The first thing Teharonhia:wako did was plant the grass and then the sunflower, which he planted beside his lodge. He said to himself, “The sunflower will be a sign which will represent the coming of the families of the real human beings, onkwe honwe, who will one day establish themselves on the earth.
Then he made the red willow and said, “Here I have planted the eldest of all the medicines that will grow on the earth.”
Then he formed the strawberries and said, “These will be the first of what will be called berries which will be planted close to the ground and be the first fruit of the earth.”
Then he made the shrub or thimbleberry and said, “These will be the bushes that will carry the berries that will nourish the onkwe honwe.” Next, he made the mulberry bush as well as the huckleberry bush and said, “These will also carry a berry within them.”
Then, he planted in the earth the great fruit, the apple, followed by all the other fruits. When he had finished with these, he thought that he had done enough for the time being and that it was time for him to rest. After so much work, he decided he should eat so that he had the energy to continue his work later on. He kindled a fire and put the corn his father had given him onto a spit for roasting.
As he was roasting the corn, he said to himself, “After I create the onkwe honwe, they will always give thanks, first to the grasses and then to the berry life. After the earth, these will be the first things of creation that they should be thankful for.”
Sawiskera smelt the aroma of the cooking corn coming from Teharonhia:wako’s direction. He went in his lodge to tell his grandmother about what was happening.
He said to her, “Grandmother, the wind brings an appetizing odour from the direction of Teharonhia:wako’s place.”
She said to him, “Go my favourite grandson, and find out what is going on over there.” Sawiskera then went to Teharonhia:wako’s lodge and saw him preparing the food.
Teharonhia:wako turned to his brother and said, “Come in, my brother. I am cooking food which the onkwe honwe who will one day reside here will live upon. When I am finished, there will be so much food that no one will ever have to worry about going hungry again.” Teharonhia:wako knew what it was like to be hungry. He would make sure that this would never happen to the onkwe honwe and other beings in his creation.
Sawiskera then left the lodge. He looked around and saw all the things that were growing, including the beautiful flowers. He saw one shrub of beautiful colors and asked his brother.
“Teharonhia:wako my brother, what have you done to create such a beautiful thing as this?”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “What you see are the things that I have planted and are growing on the earth.”
Sawiskera then departed to his lodge and told his grandmother of the astonishing things that he had witnessed. “Grandmother,” he said, “I have seen many wonderful things growing from the earth when I visited my brother
Teharonhia:wako. I saw food that dripped oil, which when steamed became fat, smelling of an appetizing odour. I even asked Teharonhia:wako for some to taste, and then he told me that they are not yet ready. There was one plant which pleased me the most and had a really pleasant odour to it.”
His grandmother told Sawiskera, “Be watchful of your brother, and as soon as you see him preparing food again make sure you inform me. Then I will go and find out what your brother is doing.”
Teharonhia:wako decided to visit the man whom he had once met before and who had told him he could visit him anytime. He still did not know that the man was in fact the Great Turtle Man, the boys’ father.
When Teharonhia:wako arrived at the Great Turtle Man’s lodge. The Great Turtle Man said to him, “The manner in which your grandmother is treating you is not right. Be careful because she will try to spoil all the things that you created on earth; therefore, I will tell you what you should do. When your brother Sawiskera visits you, ask him whether he would exchange that which is the substance of his life for your corn. Your brother will ask what is it that you actually want? You will answer him that you want the flint power that he received at birth. He will answer, you mean the thing that is attached to my arrow.” You will reply, “No”; you want the thing which is contained in his body. Your brother will answer that he will be willing to make the exchange. When that happens, your brother for a while during each cycle will have control of the corn. However, you will have control of the main part of his freezing power and in this way ensure that the things you helped create are spared along with the earth.”
The Great Turtle Man then told Teharonhia:wako, “As soon as you see his power coming out of his mouth, seize it and pull it until it is equal in length to the flint that is fastened to his arrow. Then ask him to break it at that point. Your brother will answer that you break it yourself. Do not by any mean do what he asks, for he is the one who must break it, and only then will you be able to receive it from him. Then will you be successful in your life task of creating many wondrous things, and he will no longer have the power to spoil what you make. I will tell you truly, your brother will never be able to make the things that you can make. However, he will attempt to do as you do so that he can take control of the creation from you.”
He continued, “Remember, he will not be able to do anything as long as you possess the thing which constitutes the very substance of his being. His power will be cut in half, and, although he may try and destroy your creation, he will only be able to disrupt it for a time with the aid of darkness and the winds from the north.”
Teharonhia:wako listened to what Great Turtle Man had to say and then departed to do his work. He said to himself as he was working, “Here, I will plant the great fruit, the apple, and that will be the first thing that my grandmother will see when she visits.”
Then he began to roast some of the ears of corn to eat. Sawiskera again scented the odour coming from Teharonhia:wako’s place, but he did not tell his grandmother as he said he would. He decided instead to visit his brother on his own.
When he arrived at his brother’s place, he asked him, “Teharonhia:wako, let me taste the thing that you are preparing. It smells so good.”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “My brother I will let you try it in exchange for the substance of your life, the flint-ice crystal power to freeze things.”
Sawiskera answered, “Do you mean the thing that is attached to my arrow?”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “No, I mean the thing that is inside your body and is the substance of your life.”
Sawiskera thought about it for a minute while breathing in the succulent smell of the roasting corn and then answered, “I will make the exchange.”
He opened his mouth and out came the lethal weapon, the piercing flint crystal ice. Seeing it, Teharonhia:wako grabbed it and pulled until it was as long as Sawiskera’s arrow. He said to Sawiskera, “Here is the place where it should be broken off?”
Sawiskera replied, “Break it off yourself.”
Teharonhia:wako then explained, “You are the only one who can break it off because you are the owner of the substance of your life, and only you can discharge it from your body.”
Sawiskera then broke the flint from his body and gave it to Teharonhia:wako. He then said to him, “What you wanted, I now give to you.”
“Let me in return have your corn,” he said.
From that time on Sawiskera’s power of freezing would be limited. He still had his arrow to freeze, but he could never destroy all of Teharonhia:wako’s creation again.
Teharonhia:wako replied, “I will give you what you ask for.”
He plucked two grains of roasted corn and said, “Here is one corn for you and one for our grandmother.” Sawiskera received the two grains of corn and departed for his lodge. When he arrived at his lodge, Sawiskera told his grandmother that he had visited his brother without her permission.
He said to her, “Grandmother, here is the food that Teharonhia:wako was preparing.” He then gave her one grain of corn. “Now both you and I may now eat,” he said.
His grandmother, smelling the corn decided to eat it. After trying it, she told him, “This tastes really good.”
His grandmother asked, “What do you think of it, my grandson?”
Sawiskera replied, “It is really delicious.”
She said to him, “The next time that your brother prepares food, tell me, and I will go visit him for you.”
After Teharonhia:wako had planted the fruit, he began to form the bodies of the Bluebird and Robin. The flying things were the next order of creation that would later be remembered by the human beings in their prayers.
He said to them, “Now that I have finished your bodies, I have given you life for the purpose that you will breed here on earth and produce many offspring.” Then he let them go. There were two individuals, one male and one female. They flew into the air and sang as they soared in circles above. These creatures were as close as any would ever get to the Sky World.
Then he said to himself, “Among the flying creatures, I will create the passenger pigeon.” So he made both the female and a male. He said, “These will multiply and become so plentiful in the sky that they will block out the everything else whenever they flew by.”
Sawiskera looked up, and he could hear the birds singing in their beautiful voices. He then went to his grandmother and told her what he had heard.
“Grandmother, there is something happening above where our brother lives, as I can hear beautiful sounds coming from the sky over there.”
His grandmother replied, “Soon we will go over to your brother’s and see what is taking place.”
Meanwhile, Teharonhia:wako was thinking to himself, “I will create the body of something which shall be called the deer and be a very important in the lives of the onkwe honwe, whom I will one day create from my essence.” After he finished forming the deer, he also formed the moose and the buffalo. He created two of each, one female and one male.
Upon finishing he said, “Now that I have completed your bodies, I plant you here on earth so that you will continue to breed and multiply.” He then released them, whereupon they ran in different directions on the earth. The deer remained in place while the moose ran north and the buffalo west.
Next, Teharonhia:wako created the porcupine, forming both a male and female. Then he formed the wild turkey. When he was finished, he said to those creatures that he had created, “I have made you for the purposes of breeding and creating families. You will help the onkwe honwe by providing them with sustenance. In return, the onkwe honwe will always remain thankful to you. You will be included as well in their words of thanks.” Then he let them go. Some ran, while others flew away.
Teharonhia:wako said to himself, “It is time that I create those things which will inhabit the dry lands, along with those who will be able to climb. First, I will make something which will be called a bear. These will among the smartest and most powerful of my creation.” He then created a female and a male.
Then he said, “I will also make something which will be called a racoon.” He will always create mischief. He then created both a female and a male.
Next he said, “I will create that which will be called beaver. He will be extremely resourceful.” He made both a female and a male as well.
When he finished, he said, “I have created and planted things on the earth for the purpose that they will breed and have families. I have used the essence of the primal beings who first dwelled in the Sky World to make my creatures. These primal beings will always look after the smaller creatures who represent them.” He then let them go, and they ran off.
Finally he said to himself, “I have done a lot of work; I should now rest for a while.” Teharonhia:wako then headed for his lodge.
Once he had returned to his lodge, he began to prepare food for himself.Sawiskera smelt the aroma as his brother was cooking. He also scented the smell of the ripened fruits and various shrubs. He then ran back to tell his grandmother what was happening.
“Oh! Grandmother,” he said. “Something wonderful has happened. I have scented many different odours that are pleasing to the smell coming from my brother’s place. It seems my brother is cooking food once again for himself.”
His grandmother replied, “Perhaps it is time to go over and visit your brother. Let us go and see what is going on there.”
The two of them began their journey toward Teharonhia:wako’s place. Once they had arrived, his grandmother was surprised at the wondrous things that were going on and the fine aromas that were emanating from his place. She saw that by the door of the lodge a sunflower grew which gave light to everything around. Also nearby, was a fruit which was covered with drops of syrup called raspberries. She and Sawiskera then entered the lodge, and they saw Teharonhia:wako roasting something, the fatness of which dripped down its sides.
She asked aloud, “Who has created all of the things that I see growing outside?”
Teharonhia:wako answered, “I am the one who has created them.”
She then asked him, “Would you share any of this with us so that we can eat as well.”
Teharonhia:wako answered, “I will share everything except that which is growing from the tree standing over there.” He then pointed to a tree where they saw a beautiful fruit growing. He then plucked some corn from the roasting ears and gave each one of them a cob. His grandmother and Sawiskera began eating.
Teharonhia:wako said to them, “Let us go outside.”
They then went outside, and pointing to the sunflower he said to them, “This is the first thing that I planted.”
Then he pointed to the red willow and said, “I have planted that as well.”
As they walked, he pointed to the raspberry and plucked two berries from the branch and gave each of them one to taste. He told them, “I have also planted these.”
Next he showed them the huckleberry and said, “All the things that you see growing will ripen at different times of the year, so that there will always be new things springing up in the world. This will make the world diverse and beautiful.”
They then returned to the side of the lodge. He pointed to a tree and said, “This bears the great fruit the apple.” He then plucked two apples from the tree and gave it to them to eat.
His grandmother told him, “This is extremely pleasing to the taste.” Then she asked him, “My grandson, can I take some back with me?”
Teharonhia:wako explained to her, “It is not possible as they have just been planted.” He continued, “Soon, they will be abundant, and then you will be able to take as many as you like.”
His grandmother then asked him, “Who has made the game animals which have such fine voices?”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “I created them out of my own labour.”
She then asked, “Who will use these things that you created.”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “The onkwe honwe who will one day populate the earth will use them for their sustenance. They will have a duty to nurture them, just as I have done.”
She then said to him, “It is time for me and your brother to leave for our lodge.” The boys’ grandmother and Sawiskera departed back to their lodge.
After arriving at their lodge, the boys’ grandmother said to Sawiskera, “What wonderful things we have witnessed that are being created by
Teharonhia:wako. Your brother is really living up to the statement that he would create many things that would be necessary in this world.”
Sawiskera, feeling undermined by his brother’s success and jealous of him replied, “Oh grandmother! You will see, I will create the same things as my brother has.”
Just at that moment they heard a great noise coming their way.
When they went out of the lodge to see who it was, the witnessed several animals, mostly deer passing by. Soon after, other animals also began to travel near their lodge. They included racoons, buffalo, bears, elks, and porcupines.
Next, they heard a great noise in the air and as they looked up, they saw many kinds of birds flying around.
The old woman, said to Sawiskera, “Isn’t it wonderful what is happening now that the animals are beginning to multiply.
Sawiskera said to his grandmother, “I am going over to Teharonhia:wako’s place and ask him how he created such wonderful things. Once he tells me, I will make them as well.”
Sawiskera started out and, soon after, arrived at his brother’s place. He entered his lodge and asked Teharonhia:wako, “My brother, tell me how you have created the things that we see living on the earth.”
Teharonhia:wako answered, “From this earth which has the life spirit of our mother, I created the living bodies of what you see. When their bodies die, they will return to our mother and regenerate into new forms of life. I have imparted the spirit of the ancient beings in each one. When they depart from this world, they will be renewed in the Sky World above once again.
Teharonhia:wako the asked his brother Sawiskera a question, “My brother, what type of device would have the ability to destroy your power.”
Sawiskera answered back, “There are only two things which I fear can do that. They are the flint stone and the horns of a deer. Only they are able to take away my power.”
The onkwe honwe to be born would use these two hard substances to chip the ice off the rafters of their longhouses. They would also know that by using the mind of the deer that they would be able to create shelters from the cold and use flint stone for hunting for food. Not even Sawiskera’s power of crystal ice could prevent them from surviving. They would use the antlers of the deer due to its hard substance to chip the flint stone when making arrows. When ever the thunders were to be heard, the onkwe honwe would look up at the sky and see the flashing deer antlers chip away at the flint crystals that belong to Sawiskera when he bring in the winter. They would then know that the last vestiges of winter was over. (Continuing)
When Sawiskera returned to his lodge, he told his grandmother, “Grandmother, I have learned how my brother has made the many things that we see in the world. He used the dirt from our mother’s body to give them life.”
His grandmother asked him, “What do you think about what your brother has done?”
He answered, “I think it is wonderful what my brother has been able to accomplish. However, I will find an easier way to create the same things. What I will do first is conceal the bodies of all the game animals that Teharonhia:wako has made so that they will be under my rule. Then I will make my own creatures to rule the earth.” ( First ice age)
His grandmother then asked him, “How will you do it?”
Sawiskera answered, “I will use my freezing power and force them into a cave in a mountain where they will fall asleep. When they think it is winter, they will fall asleep and not be able to get up.”
His grandmother answered, “Do what you have to do; I will say nothing more about this to your brother.”
Sawiskera had set the stage, for time immemorial, of using his influence to try and gain control over the things that Teharonhia:wako had created. He would do this by putting the game animals to sleep during the winter.
Sawiskera then went to a mountain cliff and began to set to work carving up a cavern in its side. Using his freezing power, he began to freeze his mother’s body. As the animals became cold, they began to get tired and looked for shelter. He then gathered all of them and led them inside the cave, placing a rock over the entrance. Once there, they fell asleep. Some of the animals would always remember this event. Whenever winter would appear, animals like the bear would always find a cave where they would go to sleep.
Sawiskera said to himself, “Now then, the animals that Teharonhia:wako created are under my control. Both myself and my grandmother will be able to obtain everything we need whenever we want. “In his greed, Sawiskera would be a reminder to the onkwe honwe yet to be born of how destructive hoarding could be to their survival.” (Continuing)
Sawiskera then went home and said to his grandmother, “Grandmother, I have frozen the earth and hid all the animals in a cave for ourselves. From now on, we will never be without meat.”
His grandmother replied, “We should be extremely thankful that we now have abundant provisions for ourselves.”
Sawiskera then preceded to his brother’s lodge. When he arrived, he saw Teharonhia:wako making arrows. He asked him, “My brother, what are you doing?”
Teharonhia:wako answered, “Soon, the game animals will be plenty enough to hunt, and I will need something to hunt them with.”
Sawiskera mocking him asked, “What animals are you talking about? I don’t see any animals around.”
Teharonhia:wako replied, “That is because the animals who live on the earth are moving about and are not easily seen.”
Sawiskera said, “I have been everywhere on this island, and I haven’t seen any game animals running about. Perhaps they are lost.”
Teharonhia:wako looked bewildered and said to him, “That cannot be; the game animals should now be flourishing and moving all over the island.”
Sawiskera, knowing he had fooled his brother, then proceeded to return to his grandmother’s lodge. Upon arriving he said to her, “I have just visited the place where Teharonhia:wako lives. I saw him making arrows so that he could kill the game which he thinks are now abundant.” They both decided to get rest, satisfied that all of their needs would now be taken care of.
After they awoke, his grandmother asked Sawiskera, “Grandson, I am hungry. Could you fetch me some meat from the cave?”
Sawiskera replied, “Wait here; I will go and get some meat.” He then started out toward the cave, and when he arrived he removed the rock from the entrance and went inside. Once there, he found a deer sleeping and he killed it. He closed off the entrance and left with a deer tied to a forestrap on his head and then proceeded back to his grandmother’s lodge.
Upon arriving, he said to his grandmother, “Grandmother, I have done what you have asked me to do.”
This went in for sometime, with Teharonhia:wako thinking that his creatures were moving about the earth and that was why they were hard to find. Finally, Teharonhia:wako began to realize that the animals he had created were nowhere to be seen. He decided to, once again, visit the lodge of the Great Turtle Man, also know as He Who Holds The Earth With His Two Hands. He would ask him what he thought had happened to his game animals.
Upon arriving at his father’s place, he asked him, “I don’t know what has happened to the animals whose bodies I have created. They do not seem to be anywhere in sight.”
The Great Turtle Man explained to him, “I know where they are. Your brother Sawiskera has outwitted you. He has shut them up in a cave in a mountain near the lodge of your grandmother and brother. He carved out the cave and sealed them off. They were made docile by the cold, so they followed him into a cave. Go there tomorrow and see for yourself, but be on the look out for your brother. Do not let him see you when he comes to take meat for food. You will see what he does when he uncovers the mouth of the cave and comes out with an animal tied to a forestrap on his head. When he leaves, uncover the cave’s entrance and enter it. You can then awaken all the game animals and drive them out so that they will run free. We will take care of warming the earth sometime in the future.”
After hearing what his father has to say, Teharonhia:wako went back to his lodge. The next day, he prepared his arrows and began traveling around the shore of the great water that surrounded Turtle island. Finally, he arrived at the mountain from the backside and seated himself. It wasn’t long before he noticed Sawiskera coming toward him.
Sawiskera stopped in front of the great rock and looked around to make sure no one had followed him. He grabbed the rock and lifted it over to the side and entered the cave. When he came out, he bore a porcupine tied to a forestrap on his head. Sawiskera said to himself as he was leaving, “There is something strange going on here. For some reason this animal was very difficult to kill and in fact it attacked me when I tried to take it.” He then drew back the rock and covered the mouth of the cave and proceeded home.
After Sawiskera had disappeared, Teharonhia:wako said to himself, “It is my turn now to regain control of the game animals.
He went to the great rock at the entrance of the cave, and, after lifting it aside, he entered it. All the game animals woke up and came forward to greet him.
Teharonhia:wako said to them, “When I completed your bodies, I made a big mistake. It was not good that I made you docile rather than wild. It was for that reason you were taken so easily and shut in a cave. I will now make it so, that from now on, all of you will be wild animals for as long as you continue to exist. From now on, If someone want to kill you, they will have to work really hard to do so. You are now free to go.” He then released all the game animals.
As the game animals dispersed Teharonhia:wako took out an arrow and shot it into the body of a deer as it ran off.
He told it, “Now then, run toward the lodge where the ancient woman, my grandmother, lives.” The deer ran, and just as it got to the doorway of his grandmother’s lodge it fell down making a great noise with its hooves at the entrance.
Teharonhia:wako’s grandmother, hearing the noise outside, got up and yelled aloud, “What is happening there?”
She looked outside her entrance and was surprised to see a deer lying with an arrow fixed on its side. She called out to Sawiskera, “Look at what has happened; a game animal has come to our lodge and is lying in front of our lodge and appears to be dead.”
Sawiskera looked and saw the arrow which he recognized belonged to his brother. He said nothing and went back into the lodge with his grandmother following close behind.
Teharonhia:wako shot another arrow into the body of a racoon. He then said to it, “Run to the lodge where my grandmother lives.” The racoon then ran off, and when it arrived at his grandmother’s lodge it fell beside the entrance.
Next, Teharonhia:wako show another arrow into the side of a buffalo. He said to it, “Run to my grandmother’s lodge.” It also fell beside the entrance to his grandmother’s lodge.
Next, he did the same to the bear, and he told it, “Run to my grandmother’s lodge.” It also fell down after arriving at the entrance.
Next, he shot a moose and said, “Run to the lodge of my grandmother.” The moose did the same thing and fell at the entrance to his grandmother’s.
Next, he shot an arrow into the body of a wild duck. Teharonhia:wako said to it, “Now, fly to my grandmother’s lodge.” The duck flew and when it arrived, it fell from the air in front of the lodge of his grandmothers.
Soon, there was a pile of animals stacked in front of the entrance of his grandmother’s lodge. Teharonhia:wako finished what he was doing and said to himself, “That is enough game for my grandmother and my brother. They will now have enough provisions to last them for a long time.” (Continuing)
In spite of what his brother and grandmother had done to him, he still showed compassion towards them. He was angry but he still cared very much for them.
Teharonhia:wako then proceeded to his grandmother’s lodge. After being let in, his grandmother said to him, “Look, Grandson, at what a wonderful thing that has taken place. Your brother Sawiskera has been hunting and look at all the game animals he has killed.”
Teharonhia:wako pointed to an animal and revealed to her, “That is called porcupine, and my brother could not have killed it because he is hunting in a place where there is no game that looks like this. Therefore, it could not have been he who has killed it. In fact, I want to tell you that I was the one who killed it. I did it so that you could have food to eat.”
He then continued to say, “All the game animals are in great abundance at the place where I have come from.”
He said, “I will show you the many uses of the game animals. Watch me dress all the game animals I have killed, and I will show you that they can provide you with many useful things.”
Teharonhia:wako then went outdoors and began to skin the game animals he had killed. He cut up their bodies and hung up several pieces of meat all around the lodge. Next, he brought skins into the lodge and smoothed out each one. He lit a fire and smoked them. Then, he tightly fastened them together and placed them around the bark of the inside of the lodge. He spread a skin over the place where his grandmother had her bed and then placed one for himself so he could lay down.
Teharonhia:wako then turned to her and said, “Oh! Grandmother, I have now fulfilled the promise that I had made to you when I was first born. You will be the first to have continuous pleasure from the things that are now created on this earth. They have been put here for the purpose of making a person content. One day, the onkwe honwe who will be born on this earth will make use of the game animals that live with them. Their minds will always be at ease because of the many creatures who inhabit the earth with them. From them they will always have food, clothing and shelter.”
When he had finished what he had to say, Teharonhia:wako departed for his lodge. Once there, he said to himself, “I don’t think that it would be a good thing for my brother and I to live near each other any longer.”
Now that his brother had shown him what kind of character he had, it had resulted in his feeling distressed in the work that he was trying to do.
He thought to himself, “My brother and I must be separated because I still have much work to do, and if we remain on the same floating island he will try to spoil all my work. I will cut this floating island that we live on into two halves, and by that way separate us. Then, I will thrust a great body water between us so that he cannot cross over to my side too easily.” Teharonhia:wako then went to the shore and stood at its edge.
He said to himself, “Now, this earth will be divided forever.” He then yelled to the water, “Water, enter between my brother and I and separate our two worlds forever.” Teharonhia:wako arrived on the other side of the divided earth. As the waters flowed through their course, he said to himself, “Now my brother and I are separated, and I can continue to do my work unimpeded.” He then returned to his lodge.
From that time on, there would be two floating islands. Later on, Teharonhia:wako would separate them again so that there would be four floating islands. Two of which would be connected to one another with the other two also connected to one another. The onkwe honwe and their cousins would inhabit two of the floating islands on Teharonhia:wako’s side of the world. All others would inhabit the other two floating islands including those created by Sawiskera.
Not long after Teharonhia:wako had separated the two floating islands, Sawiskera arrived at his grandmother’s lodge to tell her that they were running out of meat.
He said, “Grandmother, we only have a little meat left for us to eat. I will go hunting, as the meat Teharonhia:wako gave us is running out.”
He then went out to hunt, and as he traveled around looking for game, he noticed that there were no animals anywhere in sight. After attempting to look for a long time, he spotted some animals in the far off distance. As soon as they saw hi approaching, the animals jumped into the water and swam away.
He then noticed the island floating far off on the other side of the water where the game animals went ashore. Sawiskera was astonished as what he was seeing. He said to himself, “I will go and tell my brother what has happened.”
He began walking in the direction of Teharonhia:wako’s lodge. He looked all over the island, and he could not find him anywhere. Finally, after looking all over the place for him, he decided to go back and tell his grandmother what had happened.
When he reached her lodge, he said to her, “Oh! Grandmother, an astonishing thing has happened in that I cannot find any game animals around. When I did see some, they dove into the water, and they swam to another floating island where they climbed onto the shore. When I went to tell my brother about it, I could not find him, or his lodge, anywhere.”
She replied, “I don’t think that there is anything that we can do about what has happened. It appears your brother has tricked us.”
Sawiskera answered, “I know something that I can do. I will create the same type of things that my brother has created on his island. I will start right now with some small creatures like the butterfly.”
Sawiskera then proceeded to take some earth, and he formed what he thought a butterfly would look like. He blew into them, and they flew away. They were gray in color and much smaller in size.
Suddenly he looked up and saw some passengers pigeons fly over head that had been created by Teharonhia:wako. He said, “I will make those as well.”
He then began to form the bodies of what he thought passenger pigeons would look like. When he had completed them, he said, “Now, I am going to travel around this island and create more wonderful creatures.”
What Sawiskera did not notice was that as his pigeons flew off, they had fur and teeth.
Next he said, “I am going to make the sunflower which will bring light to this world. “He then formed what he thought a sunflower would look like but instead made a thistle with thorns on it.
Then he said, “Now then, I will make the great fruit, the apple, which will bring me nourishment.” He then formed what he thought an apple would look like. They looked almost like Teharonhia:wako’s apples but were sour to eat.
Then he saw many small creatures fly by and he said, “I will make an abundance of these as well.”
Just at the moment, he saw his brother Teharonhia:wako, approaching. Sawiskera, said to the creatures that he created, “Hurry! Go quickly before my brother sees you.” The creatures then flew away making a great buzzing noise as they left.
Teharonhia:wako arrived and asked his brother, “My brother, what was that I saw you doing as I walked over here?”
Sawiskera answered, “I was just resting. However, I want you to see all the things I have created while you were gone.”
Teharonhia:wako then asked him, “What were all of those strange creatures which I saw flying away as I approached?”
Sawiskera replied, “Did you not hear the great buzzing noise they made while they spoke to one another. Those are the creatures I have just completed.”
Teharonhia:wako said, “It is true, the different languages they are speaking creates a great buzzing noise. They will from now on be referred to as flies. In fact, they will assist me as some will live upon the carcasses of game animals. In fact, all creatures that have been created will have a purpose.”
Teharonhia:wako knew the value of even the smallest and ugliest of creatures. He also did not want to hurt his brother’s feelings for he had compassion for his brother.
Sawiskera laughed and said to him, “Come and see the sunflower I created?”
Teharonhia:wako looked at it and said, “This plant bears a beautiful flower; when it ripens it shall assist me as well. Several animals will live near it, and it shall be called a thistle.”
Sawiskera’s mind was gratified, and he said to his brother, “Come and see the apple I have created?” When they arrived, he showed his brother the apple he had planted.
Teharonhia:wako said, “This is good as well, as this thing you have planted will assist me as the game animals will live upon it. It shall be called a crab apple.”
Sawiskera then said to him, “Now let us go and see the bird that I have created.” When they arrived, he pointed to the bird he created.
Teharonhia:wako said to him, “The thing that you created is also good, and I see no reason why they cannot travel around the earth. They will be known as the vulture, and they will get rid of any waste left over.” Sawiskera was again gratified.
Sawiskera said to his brother, “There is only one thing left for you to see. However, I may have made a mistake in my creation, and when you see them you can decide what can be done with them.”
When they arrived at the shore of the lake, Sawiskera pointed and said, “Look at these creatures flying about; they are my pigeons.”
Teharonhia:wako looked up in the sky and said to the flying creatures, “Come to me?” The creatures then flew over to him.
Teharonhia:wako, upon seeing them close up, said, “It is not good that your creatures flying about have fur and teeth, as they will do harm to the other flying creatures who are more vulnerable. I will call them bats.”
He continued, “This gives me an idea. Perhaps, it would be good, if everything were divided into two parts. From now on, I will make it so that there will be daylight only for a short time. Then darkness will appear, followed by daylight only for a short time. Then darkness will appear, followed by daylight again. This cycle will repeat itself forever. Those beings that have feathers will continue to fly about while there is daylight, while at night they shall rest. It would not be good to have things flying around with teeth during the daylight. From now on they will live in the trees and they will hide in other places. They will come out only at night.” He then said, “The night shall be yours, my brother, while the day mine.”
Sawiskera was taken by surprise at the things his brother had just told him. He liked the idea of having his power enhanced during the cold of night.
Teharonhia:wako turned to Sawiskera and said, “It is time for me to return to my island. The next time it will be your turn to visit me and see the work that I am doing.”
