The Cahuilla The Cahuilla Creation StoryCreation Story

ByByMadeleine FooteMadeleine Foote

Who were the Cahuilla?• Inhabitants of

Southern California, living in what is now Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

• Hunter-gatherers, whose main sources of food were acorns, small game, mesquite and screw beans, piñon nuts, and fleshy bulbs of various types of cacti.

• Patrilineal organization

Facts about the mythFacts about the myth

Epic styleEpic style Not a form of entertainment- a true Not a form of entertainment- a true

story, part of religionstory, part of religion Told during funeral ceremoniesTold during funeral ceremonies The creation stories of the Serrano, The creation stories of the Serrano,

Luiseño, Cupeño, Ipai, and Tipai are Luiseño, Cupeño, Ipai, and Tipai are all very similar to the Cahuilla all very similar to the Cahuilla creation story. creation story.

Basic outline of the story

• Twin creator gods, Mukat and Temayawet.• Create the earth, ocean, sun, and people from red,

black, white, and yellow clay. • Brothers argue over whether or not there will be death

and sickness.• Temayawet leaves, causes mountains and earthquakes,

and Mukat teaches his people to use arrows. • Souls of dead go into the earth.• People decide must kill Mukat. He eventually dies.• Coyote eats Mukat’s heart, and people have mourning

ceremony for Mukat.

                            

What does the story show What does the story show about the Cahuilla?about the Cahuilla?• Demonstrates that Cahuilla had a realistic view of the Demonstrates that Cahuilla had a realistic view of the

world. world. • There is a promise of an afterlife, devoid of pain and There is a promise of an afterlife, devoid of pain and

sickness. sickness. • There were no illusions about perfection, neither of There were no illusions about perfection, neither of

people or of the religious authority. people or of the religious authority. • Old age is very important, with elders having more Old age is very important, with elders having more

knowledge, caution, and creative ability. knowledge, caution, and creative ability. • Places the universe in perspective and reaffirms the Places the universe in perspective and reaffirms the

relationship of the Cahuilla individual and society to the relationship of the Cahuilla individual and society to the sacred past, the present, to one another, and to all sacred past, the present, to one another, and to all things.things.

• Explains how the earth developed its present state, Explains how the earth developed its present state, provides answers to the difficult “why” questions of life, provides answers to the difficult “why” questions of life, and establishes laws and culture.and establishes laws and culture.

Interesting things to note

• Tradition was very important to the Cahuilla, although it’s obvious that story has changed over time to incorporate changes around Cahuilla.

Example: Inclusion of creation of different colored peoples to explain the new white people, (Europeans).

• Explains why only Indians still know this story of creation.

• Also outlines incest taboos, mourning ceremony, and origin of foods.

Role of Coyote

• Was one of the first creatures created by the co-creators. Coyote means “quick and selfish.”

• He’s very obedient, even staying by Mukat’s side while he is dying.

• Coyote gains power by eating Mukat’s heart.

• Helps people make effigy for Mukat.• Becomes an important leader to the

people. • In the creation story, Coyote is

helpful and resourceful but also tricky.

Where are the Cahuilla now?

Cahuilla: past, present, and futureCahuilla: past, present, and future Part of 10 reservations in Southern California, some of Part of 10 reservations in Southern California, some of

which have casinos and campgrounds.which have casinos and campgrounds. Creation story reminds remaining Cahuilla of their Creation story reminds remaining Cahuilla of their

identity, and outlines traditions and values that remain identity, and outlines traditions and values that remain important to Cahuilla life. important to Cahuilla life.

““For thousands of years, knowledge given to us by the For thousands of years, knowledge given to us by the Creator, knowledge of the land, of relationships, and of Creator, knowledge of the land, of relationships, and of the spirit world, has sustained our people. Knowledge of the spirit world, has sustained our people. Knowledge of who we are keeps us connected to our past and sets the who we are keeps us connected to our past and sets the path for our future… It was the traditions passed to us path for our future… It was the traditions passed to us from Mukat that formed our community. As times have from Mukat that formed our community. As times have changed, so have we, but these traditions continue to changed, so have we, but these traditions continue to guide our people.”guide our people.”

Sources• Stories and Legends of the Palm

Springs Indians. By Chief Francisco Patencio, told to Margaret Boynton. Los Angeles, CA: Times-Mirror, 1943

• Handbook of North American Indians. William C. Sturtevant, ed. Washington, D.C. : Smithsonian Institution, 1984

• Studies in Cahuilla Culture. Ethnography of the Cahuilla Indians, by A.L. Kroeber. The Cahuilla Indians, by Lucile Hooper. Banning, CA: Malki Museum Press, 1978

• Agua Caliente Cahuilla Indians:

http://www.accmuseum.org/page9.html