In Kaska mythology, before the earth existed, the world was a vast expanse of water. Animals and birds attempted to retrieve earth from the depths, but only Diver succeeded after six days, bringing back mud under his toenails. From this, they formed the earth, which gradually solidified and sprouted vegetation. The narrator noted that the original tale was more detailed, including causes for the flood and its duration.
Source:
Kaska Tales
by James A. Teit
The American Folklore Society
Journal of American Folklore
Vol.30, No.118, pp. 427-473
October-December, 1917
► Themes of the story
Creation: The story explains how the earth was formed from a primordial watery state.
Origin of Things: It provides an explanation for the existence of land and the emergence of vegetation.
Mythical Creatures: The story features animals and birds undertaking significant actions, often attributed with symbolic or mythical significance in indigenous narratives.
► From the same Region or People
Learn more about the Kaska people
Once there was no earth. Water was where the earth is now. The world was as a great lake.
The animals and birds wanted to have an earth, and proposed to dive for it. The earth was very deep under the water. Beaver and Muskrat, and all the animals and birds, dived, but none of them reached the bottom. None of them staid under water longer than half a day.
At last Diver (a bird) went down. After six days he came up quite exhausted and speechless. His friends examined his toe-nails, and found mud or earth under them.
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From this they formed on top of the water a new earth, which grew until it formed the present earth.
At first it was merely mud and very soft. Later it became firm, and trees and vegetation began to grow on it. Now the earth is old and dry. Perhaps it is drying up.
The narrator stated that this was originally a long story. He had forgotten the cause ascribed for the Flood, its duration, and many details that he had heard.
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Dreamtime Whispers 