W2: The Creation, Part A

“The Creation” by Maidu, pages 23-35 for the reading notes.

• The setting starts off very bleak. The author gives an image of just traveling over endless sea. 
• At first it seems like the Earthmaker is talking to himself, but something responds and it is not addressed to whom. 
• Being called Earthmaker, it makes it seem like this being is in charge, but there is other figures possibly that he looks up to. 
• Does the singing allow for him to create land or beings?
• Where did the coyote come from, and does he have divine power?
• Is the Earthmaker not aware of his own abilities? It seems like he questions himself when creating land. 
• The meadowlark and coyote were already there, but responsible for assisting in “painting with blood” (pg 26), so how did they come to be? Are the new animals of their own blood? 
• The Earthmaker seems to be able to channel powers through coyote and meadowlark, using them to create the land and beings. 
• Creatures in pairs is a very biblical type idea. Very common starting idea in many cultures. (Pg. 28)
• “You are creatures who speak differently — creatures who look different.” (Maidu 30) this line is extremely pointing towards the creation of mankind. Especially that they will tred on all lands. 
• Interesting that he started with two, but rather than them having children, he created a few more to make a “country.” 
• It feels like all the different people created are meant to represent several different cultures in the world, but that he likes them all equally and wants happiness among them still. 
• Coyote at the end becomes almost of a Mother Nature of sorts... controlling the earths natural tetonic plates. (Pg 34) 
• At the end it is finally mentioned that meadowlark was th first Creation, but it seems that he does not have any specific ability of significance besides that. Maybe accompanies Earthmaker? 
• Is the end of the Earth the ocean? Or is it the artic?