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Hahgwehdiyu

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Hahgwehdiyu (also called Ha-Wen-Neyu, Rawenniyo, Hawenniyo or Sapling)[1] is the Iroquois god of goodness and light, as well as a creator god. He and his twin brother Hahgwehdaetgah, the god of evil, were children of Atahensic the Sky Woman (or Tekawerahkwa the Earth Woman in some versions), whom Hahgwehdaetgah killed in childbirth.

Hahgwehdiyu created the world from his own body and that of his mother's. His outstretched palm became the sky, his mother's head the sun, and her breasts became the moon and stars. He made her body the earth, into which he planted a seed, which grew into the maize plant.[2]

Creation of The Earth

This version of the creation story is taken from (Converse 1908).[3]

The Oeh-dah (Earth) was a thought in the mind of the ruler on a great island floating above the clouds. This ruler was called by various names, among them Ha-wen-ni-yu, meaning He who governs or The Ruler.[4] The island is a place of calm where all needs are provided and there is no pain or death. On this island grew a great apple[note 1] tree where the inhabitants held council. The Ruler said "let us make a new place where another people can grow. Under our council tree is a great sea of clouds which calls out for light." He ordered the council tree to be uprooted and he looked down into the depths. He had Atahensic,[note 2] Sky Woman, look down. He heard the voice of the sea calling; he told Atahensic, who was pregnant, to bring it life. He wrapped her in light and dropped her down through the hole. c She was carried down to the waters by a flock of birds and placed on the back of a turtle. The water animals worked to bring some soil to the surface, the soil was placed on the back of the turtle and grew to become the island, Oeh-dah. Atahensic heard two voices under her heart and knew her time had come. One voice was calm and quiet, but the other was loud and angry. These were the Do-yo-da-no, The Twins. The good twin, Hahgwehdiyu or Teharonhiakwako (transl. Sapling),[5] was born normally; the evil twin, Hahgwehdaetgah or Sawiskera (transl. Flint),[5] forced his way out from under his mother's arm, killing her during childbirth.

After the death of Sky Woman, the island was shrouded in gloom. Hahgwehdiyu shaped the sky and created the sun from his mother's face saying "you shall rule here where your face will shine forever." Hahgwehdaetgah, however, set the great darkness in the west to drive down the sun. Hahgwehdiyu then took the Moon and Stars from his mother's breast, and placed them, his sisters, to guard the night sky. He gave his mother's body to the earth, the Great Mother from whom all life came.

There is another version of the myth of Hahgwehdiyu in which he and Hahgwehdaetgah are Atahensic's grandsons instead. According to this variant, Atahensic had seeds when she fell to Earth, but never planted them. She then had a daughter named Tekawerahkwa (transl. Earth Woman),[6] whom the west wind impregnated with Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah.[7] When Tekawerahkwa died by childbirth, Atahensic sowed the seeds on her grave. Out of Tekawerahkwa's body parts grew assorted plants: purple potatoes came from her feet; the sister spirits of the corn, beans, and squash from her hands; strawberries from her heart; and tobacco from her head.[8]

Hahgwehdiyu, corresponding to the Huron spirit Iosheka, created the first people. He healed disease, defeated demons, and gave many of the Iroquois magical and ceremonial rituals. Another of his gifts was tobacco, which has been used as a central part of the Iroquois religion.

Hahgwehdiyu is aided by a number of assistant or subordinate spirits.

The Canadian jewellery company Sapling & Flint was named after Hahgwehdiyu and Hahgwehdaetgah.[9]

Notes

  1. ^ Parker says "The central tree in the heaven world was the apple." The apple tree was introduced by European settlers. Elsewhere he suggests that the crab apple ("wild-apple") is meant.
  2. ^ Parker says: "Ata'-en'sic ... is the Huron name for the first mother, and not that of the (confederated) Iroquois, The Senecas usually give this character no name other than Ea-gen’-tci, literally old woman or ancient bodied. This name is not a personal one, however. Mrs Converse has therefore substituted the Huronian personal name for the Iroquoian common name."

References

  1. ^ "Raweno (Ha-Wen-Neyu), the Iroquois Creator". www.native-languages.org. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  2. ^ Cotterell, Arthur. (1989). The illustrated encyclopedia of myths & legends. Sydney: Collins Australia. p. 204. ISBN 0-7322-0099-7. OCLC 27581076.
  3. ^ Converse, Harriet Maxwell (Ya-ie-wa-no); Parker, Arthur Caswell (Ga-wa-so-wa-neh) (December 15, 1908). "Myths and Legends of the New York State Iroquois". Education Department Bulletin. University of the State of New York: 31–41. Retrieved Nov 9, 2014.
  4. ^ Morgan, Lewis Henry (1995). The League of the Iroquois. J G Press. pp. 141–174. ISBN 1-57215-124-2.
  5. ^ a b Louellyn White (2015). Free to Be Mohawk: Indigenous Education at the Akwesasne Freedom School. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 29. ISBN 9780806153254.
  6. ^ Lloyd, Ellen (September 23, 2019). "Birth Of Good And Evil In Iroquois Beliefs". AncientPages.com.
  7. ^ "Iroquois Creation Myth" (PDF). Pressbooks. February 2021.
  8. ^ Day, Ashley (November 20, 2023). "3 Sisters to Invite to Thanksgiving". Food & Wine.
  9. ^ "About Sapling & Flint - Sapling & Flint". SaplingandFlint.ca.
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