Galúnlati: A Very Brief Summary

The earth began as nothing but water and darkness, and all the animals were in Galúnlati, above the stone vault that makes up the sky. Galúnlati became so crowded that the animals needed more room, and they wanted to move down to earth. Not knowing what was below the water, they sent down the Water-beetle to explore. Water-beetle dove below the water and eventually came back with some mud from below. That mud grew and grew, and finally it became the island that we call earth. Because it grew from mud, the new earth was very soft. Many birds flew down to explore the new land, but it was too wet for them to stay. Eventually the earth was fry and the animals moved down. There was still no light, however, and so the animals set the sun passing

The animals raised the sun again and again, until it was high enough that all could survive. When the plants and animals first came to earth, they were told to stay awake for seven nights, as in the Cherokee medicine ceremony. Many of the animals stayed awake next few nights, but only the owl and panther and a couple of others stayed awake all seven nights. They were given the ability to see at night and so to hunt at night when the others are asleep. The same thing happened to the trees, and only the cedar, pine, spruce, holly and laurel stayed awake all seven nights, which is why they can stay green all year when the others lose their leaves. Humans came after the animals. At first multiplied rapidly, and the first woman gave birth every seven days. Eventually there were so many of them that it seemed they might not survive, and since then to this day each woman has been able to have just one child each year. Among these early people were a man and a woman name Kanáti and Selu, whose names meant “The Lucky Hunter” and “Corn”, respectively. Kanáti would go hunting and invariably return with game, which Selu would prepare by the stream near their