A DEEP REVERENCE FOR MOTHER EARTH LIES AT THE HEART OF THE BELIEFS AND TRADITIONS OF THE NATIVE NATIONS OF NORTH AMERICA. WHETHER FOR INHABITANTS OF LUSH, FERTILE LANDS, ARID DESERTS, OCEAN SHORES, OR THE HARSH SUBARTIC, NATURE IS THE PEOPLES' BOUNTIFUL PROVIDER, AND EARTH THE SUSTAINER OF LIFE. AS SEEN IN THE LIFEWAYS OF ANCIENT HUNTER-GATHERERS, TRAPPERS, AND FISHERS,THROUGH CENTURIES OF ADAPTATION TO NEW CIRCUMSTANCES, HOMELANDS, AND TECHNIQUES, A PROFOUND RESPECT FOR EARTH'S FELLOW CREATURES--BOTH PHILOSOPHICAL AND PRATICAL--PERMEATES NATIVE AMERICAN SOCIETY.
ACCORDING TO MANY OF THE ORIGINATION STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN IN TRIBAL LEGEND, THE EARTH NOT ONLY SUSTAINS LIFE, BUT IS SACRED BECAUSE IT WAS THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF ALL LIFE. AN IROQUOIS CREATION STORY TELLS THAT:
"IN THE BEGINNING PEOPLE LIVED BEYOND THE SKY, BECAUSE DEEP WATERS COVERED THE ENTIRE EARTH. THEN, A PREGNANT WOMAN FELL FROM THE SKY WORLD TOWARD THE WATER. DUCKS AND GEESE BROKE HER FALL WITH THEIR WINGS AND CARRIED HER TO THE GREAT TURTLE, MASTER OF ALL ANIMALS, AND SET HER ON IT'S BACK. THE TURTLE ORDERED THE OTHER ANIMALS TO BRING EARTH FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE WATER AND COVERED HIS BACK THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE LAND TO LIVE UPON."
WADO, DA-LO-NI-GE-I A-WO-HA-LI. TO HI DU
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