The Creation Story: Nanabozho and the Great Flood
Long ago, in the time before time, the world was in balance. The Creator had made the Earth, its waters, its skies, and all living beings, and all lived in harmony. The Anishinaabe people, the animals, and the plants respected one another, and peace reigned throughout the land. But as time passed, humans began to lose their way. They strayed from the original instructions given to them by the Creator. Greed, selfishness, and conflict spread among the people, and they no longer cared for the Earth or the creatures that shared it with them. They took more than they needed, wasted resources, and forgot to give thanks to the spirits of the land.
Seeing this, the Creator grew concerned. The Earth was no longer a place of balance and harmony, and it was suffering because of the actions of the people. So, the Creator called upon Nanabozho, the great trickster, teacher, and spirit guide of the Anishinaabe people. Nanabozho had always watched over the world, sometimes guiding the people, sometimes playing tricks, but always working in his own way to teach important lessons.
The Great Flood
The Creator spoke to Nanabozho: "The people have lost their way. They no longer live in balance with the Earth. The time has come for a great cleansing. The Earth must be purified so that it may be renewed. You, Nanabozho, must be the one to carry out this task."
Nanabozho, knowing the importance of the Creator's words, agreed. He knew that the Earth needed to be restored, but he also grieved for the destruction that was about to come. Nevertheless, Nanabozho set out to warn the people, but they refused to listen. Their hearts were hardened, and they did not believe that the Creator would ever punish them.
So, it came to pass that the Creator called forth a mighty flood. Rain poured from the skies, and the rivers and lakes overflowed. The oceans surged, and soon the entire Earth was covered in water. All that had existed before was washed away. The great forests, the fields, the villages—all were submerged beneath the relentless waters. Those who had not heeded Nanabozho's warning perished, and the Earth was left barren and desolate, with only water stretching as far as the eye could see.
Nanabozho, however, survived. He found a large log floating on the vast waters, and clinging to it, he floated for days, watching the flood consume the world. The waters stretched endlessly in every direction, and there was no land in sight. Nanabozho felt sorrow for the loss of life and for the people who had ignored the teachings of balance and respect.
As he drifted, Nanabozho realized that the Earth would need to be remade. He was tasked with rebuilding the world, but he knew he could not do it alone. He called out to the animals that had also survived the flood. Some of them had managed to find floating debris, and they, too, clung to life on the endless sea.
Among them were the loon, the beaver, the otter, and the muskrat. Nanabozho gathered them together and said, "We must find a way to bring the land back. The world cannot remain a sea forever. We need to retrieve a piece of the old Earth from beneath the waters so that we can begin to rebuild."
The Search for Earth
The animals listened to Nanabozho and agreed to help, but the task ahead seemed impossible. The waters were deep, and the Earth was buried far below. Nanabozho knew that only the bravest of creatures could dive to the bottom of the waters to retrieve the precious soil.
The loon was the first to volunteer. It spread its wings and dove beneath the waves, determined to reach the bottom. The loon was a strong and capable diver, and it descended deeper and deeper into the dark waters. But the depth was too great, and soon the loon could go no further. It returned to the surface, gasping for air, having failed to reach the Earth below.
Next, the beaver stepped forward. The beaver was known for its skill in the water and its determination. It dove into the depths, swimming powerfully with its wide tail and strong limbs. But even the beaver could not reach the bottom, and it, too, surfaced empty-handed, exhausted from the effort.
Then the otter tried. The otter was swift and agile, darting through the water with grace and speed. It swam down as far as it could, but the waters were too deep, and like the others, the otter had to return to the surface without success.
Nanabozho began to lose hope. It seemed that no creature could reach the bottom of the vast ocean that covered the world. But then, the smallest and humblest of all the animals—the muskrat—stepped forward.
"I will try," said the muskrat, though it was small and not as strong as the others. The muskrat knew it might not survive the dive, but it was determined to help.
With a deep breath, the muskrat plunged into the water. It swam down, down, down, deeper than any of the other animals had gone. The pressure of the water was immense, and the muskrat’s body began to tire. Still, it pushed on, driven by a deep sense of purpose. Just as it began to lose strength, the muskrat’s paw touched the soft Earth at the bottom of the sea. Gathering what little it could hold, the muskrat turned and began the long journey back to the surface.
The other animals and Nanabozho waited anxiously. The water remained still for a long time, and they feared the muskrat might not return. But finally, the muskrat’s small body floated to the surface. Though it had given its life in the effort, clutched in its paw was a tiny piece of Earth.
Turtle Island is Born
Nanabozho took the small piece of Earth from the muskrat’s paw and held it in his hands. Though it was tiny, it contained the power to rebuild the world. But Nanabozho knew he needed a place to spread the Earth so that it could grow.
At that moment, the turtle surfaced beside Nanabozho. The turtle spoke: "Place the Earth upon my back, and I will carry it. Together, we will rebuild the land."
Nanabozho gratefully accepted the turtle’s offer. He placed the small piece of Earth on the turtle’s back, and with the Creator’s power, the land began to grow. Slowly, the Earth expanded, spreading across the turtle’s shell, forming mountains, valleys, rivers, and forests. The land grew and grew until it became the world we know today.
The Earth, resting on the back of the turtle, became known as Turtle Island, the land of the Anishinaabe and all the creatures that live in harmony upon it.
The Lessons of the Flood
As the new world was formed, Nanabozho spoke to the animals and to the new people who would one day live upon Turtle Island. "Remember this," he said. "The Earth was rebuilt through the sacrifice and courage of the muskrat, the strength of the animals, and the wisdom of the turtle. You must live in balance with the land, with each other, and with all living things. Never forget the Creator’s teachings, for if you do, the world may one day need to be cleansed again."
And so, the people of the Anishinaabe Nation remember the story of the Great Flood and the creation of Turtle Island. It is a reminder of the importance of living in balance with the Earth and all its creatures, respecting the land, and giving thanks for the gifts of life.
References
- Johnston, Basil H. The Manitous: The Spiritual World of the Ojibway. HarperCollins, 1995.
- Benton-Banai, Edward. The Mishomis Book: The Voice of the Ojibway. University of Minnesota Press, 1988.