Chelan Creation Myth

Reagan Campbell

September 2012

Creation Myth- “Chelan Creation of First Indians”

            The Chelan myth relates to two types of creation myths: Secretion and Dues Faber Myths. Firstly, the Chelan Creation Story relates to Secretion Myths because after the Youngest Wolf Brother kills the Beaver, he can only cut it into 11 pieces, when the Creator told him he needed to cut it into 12. The Youngest Wolf Brother decides to take the blood from the Beaver and use that as the 12^th component. From all the Beaver’s body parts different tribes are born and created. “ He had killed Beaver and was carrying it. “You remember that the Creator told us to cut it into twelve pieces,” said Youngest Brother to the animal people. But he could oly divide it into eleven pieces.” (Page 3) Lastly, from the blood of the Beaver the Blackfeet tribe is born. The Chelan Creation Story also relates to Dues Faber Myths because it features the Creator, who designs and creates the earth/world. According to the Chelan story, the Creator, or Great Chief Above, created the world. “Long, long ago, the Creator, the Great Chief Above, made the world.” (Page 1)