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Myles Brown

Professor Katsanos

LBST 2102: Global and Intercultural Connections

7 April 2017

The Cherokee Creation Story

Ancient indigenous religions and cultures serve as binding forces that keep

indigenous societies both spirited and connected. Out of the numerous categories of

religious life that continue to thrive in contemporary indigenous cultures, I have chosen

to focus on the mythological aspects of indigenous life. The particular myth that I will be

focusing on belongs to the Cherokee, a Native American tribe originating from

Appalachia. The myth is known as The Story of Corn and Medicine, and it specifically

focuses on the cosmogonic earth diver theme of the worlds conception at the hands of

humans and spiritual deities. This Cherokee creation story serves as a unifying belief that

connects the indigenous group in both origin and purpose.

According to The Story of Corn and Medicine, the origins of the Earth were

simply water and darkness with an animal kingdom known as Galnlati in the sky above.

Once Galnlati became too crowded for the animals, a water-beetle was cast down to

Earth in order to explore what lay beneath the waters surface. The water-beetle would

return to the surface with mud that would serve as the land on Earth (Mooney).

The land was originally very soft and mud-like, so the buzzards that first arrived

on Earth were able to carve out the hills and valleys that would serve as the mountainous

terrain for the Cherokee. Once the land on Earth dried, animals moved onto the surface

and set the height of the sun to give light to the world (Mooney).
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When the plants and animals came to Earth they were told to stay awake for seven

days straight, consistent with the Cherokee medicine ceremony (Mooney). The animals

that stayed awake for all seven days were granted the ability to see during both the night

and the day; additionally, the plants that stayed awake for all seven days were given the

ability to stay green all year round (Mooney).

Next, humans came to the Earth and multiplied rapidly. Two humans, Kanati

(meaning the lucky hunter) and Selu (meaning corn), were of particular importance

for their hunting and gathering skills. The two would have a biological son, and they

would eventually adopt another son that was formed out of the blood of game. The two

sons would eventually follow Kanati to a cave where he would hunt by himself. The two

sons decided one day to hunt by themselves at the same cave, but from the cave they

allowed numerous animals to escape. Because of actions of the two sons, humans would

now have to hunt for their game (Mooney).

Later that night, the two sons would secretly follow their mother, Selu, and watch

her prepare the corn and beans for dinner. However, it is revealed to the sons that their

parents will die because of the hunting and gathering secrets that were revealed to them.

When told to follow certain rituals after the death of Selu, the sons only partially listened;

thus, corn can only be harvested at certain times of the year and in certain locations

(Mooney).

Lastly, as humans began to populate and expand, they began to clash with the

animals on Earth. Humans hunted the animals, and the animals on Earth gathered in

councils to determine how they should punish humans for their hunting habits. As a

result, many illnesses and diseases were released into the world. However, the plants met
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to offset these diseases by providing medicines for humans, thus completing The Story of

Corn and Medicine (Mooney).

As defined in the class reading Myths written down, myths are stories which

express religious beliefs, values, ideals, and desires often held as expressions of

ultimate truths despite the historical accuracy or scientific possibility of the depicted

events. The Story of Corn and Medicine is a perfect example of a myth because it

discusses the ultimate truth of the creation of the Earth through legendary practices that

would not necessarily be supported by science.

As we learned in lecture, myths can be broken down into several categories:

cosmogonic, etiological, trickster, and eschatological. The Story of Corn and Medicine is

a prime example of a cosmogonic myth, for it is foundational in its approach to explain

the origins of the world (Myths written down). More specifically, The Story of Corn

and Medicine is an earth diver theme. This theme is characterized by a story recounting

the creation of the world as a result of someone diving into waters to find mud in order

to create a dry world (Myths written down). This is consistent with The Story of Corn

and Medicine, for the Cherokee myth explains how a water-beetle scooped up the mud

from the waters of Earth in order to create the land. As a result, the rest of the world was

able to grow and develop into what is now the modern world.

The beliefs of indigenous religions and cultures are critical to the survival of

indigenous communities. In a world continually moving toward a more Western

understanding of individualism, it is important for indigenous populations to be able to

maintain their customs and traditions to preserve their edifying uniqueness. The Story of

Corn and Medicine believed by the Cherokee is one example of the many unifying beliefs
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that exist amongst contemporary indigenous groups. By holding these beliefs close,

indigenous societies are able to preserve their identity in a world that is saturated with

assimilation.
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Works Cited

Mooney, James. "The Story of Corn and Medicine." Creation Stories. N.p., n.d. Web. 07

Apr. 2017.

Myths written down- In Class article on myths/lecture from Professor Tina Katsanos