When Creator, Yayjaba' created the world, he created first the Spirit of Water
and the Spirit of Wind. Then Yajaba' created the large pond and in the middle
of the pond he placed the land. Into the waters of the pond he placed the swimmers
- those that breathed above the water and those that breathed under the waters.
Then Yayjaba' saw that the land was beginning to slide down into the water,
so he created the swimmers that would live on the bottom of the waters - there
they would always live, feed on the bottom and helping to hold the land steady,
to keep it from sliding further into the waters.
Then Yayjaba' opened the Great Cave and brought out all of the two-legged,
four-legged, winged, crawlers, and the oriri' (insects). Each moved out onto
the land and found a place for their home. Wind and Water roamed over the land,
wind bringing cool breeze in the heat of the day, and Water bringing refreshing
rain to the face of the land. But as they roamed, Yayjaba' saw that move land
was being lost into the water - the swimmers living on the bottom were holding
as tight as they could, but they could not stop the land from falling into the
waters. It was then that Yayjaba' created the one-legged ones. He said to them
"you are my silent ones, you have been given no voice with which to speak, and
you have been given but one leg, so that you can stand but can not move. But
you are to do wondrous things - you will be the protectors of the land. Where
I place you, you are to grab the land and hold it still. When Wind wanders the
land, you must hold the land steady so that his breath does not blow the land
into the waters, and when Water wanders the land, you must hold the land steady
so that his rain does not push the land into the waters. All of you, from the
mightiest oak to the smallest flower, to the single blade of grass, you are
to hold tight to the land".
"For doing this, the one-legged ones are to be given special gifts - you will
amaze all others with your ability to live anywhere, you will find homes in
the crevices of rocks, on the face of mountains, in burning sands, fertile land,
arid land, you will live in fresh water, and water having salt, some will be
given stinging needles, and some will provide food for many - many others will
seek your shade, and others will find homes in your arms. Some of you will live
but for a single cycle, but will have many children, thus you will continue
for ever, and some of you will see more cycles than any other - you will become
the true 'ancient ones' of this land. You will also be the beginning of the
cycle and the continuation of the cycles. When you fall to the land that you
so faithfully held, you will become a part of the land, and your children will
take hold where you once stood, and they will draw strength from you, thus you
will continue for eve".
"All that have come out of The Cave, and onto the land must show you great
respect - they will know that you are the protectors of the land. When they
lose that respect, and cast you down before your time, then the breath of Wind
will blow the land, and dust will fill the air, and those lacking respect will
suffer greatly - Water will roam the land, and to those lacking respect, he
will give too much rain, and the land willbe washed away, and the waters will
carry away those that lack respect - to others that lack respect, he will withhold
his rain giving them none until they dry up and are blown away by the breath
of Wind. To any that brings you to destruction, they bring themselves to destruction.
You are my silent ones, you have been given no voice with which to speak, and
you have been given but one leg, so you can stand but can not move - but you
are my protectors of the land".
This is why we can take no one-legged one without first asking for permission,
we must explain our need - we must approach with respect and ask forgiveness
with respect. To cast down a one-legged one before its time and without respect
will bring about our own destruction.
Contributed by: Adonaset
Return to Indigenous Peoples' Literature
Compiled by: Glenn Welker
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