Native American Legends
The origin of light
An Eskimo Legend
In the early times, there was only darkness; there was no light
at all. At the edge of the sea a woman lived with her father. One
time she went out to get some water. As she was scraping the snow,
she saw a feather floating toward her. She opened her mouth and
the feather floated in and she swallowed it. From that time she
was pregnant.
Then she had a baby. It's mouth was a raven's bill. The woman tried
hard to find toys for her child. In her father's house was hanging
a bladder that was blown up. This belonged to the woman's father.
Now the baby, whose name was tulugaak (Raven), pointed at it and
cried for it. The woman did not wish to give it to him but he cried
and cried. At last she gave in and took the bladder down from the
wall and let the baby play with it. But in playing with it, he broke
it. Immediately, it began to get light. Now there was light in the
world, and darkness, too.
When the woman's father came home, he scolded his daughter for
taking the bladder down from the wall and giving it to the child.
And when it was light, tulugaak had disappeared.
Native American Legends
Back to Top
Other Native American Legends
|
Native American Legends A-B