The Sea-Ringed World: Sacred Stories of the Americas
CONTENTS Spider Grandmother Hopi 1 Aztlan Mexica Nahua 4 Bacabs Maya 7 Bochica Muisca 11 Coatlicue Mexica Nahua 15 Hummingbird Guarani 19 Great Flood Andean 23 Golden King Muisca 27 Brave Souls of the Dead Mapuche 31 Bunched Stars Niitsitapi Blackfoot 35 Sak Nikte Maya 39 Land of Fire Selk’nam Ona 43 Guabancex Taino 47 Guahayona Taino 49 Hun and Vucub K’iche Maya 53 Hurakan K’iche Maya 59 Ixquic the Maiden K’iche Maya 62 K’awil and the Prince Mopan Maya 67 Iztaccihuatl and Popocatepetl Nahua 71 Heart of the Mountain Nahua 77 Ball Game K’iche Maya 80 Kukulkan Yucatec and K’iche Maya 85 Kuyen Mapuche 88 Llorona Nahua and colonial 91 Aakulujjuusi and Uumarnituq Inuit 94 Mayahuel Nahua 98 Monetá Muisca 101 Nahual Nahua 105 Nanahuatzin Nahua 110
Ñamandú Guarani 113 Ñandesy Guarani 117 White-faced Bear Alutiiq Sugpiaq 121 Oxomoco and Cipactonal Nahua 127 Xochipilli and Xochiquetzal Nahua 130 Pacha Kamaq Andean 133 Shepherd and Maiden Andean 137 Quetzalcoatl Toltec Nahua 145 Quilaztli Mexica Nahua 150 Oak Tree Oceti Sakowin Sioux 153 Rimac Andean 159 Sedna Inuit 163 Sibo Cabecar and Bribri 166 Tamoanchan Nahua 169 Tlalocan Nahua 173 Uirapuru Guarani 177 Universe Mexica Nahua 181 Blue Deer Wixarika Huichol 185 Viracocha Andean 189 Gichi-manidoo Ojibwe 193 Waleker Wayuu 196 Xibalba K’iche Maya 200 Xolotl Nahua 205 Yaya and Yayael Taino 207 Yupanqui Andean 211 Cemis Taino 214 Zamna Itza Maya 217 Back Matter Transcription of Indigenous Terms Pronunciation Guide Quick Guide to Cultures Map Glossary Bibliography 221
Fifteen thousand years before Europeans stepped foot in the Americas people had already spread from tip to tip and coast to coast Like all humans these Native Americans sought to understand their place in the universe the nature of their re lationship with the divine and the origin of the world into which their ancestors had emerged The answers lay in their sacred stories Passed down through the generations these narratives cre ated an unbroken strand of indigenous wisdom lore that guided life and love warfare and worship When men arrived from the East in massive boats a trag edy was set in motion that wiped out millions of souls and broad swaths of their wisdom Some sacred stories survived recorded in the invaders alphabet or by the invaders very pens Others kept on burning like secret flames in the hearts of the original peoples Many are recounted to this very day It is nearly impossible to get even a bird’s-eye view of this vast if tattered lore from such a multitude of nations across the conti nent What we have sought to do in these pages however is take up the threads of some indigenous cultures and weave a unique and varied tapestry that gives just a glimpse of their traditions vi
The narratives we have collected reveal the inexorable and vast movement of generations that endless trek from north to south east to west and back again Past and present converge in these sacred tales which speak of an original time nearly lost and forgotten but deeply evocative Some of the tales have been altered by sensibilities and lan guages foreign to this land shaped by colonial mindsets and romantic notions Wherever possible we have tried our best to bring out the faint ancestral voices echoing at the heart of each Much of the wisdom these tales contain is universal It can fit your life as easily as it did the lives of the people who heard them first Some details will feel strange to you out of step with what you believe to be true Indeed the cultures are different not necessarily yours to emulate And the behavior of some figures may sometimes strike you as odd or even bad Nonetheless there is much to be learned and treasured here Heed the stories well Our hope is to open your hearts and minds to the wisdom and beauty of the people on whose land we now live Let these vital ancient words thread themselves into the woof of your soul teach ing you to respect and admire the lore that has endured unto this moment and to weep for all that has been irrevocably lost vii
