The Cahuilla Creation Story By Madeleine Foote

1
The Cahuilla Creation StoryByMadeleine Foote
2
Who were the Cahuilla?

• Inhabitants of Southern California, living in
  what is now Riverside and San Bernardino
  counties.
• Hunter-gatherers, whose main sources of food were
  acorns, small game, mesquite and screw beans,
  piñon nuts, and fleshy bulbs of various types of
  cacti.
• Patrilineal organization

3
(No Transcript)
4
Facts about the myth

• Epic style
• Not a form of entertainment- a true story, part
  of religion
• Told during funeral ceremonies
• The creation stories of the Serrano, Luiseño,
  Cupeño, Ipai, and Tipai are all very similar to
  the Cahuilla creation story.

5
Basic outline of the story

• Twin creator gods, Mukat and Temayawet.
• Create the earth, ocean, sun, and people from
  red, black, white, and yellow clay.
• Brothers argue over whether or not there will be
  death and sickness.
• Temayawet leaves, causes mountains and
  earthquakes, and Mukat teaches his people to use
  arrows.
• Souls of dead go into the earth.
• People decide must kill Mukat. He eventually
  dies.
• Coyote eats Mukats heart, and people have
  mourning ceremony for Mukat.

                            
6
What does the story show about the Cahuilla?

• Demonstrates that Cahuilla had a realistic view
  of the world.
• There is a promise of an afterlife, devoid of
  pain and sickness.
• There were no illusions about perfection, neither
  of people or of the religious authority.
• Old age is very important, with elders having
  more knowledge, caution, and creative ability.
• Places the universe in perspective and reaffirms
  the relationship of the Cahuilla individual and
  society to the sacred past, the present, to one
  another, and to all things.
• Explains how the earth developed its present
  state, provides answers to the difficult why
  questions of life, and establishes laws and
  culture.

7
Interesting things to note

• Tradition was very important to the Cahuilla,
  although its obvious that story has changed over
  time to incorporate changes around Cahuilla.
• Example Inclusion of creation of different
  colored peoples to explain the new white people,
  (Europeans).
• Explains why only Indians still know this story
  of creation.
• Also outlines incest taboos, mourning ceremony,
  and origin of foods.

8
Role of Coyote

• Was one of the first creatures created by the
  co-creators. Coyote means quick and selfish.
• Hes very obedient, even staying by Mukats side
  while he is dying.
• Coyote gains power by eating Mukats heart.
• Helps people make effigy for Mukat.
• Becomes an important leader to the people.
• In the creation story, Coyote is helpful and
  resourceful but also tricky.

9
Where are the Cahuilla now?
10
Cahuilla past, present, and future

• Part of 10 reservations in Southern California,
  some of which have casinos and campgrounds.
• Creation story reminds remaining Cahuilla of
  their identity, and outlines traditions and
  values that remain important to Cahuilla life.
• For thousands of years, knowledge given to us by
  the Creator, knowledge of the land, of
  relationships, and of the spirit world, has
  sustained our people. Knowledge of who we are
  keeps us connected to our past and sets the path
  for our future It was the traditions passed to
  us from Mukat that formed our community. As times
  have changed, so have we, but these traditions
  continue to guide our people.

11
Sources

• Stories and Legends of the Palm Springs Indians.
  By Chief Francisco Patencio, told to Margaret
  Boynton. Los Angeles, CA Times-Mirror, 1943
• Handbook of North American Indians. William C.
  Sturtevant, ed. Washington, D.C. Smithsonian
  Institution, 1984
• Studies in Cahuilla Culture. Ethnography of the
  Cahuilla Indians, by A.L. Kroeber. The Cahuilla
  Indians, by Lucile Hooper. Banning, CA Malki
  Museum Press, 1978
• Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians
• http//www.accmuseum.org/page9.html