Related Myths about Sun

Myth 1

Myth 2

The Sun Ensnared

When the animals reigned on earth they were very fierce and bloodthirsty, and they killed all the human beings then living, except one small girl and her little brother, who lived in great seclusion. The brother was of very small size, not having grown beyond the stature of an infant, but his sister was of the usual size of maidens ; and being so much larger than he, she was obliged to perform all the labor necessary for their sustenance. One winter day this young maiden informed her brother that she should leave him at home when she went out into the woods, although she had previously taken him, fearing some accident might happen; and she gave him a bow and a few arrows, telling him to conceal himself until lie saw a snowbird, which would come and pick the worms out of the now-cut wood she had placed near by. "When the bird appears," said she, "draw your bow and shoot it;" and she left him.

The young lad obeyed her directions, but be was quite unsuccessful; the bird came and he was unable to get a shot at it ; at which his sister, on her return, told him not to be discouraged, and gave him permission to try his skill again. Accordingly, on the next day, to his great joy, he succeeded in shooting a fine large bird, which he exultantly showed her on her return at nightfall.

"My sister," said he, "I wish you would take its skin off and stretch it, and when I have killed more birds I will have a coat made of the skins."

"But what shall we do with the body?" said his sister; for as yet men had not begun to live on animal food.'

"Cut it in two," be answered, "and season our pottage with one half at a time;" for the boy was wise, although of little stature.

This was done, and the boy by perseverance succeeded, in killing ten birds, out of the skins of which his sister made him a little coat.

"Sister," said he one day, “are we all alone in the world? Is there no one else living?"

"There may be some others living," answered his sister, "but they are terrible beings, and you must never go into their vicinity."

This inflamed the lad's curiosity, and he determined to explore the country and see if he could discover any one. After walking a long time and meeting no one, he became tired, and laid down upon a knoll where the sun had melted the snow. There he fell fast asleep, and while sleeping the sun shone so hot upon him that it singed and drew up his bird-skin coat, so that when he awoke he found that it bound him, and on examining it he discovered that it was ruined; whereupon he flew into a great passion and upbraided the sun, vowing vengeance upon it. "Do not think you are too high," shouted he to the sun; “I shall revenge myself."

On returning home he related his disaster to his sister with great lamentation, and, refusing to eat, laid down as one in a fast and remained in one position for ten days; and then turning over upon the other side remained ten days more, when he arose and commanded his sister to make a snare for him, for he intended to catch the sun. She replied that she bad nothing suitable for such a purpose; she had only a bit of deer’s dried sinew, with which she could make a noose; but he said that would not do. His sister then took some of the hair from her head and made a string; still, that would not answer. Then she went out of the lodge, and, while alone, muttered, Neow obewy indapin. These being gathered she twisted them into a tiny cord, which she carried to her brother. The moment he saw the cord he was delighted, and began pulling it through his lips; and as fast as he drew it, it changed into a metal cord, which he wound around his body until he had a large quantity. He then prepared himself, and set out a little after midnight that he might catch the sun when it rose. He fixed his snare where the sun would first strike the land, as it rose above the earth; and, sure enough, lie caught the sun, so that it was held fast in the cord and did not rise.

Now the animals who ruled the earth were immediately put into a great commotion. They had no light, and their consternation grew so great that they called a council to debate upon the matter, and to appoint some one to go and cut the cord; for this was a very hazardous enterprise, as the rays of the sun would burn whoever came near their source. At last, after much discussion, the dormouse undertook the work. The dormouse at that time was the largest animal in the world; she looked like a mountain, when she stood up.

When she arrived at the place where the sun was ensnared, her back smoked with the intense heat, and finally was reduced to ashes. She persevered, however, in her efforts, and gnawed the cord in two with her teeth, freeing the sun; while at the same time she was reduced to a very small size, and in truth has remained small ever since. To her is given the name of Kug-e-been-gwa-kwa, or Blind Woman.

(taken from Emerson, 1965, p. 88-90)