obvious but with the Sioux story the Creating Power made animals pay a price through punishment before allowing animals and humans to have a second chance. There was no such plot in the Christian version. The question of how Europeans and Natives might have viewed each other differently is a philosophical question with no answer. However, if there had been an opportunity for...

The natives learned to make strong weapons in order to kill "large beasts"; they learned to make fire in order to eat the meat they killed. This is quite different from the European concept, or even from the Sioux version of creation. But it explores the issue of providing food and building fire to cook the food; hence it is unique and very creative.
Works Cited

BibleGateway.com. (2010). Genesis 1-3 (King James Version). Retrieved Feb. 1, 2011, from http://www.biblegateway.com.

Native American Creation Stories. (1720's). Origins of Ottawa Society. Retrieved Feb. 2, 2011,

from http://chnm.gmu.edu.

Native American Creation Stories. (1650's) Sioux Creation Story. Retrieved Feb. 2,

2011, from http://chnm.gmu.edu.

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

BibleGateway.com. (2010). Genesis 1-3 (King James Version). Retrieved Feb. 1, 2011, from http://www.biblegateway.com.

Native American Creation Stories. (1720's). Origins of Ottawa Society. Retrieved Feb. 2, 2011,

from http://chnm.gmu.edu.

Native American Creation Stories. (1650's) Sioux Creation Story. Retrieved Feb. 2,
2011, from http://chnm.gmu.edu.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Native American Expressive Culture the
Words: 4153 Length: 15 Document Type: Term Paper

Black Elk utilizes his visions to create understanding of nearly all things he is later exposed to. The discussion in closing will further illuminate his utilization of vision, to ask for help for his people in a time of crisis. To discuss the vertical model of artistic communication it is difficult to narrow the filed to just one example, as Native American literature, and to a lesser degree film have

Native American Writers the Feminine
Words: 1000 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

He uses her head for the sun and other body parts for the moon and other heavenly bodies (Cusick, n.p.). Tapahonso's poem connects the newborn female infant with an August sunset, steam, and hot rocks. That Tapahonso chooses to describe the birth of a female infant is significant. Through this choice, in addition to her references to both mother and daughter in terms of natural occurrences, Tapahonoso establishes that

American History Final Exam Stages of the
Words: 4609 Length: 10 Document Type: Term Paper

American History Final Exam Stages of the American Empire Starting in the colonial period and continuing up through the Manifest Destiny phase of the American Empire in the 19th Century, the main goal of imperialism was to obtain land for white farmers and slaveholders. This type of expansionism existed long before modern capitalism or the urban, industrial economy, which did not require colonies and territory so much as markets, cheap labor and

American Revolution
Words: 1261 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Hidden Revolution In his analysis of the American Revolution, Nash refers to the "enshrined, mythic form" the event has taken on in human consciousness (59). Like the creation myths of religion, the story of the founding of the United States of America has become what Nash calls a "sacralized story" that nearly deifies the founding fathers (59). Taught to children in schools and propagated beyond the borders of the Untied States,

How Does Native Sovereignty Express Itself Legally As Well
Words: 1329 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

American Indian Studies Native American Sovereignty Sovereignty, in the truest definition of the word, is that which has complete independence and self-government. In a nutshell, it is a territory existing as an independent state, free to govern its self with dignity and justice. For the nation of Native American tribes in the United States, it is a dangling carrot held up by a government notorious for its broken promises, and centuries of

Southwest Native Americans Long Before
Words: 1305 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Their neutrality across time has granted them with a long-lasting and strong community. What is intriguing about the Zuni people is that their language does not resemble any other language of the neighboring Pueblos. Moreover, they are the only people in the world to speak the Zuni language. (Minnesota State University Mankato) The Pueblo society has usually been ruled in a theocratic manner, with the head of the tribe also being

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now