Yokut Myth

Kyle Wilson

English

Myth

8/23/12

Yokut Native American Creation Story

The Yokut Native American Creation story is an Earth Divers Myth. Eagle and Crow live together on a tree stump surrounded by water. They are constantly searching for land and have no luck finding any. So, everyday they have contests to see who can catch the most fish and they always share their meals. Then one day: “When Duck appeared on the surface after a deep dive, Eagle and Crow brushed off the mud from Duck's bill and his body with their wings. Progress was slow but steady.” The Duck who is in search of food, finds fish lying out from the Eagle and Crow. The birds do this because they notice that when duck goes on his deep dives he brings mud up to the surface. They pay Duck by putting fish on the edge of the stump and then he brings mud up to the birds in return for the food. Eagle places his fish on one side of the stump and Crow puts his on the other. Slowly but surely, Eagle and Crow are each creating their own land.

Duck continuously places mud equally between the two sides until one day when Eagle goes out in search of land. Eagle's half became taller and taller and hard packed by the hot sun. “Crow's share of the new world was still great, but never could become as large as Eagle's half of the new world.” “Another time, Eagle flew high and far in search of dry land, not returning until late. The sun set and darkness enveloped his world on the stump. Next morning, to Eagle's surprise, he saw how much more mud he had acquired, and he was pleased. But after looking across at Crow's mud pile, Eagle was astounded to see that Crow had given himself twice as much mud while Eagle was away.” While Eagle is gone Crow is able to set out a lot more fish for Duck, so his mud pile of land quickly grows higher than Eagle’s. Eagle returns to see what has happened and he and Crow argue. The birds decide to keep their land as it is, but Eagle starts placing out two fish at a time for Duck. Now Eagle’s land is higher than Crow’s. This creates two different mountain Ranges. “In retelling this creation story, Yokut tribal historians always claim that Eagle's half became the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains. They also tell how Crow's half became known as the Coast Mountain Range.