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Transcript

The Ojibway Creation Story

The Beginning

After the creator put people on the earth, the Anishanabe people started to fight and argue with each other. They even started to kill each other. Seeing that there was no longer peace and harmony the creator purified the earth with a great flood killing the Anishanbe people and quite a few animals as well. The only survivor was Nana Bush as well as a few birds and animals that managed to swim. They all had to take turns on a log in order to stay afloat.

Nanabush's Idea

Nanabush finally said "I am going to do something, I am going to swim to the bottom of this water and grab a handful of earth. With this small bit of earth, I believe we can create a new land for us to live on with the help of thr Four Winds and the Creator." Nanabush then attempted to dive to the bottom of the water and was gone for a long time. He finally surfaced and short of breath said that the water was too deep.

Other Animals Attempts

After Nanabush had tried to reach the bottom eveyone was silent. Then a Loon said, "I can dive under water for a long way, that is how I catch my food. I will try to make it to the bottom and return with some earth in my beak." The Loon was gone for a very long time, and the other thought that the Loon had drowned. The Loon finally resurfaced, but didnt get to the earth. Then the Helldiver came forward and said, "I will try next, everyone knows that I can dive great distances." The helldiver also took a long time, but didnt succeed. Many other animals tried and failed. There seemed to be no way to get the earth from the bottom of the water.

The Muskrat

After all of the animals had given up, there was a faint voice that said, "I can do it." They all turned to see the little muskrat, and started to laugh. Nanabush spoke up and said, "Only the creator can place judgment on others. If muskrat wants to try, he should be allowed to." The muskrat went into the water to try, he was gone longer than the other animals that had tried. Everyone had though the muskrat had sacrificed himself for the earth. The muskrat was very weak but grabbed some earth and took every ounce of strength to reach the surface. Muskrat had reached the top unconcious. Nanabush pulled him up onto the log and announced his death. The animals then gathered around and Nanabush opened muskrats paw to find he did in fact grab some earth. The animals shouted with joy. THe muskrat had saved them all.

The End

The Turtle swam forward and said, "Use my back to bear the weight of this piece of Earth. With the help of the creator, we can make a new Earth." Nanabush put the piece of earth on the turtles back and the piece of earth began to grow. It grew until it formed an island in the water. As the island grew bigger the turtle bore the weight on his back. Nanabusha and all of the animals rejoiced in song. There was now a big island in the water. Today the island is known as North America. The Ojibway remember the sacrifice of the turtle by holding special reverence. The muskrat has been given a good name. The muskrat survives through rough times. The muskrats remember the flood, and they build their home in the shape of the little ball of earth and the island formed with it.

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