Blackfeet Creation Myth

The Blackfeet people, a prominent Native American tribe of the Great Plains, possess a rich and complex system of beliefs passed down through generations via oral tradition. Central to their worldview is a captivating creation myth, a story that explains the origins of the world, its features, and the place of humanity within it. This Blackfeet Creation Myth is a cornerstone of their cultural identity, providing a framework for understanding their relationship with the land, the animals, and the spiritual realm.

The narrative, as recorded by ethnographer George Bird Grinnell in his 1913 publication Blackfeet Indian Stories, attributes the creation of the Earth to the Sun, revered by the Blackfeet as a powerful deity known by various names, including Napi – often translated as "Old Man." This figure, Napi, is not simply a creator but also a trickster, a being whose actions are sometimes benevolent, sometimes mischievous, yet always instrumental in shaping the world as it is known.

According to the Blackfeet Creation Myth, in the beginning, there was only water, an endless expanse stretching in all directions. Upon this primordial sea floated a raft, a vessel carrying Napi and a collection of animals. Napi, desiring to create land, tasked the animals with retrieving mud from the bottom of the water.

First, the beaver attempted the dive, but the depths proved too great. Then, the loon tried, followed by the otter, each failing to reach the bottom. Finally, the muskrat, the smallest and seemingly least capable of the animals, volunteered. He dove into the water and remained submerged for a very long time. Hope dwindled, and the others feared he had drowned. At last, he resurfaced, nearly lifeless, floating on the water. When they pulled him onto the raft, they discovered a small amount of mud clutched in his paws. This act of perseverance and the muskrat’s humble success is a testament to the Blackfeet values.

Napi took the precious mud and carefully dried it. He then scattered it across the surface of the water. Miraculously, the mud expanded, gradually transforming into land. This is how the Blackfeet Creation Myth explains the emergence of the Earth from the primordial waters. This simple yet profound story highlights the Blackfeet’s deep connection to the natural world and the importance of even the smallest creatures in the grand scheme of creation.

With the land now formed, Napi embarked on a journey across it, shaping and organizing the world to his liking. He carved out the courses of rivers, sometimes allowing them to flow smoothly, at other times creating waterfalls. He sculpted the mountains and prairies, planted forests and small trees, and scattered rocks, forming distinctive landmarks such as the Sweet Grass Hills, which rise dramatically from the plains.

Napi also populated the land with vegetation, ensuring sustenance for the creatures he would later create. He designated specific areas for the growth of various roots and berries – camas, wild carrots, wild turnips, sweet root, bitter root, serviceberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, and rosebuds each found their designated place, demonstrating a careful and intentional design of the landscape.

The creation of animals was another significant act in the Blackfeet Creation Myth. Napi fashioned all kinds of creatures that roam the land. He created the bighorn sheep, initially placing it on the prairie. However, the bighorn was clumsy and ill-suited to the open plains. Napi then led it to the rugged hills and mountains, where it moved with agility and grace, perfectly adapted to the terrain. "This is the place for you," Napi declared, "this is what you are fitted for: the rough country and the mountains."

Similarly, Napi created the antelope and released it on the prairie. The antelope, in contrast to the bighorn, ran swiftly and gracefully across the open land. Napi recognized that the prairie was its ideal habitat, stating, "This is the place that suits you." These acts illustrate Napi’s understanding of the interconnectedness between creatures and their environment, and his role as a careful steward of the land.

Finally, Napi decided to create humans. He molded clay into the forms of a woman and a child, placing them on the ground and declaring, "You shall be people." He covered the clay figures with his robe and left. Each morning for four days, he returned to check on them, observing subtle changes. On the fourth day, he removed the covering and commanded the figures to stand and walk. They obeyed, walking with Napi to the river, where he revealed his name to them.

Standing by the water, the woman posed a profound question: "How is it? Shall we live always? Will there be no end to us?" Napi, who had not yet considered the matter of mortality, proposed a test. He would throw a buffalo chip into the river. If it floated, people would return to life four days after dying. If it sank, death would be permanent.

However, the woman intervened, picking up a stone and declaring, "No, I will throw this stone in the river. If it floats, we shall live always; if it sinks, people must die so that their friends who are left alive may always remember them." She threw the stone, and it sank.

"Well," Napi said, "you have chosen; there will be an end to them."

This decision, as told in the Blackfeet Creation Myth, established the reality of death in the world. Not long after, the woman’s child died, causing her immense grief. She pleaded with Napi to change the law, to allow people to return to life. But Napi refused, stating, "Not so; what is made law must be law. We will undo nothing that we have done. The child is dead, but it cannot be changed. People will have to die."

The first humans were ill-equipped for survival. They had hands like bears with long claws, and they were poor and naked. Napi taught them how to gather roots and berries, how to peel bark from trees for food, and how to hunt small animals. He also shared knowledge of medicinal roots to cure sickness.

In the early days, the buffalo were dangerous creatures, armed with long horns. They attacked and killed humans. Napi, witnessing the carnage, felt remorse. "I have not made these people right," he said. "I will change this; from now on, the people shall eat the buffalo."

He provided the people with the tools they needed to hunt the buffalo. He crafted bows and arrows from serviceberry shoots and feathers, and he fashioned stone knives for cutting the meat. He taught them how to use these tools effectively, instructing them to stand their ground against the buffalo and shoot them with arrows.

Napi also taught the people how to cook the buffalo meat. He showed them how to make fire using fire sticks and how to hollow out stones to create kettles for cooking. These innovations transformed the relationship between humans and buffalo, establishing the buffalo as a vital source of sustenance and materials for the Blackfeet people.

The Blackfeet Creation Myth also includes an account of Napi creating people and buffalo in another location, the Porcupine Mountains. He made earthen images of people and buffalo, breathed life into them, and showed the people how to hunt the buffalo by driving them over cliffs.

Finally, the myth recounts how Napi designated a specific territory for the five tribes – Blackfeet, Blood, Piegan, Gros Ventre, and Sarsi – and instructed them to defend their borders against intruders. "When people come to cross this line at the border of your land," he said, "take your bows and arrows, your lances and your war clubs and give them battle, and keep them out. If they gain a footing here, trouble for you will follow."

The Blackfeet Creation Myth is more than just a story of origins; it is a reflection of the Blackfeet worldview, their values, and their relationship with the natural world. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance, adaptation, respect for animals, and the acceptance of mortality. It also underscores the responsibility of the Blackfeet people to protect their land and their way of life. This narrative provides a foundation for understanding the rich cultural heritage of the Blackfeet people and their enduring connection to the land they call home.