Native American Myth: Coyote and the Columbia

"Coyote and the Columbia"

One day, Coyote was walking along. The sun was shining brightly, and Coyote felt very hot. "I would like a cloud," Coyote said. So a cloud came and made some shade for Coyote. Coyote was not satisfied. "I would like more clouds," he said. More clouds came along, and the sky began to look very stormy. But Coyote was still hot. "How about some rain," said Coyote. The clouds began to sprinkle rain on Coyote. "More rain," Coyote demanded. The rain became a downpour. "I would like a creek to put my feet in," said Coyote. So a creek sprang up beside him, and Coyote walked in it to cool off his feet. "It should be deeper," said Coyote. The creek became a huge, swirling river. Coyote was swept over and over by the water. Finally, nearly drowned, Coyote was thrown up on the bank far away. When he woke up, the buzzards were watching him, trying to decide if he was dead. "I'm not dead," Coyote told them, and they flew away. That is how the Columbia River began. Schlosser, S., E. “Coyote and the Columbia”, 2 October 2006. 23 March 2008 <http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/wa.html>

Reflection

Religion of Native Americans has been dwindled down to almost nothing as the English settlers required them to assimilate to the English way of life. Americans forced their religion upon the Native Americans making them discard their own thoughts and beliefs but bits and pieces of the Native American culture still remains. This can be seen through the myths passed down, orally, from generation to generation. For example, the story known as Coyote and the Columbia (http://www.americanfolklore.net/folktales/wa.html) has been retold and retold in order for it to be remembered for the present and even the future generations. This story explains how the Native Americans thought that a greedy Coyote, who could obtain anything through just asking for it, created the Columbia River. In this story, the Coyote almost drowned due to his greed which makes me wonder if this story's moral is "be careful what you wish for" because his life was put in jeopardy.

Diary:

Dear Diary,

I am Uriah Thomas, I am a white settler who has made his way from England to pursue the American Dream in the new lands and I find this story somewhat strange considering the fact that that is not what actually happened because it was in fact the Great Lord himself who created this river and who created the earth for the matter because he is the almighty ruler of this kingdom we call our home. Strange as it may be, this story is somewhat mesmerizing by its odd description of the creation of this Colorado River and yet I still find that it was the almight Himself that created this river. However, even while following under the hand of God I do have to say that this piece of literature has its own story behind it and considering the fact that the Native Americans were here before us anyways, I find it hard to believe that they might be wrong. It is they who had taken it upon themselves to settle in this area and they probably have more knowledge of the area than we do but I also find it hard to believe that animals could talk no matter the distant land. I also find it hard to believe that a talking coyote would have the ability to wish for something nad have it spontaneously appear right before his eyes. But it is for the great Lord to interperet and not his followers in my opinion and why does it matter in the first place because if they want to have different thoughts upon this world than they ought to be able to think freely.

Greed

Political Extension:

Essential Question Answer:

Native Americans were the first to actually inhabit the area that we now love and know as North America, however, when English settlers came over to establish their cities and towns upon the natives' land, they did not stop to think of what they were doing. The "American Dream" for the immigrants, which in this case were actually the English settlers, was to find a new beginning and better themselves by separating themselves from England, but in reaching this goal and fulfilling this dream they were also apt to destroying the dreams of the natives of the land. They might not have had the same dream and same ideas that the English settlers had but the owners of the land instead of the immigrants were impacted greatly by these newly established colonies.