How the Great Spirit Created All Things; the Story as Revealed in Traditions of the Redman

(by Dan R. Conway - published in the Hysham Echo January 28, 1926 & October 25, 2013)

That which is called religion in so far as the layman seems able to decipher, seems to be the most indeterminate factor to the life of man. Since time immemorial, races, clans and tribes have been confronted with doctrine, ritual and dogma, diverse and sundry, all pivoting around a common center. Even in these days of modern civilization, the discussions of the learned and professional have so far, failed to establish any universally accepted solution.
This knowledge, we do have, however, that religion of some sort has always been, and, doubtless always will be a potential part of man’s being. And, it remains to man alone, regardless of race or color, to choose that method of soul solace which, to him, seems right and proper.

Religion of The Indian

Volumes of interesting narrative could be written on the religion of the Indians of those tribes who once inhabited Montana and the Great Northwest. Given to us in traditions, handed down by the older chiefs and medicine men, these, although, for the most part intensely entertaining, are often quite difficult to solve. It is, however, plainly evident that all of these possess a great deal in common, centering around one head, the acknowledgement of a supreme being, which was in most cases represented by the sun, and termed by most tribes The Great Spirit.
Generally speaking, the religion of the native Indian, as described to us by their legends will compare favorably to all religions beliefs harbored by a totally uncivilized race. In fact, if inscribed on the pages of our own sacred books, this primitive doctrine and the faith and submission to a Supreme Being as manifested by the native tribesmen, would be sublime.
Does anything of modern civilization offer a sight more inspiring than the old brave standing at the break of dawn beside the clear, running brook, with face washed clean and hands outstretched to the east, offering his morning prayer to the Great Spirit which to him is personified in the sun?
It is quite natural that the Indian should worship the sun in that these people were great lovers of nature. They knew that nothing could live and grow without the warmth and light of the sun; that the sun created the rain and this together with warmth and light made everything of life. There could be no trees, no grass, no buffalo without the sun. Then, this being true, the sun must constitute that Divine thing or being which made and which keeps the earth and all that is therein.
On the other hand, it is evident that among many tribes such as the Blackfeet and others, almost everything of nature was a subject of respectful worship. In the legends of these people we here reference made to the “Under Water People,” the “Above People,” etc. accompanying a supplication for guidance or protection. But these undoubtedly, in almost all cases were mere subordinates of the one great head, the Sun.
Among our native Montana tribes, the Blackfeet, the Crows, the Assiniboines and others, the sun was worshipped. The Blackfeet termed this supreme being “Manitou”. Their “Old Man,” so often spoken of in legends, seems to have been a subordinate of “Manitou” who had fallen from grace, and, who, as some writers state, was always making mistakes. Among the Crows, this Creator and Keeper was called “The Great Spirit.”
These legendary beliefs of the redmen vary greatly in detail in spite of the fact that the fundamentals are largely similar. And, starting with their story of the creation of the earth and the beginning of man, the legend of the Crows is among the most interesting.

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The sun has finished its walk to the west. It is a clear, bright evening and a full moon, in all its splendor, casts long, soft, cone-shaped shadows where it hits the new buffalo-skin tepees that form this Crow camp. The women have put aside their work of dressing hides; fires have been kindled anew in these primitive homes. The circular camp which has been all but deserted for the most of the day (for this camp is now in the buffalo country, and there has been a chase), has taken on new life.
It is in the lodge of one of the older chiefs where the younger blood of the tribe are wont to gather at this time of day to listen to their beloved leader tell the stories of tribal history and tradition which he in a like manner learned when he was a boy. This evening the youths have been told that they are to hear a wonderful tale - a story which will unfold to them the secrets of many mysteries which to them have hitherto been unsolved. And, his listeners, enthralled by the serious countenance of the old warrior, are attentive and expectant, as he begins his story.

Creation of the Land

“Ho! My Sons! Listen! I will tell you the story of the creation of the earth and the beginning of man as it was told to my father by my great grandfather.
“In the beginning, the world was covered with water, and the only living things then were two spirits of unknown form, and a large bird which resembled a wild duck. These floated listlessly about upon the water, until one day, as these spirits came together, one of them said: “this is a bad way to live. I am tired of all this water. Let us make dry land that shall be a home for other creatures.” This suggestion met with the approval of the other spirit and they called the large duck, and commanded him to dive down into the water until he reached the bottom and bring up from there a quantity of earth.
“The duck dived down as he had been ordered to do, but returned to the surface without having reached the bottom. A second time he was ordered down with instructions to go deeper. This time he returned with his bill and feet filled with sand. One of these spirits then proceeded to take this sand and press it into a cake. This was allowed to dry and a portion of it was scattered around over the water. No land appeared, however, and then the second spirit cast some upon the water and land appeared. A second time the spirit cast some of it abroad and the land gradually grew larger. They ceased to scatter the dust and walked out upon the land they had made. They then called aloud to the West and were answered by the cry of a wolf which presently appeared.
“The duck was ordered to go into the south and form new land for it was not yet large enough; and in a like manner the wolf was sent into the west. After a time both the duck and the wolf returned and reported that the new land was completed. The spirit now went forth to investigate the work of these two. When they went into the south they were displeased with the land for the duck had left too much water. It was full of ponds and lakes and even the land itself was low and marshy. They journeyed into the west and found the work of the wolf to be entirely satisfactory, and they told the wolf he had done well for there were plains and rivers and mountains forming a country beautiful to behold. They told the duck to go and live in the wet country that he had made but permitted the wolf to dwell in the finer country made by him.  (Cont. next week) Print this post