The Creation Story

In the beginning, there was a great darkness. Within that darkness existed a spirit, the Great Creator, who dreamed of a world with mountains and birds, of man and of ceremony. And he desired these things to be true.

The Great Creator then created four Spirit Beings, the Keepers of Creation, to help him with his task. Grandfathers North, West, East, and Grandmother South were given abilities to guide the four elements of Nature. Upon the Earth, they created balance between all living things.

Over time, Grandmother Moon became lonely and wished for a companion. With Grandfather Thunder, she conceived twins – the first man and woman.

An evil Spirit in the form of a horned snake was envious of the Great Toad, who controlled the waters over Earth. He attacked the Great Toad, and fought such a terrible battle. Grandfather Thunder came to scare the serpent away and flooded the Earth in one great sea.

A kind and benevolent spirit, Nanapush, saw the rising waters and escaped to the tallest mountain. The waters kept rising, and Nanapush began to climb a tree at the top of the mountain, saving all the animals he found by tucking them into his shirt along the way.

As he climbed, he broke twigs and tucked them into his waist. The waters kept rising, and Nanapush became tired. He grabbed the twigs and tossed them into the water where they became a large raft. Nanapush climbed onto the raft with the animals he saved.

Over time, Nanapush wished for soil to grow new land. He asked each animal to dive down and bring back earth. The otter and loon were unable to dive far enough, but the tiny muskrat was down a very long time and came up, near death, with a little bit of soil in his paw. Nanapush spread the earth on the back of a turtle and a new world grew from it.

The Creation Story is adapted from The Grandfathers Speak: Native American Folk Tales of the Lenape People by Hitakonanulaxk