Iroquois

= 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　                        __ Iroquois-North America __= Daniel, Shorter, [] = 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 = = = = 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　                         　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　              =

= 　　　　　　　　__Inquiry Question:__ How does Creation Myth influence contemporary culture or society?=



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Although myths cannot be proven, believers imbibe the ideas implied in myths. In the creation myth of Iroquois, tribe of North America, the woman was pushed down from the Sky World as the nemesis for her forbidden action. However, the Great Spirit tolerantly prevented her from dying by letting the Great Turtle to help. The woman, then, started to build land on the Great Turtle and created more animals and foods to make the Earth. (Talman & Klinck, Historymatters) This story shifted the Iroquoians’ daily life and ways of thinking and formulated the positive connotation on the main characters of the myth such as foods, animals, and women. 　　Iroquoians hold six big festivals that are mainly dedicated to respect and to worship the Great Spirit annually; the New Year Festival, the Maple Festival, the Corn Planting Festival, the Strawberry Festival, the Green Corn Festival, and the Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving. (Lee, Tolatsga) Iroquoians think these provisions are sacred gifts from the Great Sprit. In order to show the respect, they grow and harvest them. As a result, the main business of Iroquoians was shifted to agriculture. 　　The myth also suggested new ideas to Iroquoians. For Iroquoians, North America is referred as Turtle’s land which came from their creation myth. (Talman & Klinck, Historymatters) Alternatively, without the story, Iroquoians wouldn’t have thought of this. 　　In addition, it extended insights of Iroquoians. Iroquoians deify not only the Great Spirit but also the woman who was shown as the creator of the Earth. The myth implied the importance of women’s role and led women to be highly respected in their society. Iroquoian women have special possessions that are rare in other tribes’ society. They have ownership of house, land, children, property, and leader position. (Gaynor, Buzzle) Conventionally the men labored whereas the women simply checked the progress. This tradition was kept despite the fact that it was an aberration in cultures of the world. 　　This proves that the creation myth can shift or change any fixed ideas people have had. Although there is no way to corroborate the veracity of the story, it has immense impacts on the culture as well as society. Those with more ossified beliefs are more likely to be imbued by the ideas or implication of creation myths.



Matt, []

=__ Motif __= Different types of writings have different conventional themes, so-called motif. Its recurring theme typifies the stories’ contents. In creation myth, there are several motifs; 1. Land emerging from the water 2. Separation or division 3. Fractionation of things from primordial chaos 4. Creation ex nihilo- creation out of nothing According to the Iroquois creation myth, before the world was created, there was nothing but water and darkness. Then a woman from the Sky World fell down to the lower part of the world as nemesis of her violation in the Sky World. However, the animals helped her to land on the Turtle’s back. The animals, then, brought up the mud from the bottom of the ocean and the woman spread the mud on the Turtle’s shell to create the land. Apparently, the myth mainly corresponds with the first motif. Not only because the creation of the Earth began on the water, but also the materials that made the Earth were from the water.

=__ Bibliography __=

Borade, Gaynor. "Iroquois Tribe: Religion and Culture." //Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web //. Buzzle. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. < [] >.

Klinck, Carl F. "Iroquois Creation Myth, 1816." //History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web//. 1970. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. 　　[].

Matt. "Cyanide & Happiness #926 - Explosm.net." //Explosm.net - Home of Cyanide & Happiness//. Web. 7 Dec. 2010. [].

Shorter, Daniel. "THE IROQUOIS." //The Incredible Iroquois//. Web. 7 Dec. 2010. []

Smith, James. "Religion and Expressive Culture - Iroquois." //Countries and Their Cultures//. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. 　　[]

Sultzman, Lee. "Iroquois History." //Tolatsga //. First Nations. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. < [] >. 

 = 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　__Annotation__ =

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Borade, Gaynor. "Iroquois Tribe: Religion and Culture." //Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web//. Buzzle. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">　　　　<http://www.buzzle.com/articles/iroquois-tribe-religion-and-culture.html>.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">A. This article is about culture of Iroquoians. It states and provides examples that women took higher position than men.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">B. It has the author’s name of the article and it’s supported by organization //Buzzle// and advertised by //Google//. This article’s purpose is to inform rather than convince, so it is trustworthy. The tone of the sentences prove that it is stating, not persuading.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">C. This source provided new information to answer the research question. I did not recognize that woman played important role in the myth and it influence current culture. They possess higher position than men and are being respected. Also the website shows the connection of festivals this tribe has with the creation myth. It states that the contemporary rituals/festivals of Iroquoians are reflected from the story.

Sultzman, Lee. "Iroquois History." //Tolatsga//. First Nations. Web. 23 Nov. 2010. <[]>.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">A. This website includes the culture, people, and history of Iroquois. In culture part, there are stories about how some festivals were derived from the creation myth. It briefly explains the creation myth as well.

<span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">B. It is an organization that is mainly dedicated to serve information of various tribes. It has author’s name and the tone of writing is stating, not speaking. This proves that this isn’t including biased opinion.

C. This source was helpful not only it provided the contemporary culture of Iroquoians but also helped me to connect how it's related to the creation myth I chose. I found out that the festivals they have now, most of them are originated from the myth. I can write about how the story of creation myth resulted Iroquoians' current culture.