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| Original Man's Responsibilities |
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When the Earth was young, it is said that the Earth was female, therefore it has been passed down through our cultural teachings that woman proceeded man on Earth. She is called Mother Earth because all things are born from her, the rivers and oceans are her blood system and water flows through her nourishing her. When the Earth was young she was filled with the beauty of the four sacred directions (which hold both physical and spiritual powers) and all life on Earth. When the first man meets his future wife who is Firekeeper’s Daughter he experiences feelings he has never felt before. He never forgets her and when he meets her later they become married in a sacred ceremony. The love and respect flows between them equally. First man remembers when he first met Firekeeper’s Daughter and how beautiful she was in the light of the setting sun. He decides he wants to help preserve her beauty by taking on certain responsibilities that will make her life easier. In this way, first man took on the duties of a more strenuous nature that were necessary for survival as well as protecting his family, community and all life. Compiled from The Mishomis Book, Edward Benton-Banai, 1998 |
