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Arikara Creation [archive]

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Arikara Creation

The Great Sky Spirit, Nesaru, sometimes called the Great Mystery, was the master of all creation. Below the sky was an endless body of water where two ducks eternally swam. Nesaru made two brothers, Wolf-man and Lucky-man, who commanded the ducks to swim to the bottom of the great water and bring up some earth. With this earth, Wolf-man made the Great Plains and Lucky-Man made the hills and mountains.

The two brothers went down beneath the earth and found two spiders. They explained to the spiders how to reproduce. The two spiders produced many kinds of animals and plants, including human beings. However, they also produced a race of evil giants.

These giants were so evil that Nesarn eventually had to destroy them with a great flood. However, Nesarn loved human beings and saved them from destruction.

Additional Reading

  Native American creation tales
  Native American Indian myths
  Arikara language
  Arikara culture
  Plains Indians
  North Dakota reservations

Arikara Creation [archive]

Arikara Creation

Additional Reading

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